Grapevine golfer goes from freshman novice to all-district

Sometimes, parents can make some productive suggestions.

When Baylee Oehlert’s mom and dad encouraged her to try golf before her freshman year at Grapevine, Oehlert thought, “why not?” and gave it a try.

Now a senior, Oehlert just finished the recent District 6-5A golf tournament and finished third as an individual and worthy of an all-district team appointment.

As a team, the Lady Mustangs took home their second consecutive district title and are now headed to Lubbock for the Region I tournament. They hope to qualify for a return to the state for the third straight year.

Although Oehlert seemed a natural swinging the club, success at the game didn’t come immediately to her, she said.

“The first 18 holes I played was during the tryouts that freshman year,” Oehlert said.

Oehlert admitted her play has been a work in progress.

“When I first started, I loved it and my scores have gone down about 10 strokes each year,” she said.

That first season, Oehlert said her best score was 110.

“It keeps going good so I keep playing, and the scores are lower and lower.”

Her best round this year was in September at Lake Park where she shot a 71-75 and tied for medalist honors.

What keeps Oehlert excited about playing the game is the unpredictability.

“There are so many different ways to play a golf course,” she explained. “You can play the same course twice and you won’t play it the same way twice. There are always way to improve your game.”

When asked for which aspect of her game is the strongest, Oehlert joked, “Most of the time it’s putting. The last couple of days, it wasn’t putting.”

She said her long drives have been a big support to her game lately, though.

What has helped Oehlert steadily improve her game has been constant practice she said. Whether it’s hitting balls on the range or focusing on her short game, she said her approach has been “nothing fancy” but it’s just a matter of being able to swing the club consistently.

Oehlert and her teammates will now focus on going back to Lubbock where they finished behind Aledo last year.

The first day of the regionals in 2015 saw rain and wind and corresponding high scores.

Oehlert said she shot a 99 on Day 1 last year and was just one of six golfers to finish. She shot an 81 the second day enroute to the runner-up spot.

“I’ll try not to pressure myself into a 78,” Oehlert said of trying to hit a target score this year. “I just want to improve from last year.”

When the Lady Mustangs got to the state meet last year, they finished seventh overall as a team.

This year, not only does Oehlert feel they will qualify, but expects the talent of the Grapevine team to make a top five finish.

Being on the big stage in Austin for the state tournament is now more of a known commodity for the girls and that experience should help better their finish.

In addition to Oehlert being named to the all-district team, other Grapevine players include Lauren Chasczewski – the 2016 district champion – and teammates Anna Takahashi, district runner-up, Elly Baze, Kelsie Siporin, Karli Livingston, Alexia Saenz and Amanda Berry.

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 3:43 PM with the headline "Grapevine golfer goes from freshman novice to all-district."