Norwayne's Hostettler embraces challenge with second district golf berth

Over the years, only a handful of girl golfers have advanced to districts, with an even smaller number having made it twice. Count Norwayne senior Kylie Hostettler among those few, and in Bobcats history, she remains their only female district qualifier, accomplishing it twice now.

She advanced out of the Division II Northeast Sectional at The Pines with a 91 to finish eighth. By press time she will have teed off at J.E. Good Park Golf Course to kick off the Div. II Northeast District.

“I couldn’t be more proud,” Norwayne coach Joe Chaffin said. “There haven’t been a ton of girls who’ve made it twice, so it is rare and special. She needs to embrace that, accept the challenge and be ready for districts.”

For Hostettler, joining that short list of returnees to districts was something that nearly didn’t happen this year. Early on, she wasn’t swinging her best on the links, and it took her smiling and realizing how much she loves the game to turn that corner.

“At the beginning of the season, it was kind of rough,” she said. “I felt that I didn’t really belong or felt that I didn’t really need to be there with the boys. Then I was like, ‘You like the game, so just keep going.’ It worked out here at the end of the season.”

Finding her place, finding her groove and her swing, Hostettler smiled when asked where her biggest improvement had come.

“My mental game,” she said. “It has been through the ups and downs this year, and I have learned a lot from that.”

Now with districts on Wednesday, in Hostettler’s eyes, it’s kind of a new lease on life and a chance to do it all over again.

“It’s exciting to get back to districts,” she said. “I really wanted to get back, and especially with the season that I had. It’s just a little redo.”

With her shot at state hanging in the balance, Hostettler’s smile and candid personality seem almost perfect for the moment. Still looking to shoot her best round yet, she just wants to have fun, embrace the moment and, yes, smile.

“I just want to go out there and have fun, be positive, and not put too much pressure on myself,” she said. “It would be really awesome to get to state. I’ve always wanted to, but if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen, and if it does, it’s great.”

When asked for his last advice to her, that’s nearly the same line Chaffin summed up.

“Golf is not easy to play when you’re upset, so go out and have fun,” he said. “For Kylie, that’s easy because she’s always smiling and always lighthearted. At the same time, she is very competitive and very focused. She knows the task at hand, and we just hope the putts fall.”

Adding to that hope is the growth she has shown, which has Chaffin pretty excited.

“She has grown a ton as a player, and heading into districts this year, there is an expectation,” he said. “She knows what to expect. She’s played the course multiple times and is ready to go.”

Now it’s just about smiling and having fun, and as Chaffin summed up Hostettler in one word, the “devoted” golfer is ready.

“She has put in a ton of time, and the results speak for themselves,” Chaffin said.

With a smile Hostettler echoed her coach.

“It’s going to be fine," she said. "I’ve been looking forward to this."