By Shari Friedel    
Tribune Staff
Perkins County senior Jeannie  Kuskie qualified individually for the state golf tournament scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 12 and 13.
Due to snow over the weekend, the tournament was shortened to Tuesday, Oct. 13 only, making it a challenge for Kuskie to come in prepared for the meet.
Practice rounds weren’t allowed before the meet, but she was able to hit range balls for the first time in four days on Monday.
In spite of playing little in the days leading to the meet, Kuskie displayed some of her best golf of the year, according to Coach Troy Kemling. She kept the ball in play off the tee for much of the round with a lot of pars and bogeys.  
She played the front nine in 43 which put her in about seventh place midway through her round.  She continued the steady play until her driver left her in the trees on both holes 15 and 16. This led to a few extra strokes that pushed her score past 90, which she had wanted to better.
In the end, Kuskie experienced the heartbreak of finishing out of medals by one stroke.
“She was obviously disappointed but played and represented the school well,” said Kemling. “I have enjoyed coaching Jeannie over her high school career.”
State Meet
Individual Scores
1. D. Lemek, Don-Trum    75
2. B. Bolin, Boone Cent    78
3. S. Stone, St. Paul    79
4. C. Kozisek, Ainsworth    81
5. J. Pilkington, Bayard    84
6. B. Seda, Boone Cent    85
7. S. Rodgers, Syracuse    86
7. A. VenJohn, Kearn Cath    86
7. J. Gasper, Col Scotus    86
7. B. Dinkel, Pierce    86
11. A. Exstrom, Minden    87
11. M. Zavadil, Crofton    87
11. A. Ahlers, Boone Cent    87
14. M. Ostdiek, GI Cent Cath    89
15. B. Peterson, Wayne    90
E. Wright, Bridge    91
Jeannie Kuskie, PC     91 (43-48)
District Meet
Perkins County girls golf team participated in districts on Monday, Oct. 5 in Ogallala. The girls finished seventh with a team score of 458, and qualified one player, Jeannie Kuskie, for the state meet. Kuskie scored a 90, finishing in sixth place.
Superintendent Tobin Buchanan and Activities Director Chip Kay stepped in and helped the team out as Coach Troy Kemling was unable to attend due to illness.
It was a cold, wet start to the day but the girls rose to the challenge.  At the end of the first nine holes, the girls were in a dogfight for third with Hershey and Garden County, right where Coach Kemling had hoped they’d be. Unfortunately, the back nine was hard on the girls and they didn’t execute the shots that were needed to challenge for the third spot.  
“I was thrilled that Jeannie qualified for the state meet, becoming the first girl to play in the state meet four times,” said Kemling. “She has worked hard for this moment and deserves this reward. I know she will represent Perkins County well.”
He added, “It is disappointing for the other girls that their season ended today. I thought the girls gave good effort all year long and showed a desire to get better each day. I appreciate their efforts.”
District Team Scores
(Top three qualify for state)
1.  Chadron    376
2.  Bridgeport    392
3.  Hershey    436
4.  Garden County    437
5.  Valentine    450
6.  Mitchell    454
7.  Perkins County,    458
8.  Kimball    481
9.  Bayard    516
10. Mullen    554
11. Gordon-Rushville    642
Crawford    NTS
Creek Valley    NTS
Dundy Co.-Strat    NTS
Individual Qualifiers:
1. Kelli Haynes, Chad    85
2. Kaitlin Stevens, Chad    87
3. Emily Wright, Bridge    88
4. Taylor Huck, Bridge    88
5. JaCee Pilkington, Bay    89
6. Jeannie Kuskie, PC    90 (42-48)
7. Chelsea Murrell, Mit    90
8. Miranda Kluthe, Her    94
9. Tori Hager, Kim    96
10. Nicole Cox, Her    98
TIE Nicole Houston, Bridge    98
Other Perkins Co. Scores:
Emily Kiolbasa    112 (50-62)
Janet Kuskie    121 (50-71)
Stephanie Reichert    135 (67-68)