Rayborn breaks barriers, shines as Malvern’s lone female golfer

You’d think it would be impossible to properly execute a smooth golf backswing with a chip on one’s shoulder. But you’d be wrong.

After all, Kami Rayborn, who’s been the lone female on the Malvern boys golf team, has been doing it these past four years.

Truth be told, however, Rayborn is simply too good-natured for anyone to ever describe her as harboring a grudge for a past grievance.

“Kami has exemplified what it means to be a ‘class act’ on the golf course and within our hallways at Malvern for her four years,” said her coach Lance Gram. “She is one of the most genuine and kindhearted people you will ever meet.” 

That is not to say that Rayborn has never drawn a measure of joy from besting male opponents – which occurs more often than you might think.

“I definitely feel proud when I am able to contribute to my team’s score,” said Rayborn. “One memory that will always stick with me is when I shot a career low 37, and beat every boy that competed in the match that day.”

Opponents see her warming up before a match and assume Malvern is at a competitive disadvantage in not fielding an all-boys roster. They do that at their own peril, for in Rayborn’s experience, it is the opposite. And before you ask, since it is boys golf, Rayborn tees off from the men’s tees, just like everyone else.

“I feel like playing against a girl puts a lot of pressure on them,” she said. “Usually boys are intrigued that I have to play from the men’s tees because you don’t often see high school girls play from those tees.”

So how did Rayborn develop the skills to qualify individually for the OHSAA district tournament three consecutive years? Well, like so many students of her age, the COVID-19 pandemic shaped Rayborn’s future in providing her with extra time to spend with her father.

“I have been playing golf since sixth grade,” she said. “When COVID hit, my dad and I spent lots of time on the golf course, so he’s taught me everything I know about golf.”

Wide open spaces such as golf courses are a wonderful place to spend time during quarantine and everyone is under orders to maintain social distancing. And when high school rolled around, Rayborn was not about to let the absence of a girls’ team stop her from continuing to play the sport she had grown to love.

There was never any discomfort or growing pains when Rayborn, as a freshman, tried out and was selected for the boys team. Far from it.

“The boys on my team definitely make me feel welcomed,” she said. “Having been around them the last four years, they have definitely grown to feel like brothers.”

The one drawback is that when postseason play begins, Rayborn can’t compete with her teammates. Instead, she competes in the girls sectional tourney. Yet even then, considering the level of camaraderie between the Hornets, Rayborn is never alone.

“Well of course my parents and coaches always show up to support me,” she said. “But something I appreciate immensely is my teammates always showing up to cheer me on, since their tournaments usually fall on a different day than mine.”

The first day of October was a bittersweet day for Rayborn as she played her last round of golf as a Hornet at the Div. II East District Tournament at Cambridge Country Club. Rayborn placed 20th after firing a round of 96, missing out on her last chance to advance to the state tournament.

“Knowing that it was potentially my last round in high school I played with a lot more added pressure on myself and did not play as well as I had hoped,” she said. “With the support of my friends and family there, I still soaked in every moment of it.”

As one chapter ends, a new one looms for the senior. Rayborn has yet to select where she will matriculate, but said, “I would definitely love to play golf in college if I get the opportunity.”

One thing is certain. Considering the impressive career Rayborn did at a high school without a girls team, don’t count out her also having a successful career at the college level.