Oak Park and River Forest High School sent a single golfer to the IHSA state finals in Decatur: sophomore Nadia Vattana, who closed her memorable season Oct. 17 to 19 with an impressive tie for 55th place. 

After a strong start on Friday, Oct. 18, Vattana pushed forward into Saturday as she sent numerous other players home. She continued battling and finished strong. The OPRF girl’s golf page on Instagram announced that she “shot a gritty 84 on Friday and an even better 82 on Saturday,” a great feat after her fourth place finish at regionals.

Golfing is not new to Vattana, who said, “I started golfing when I was in about sixth grade.” Her journey became more impressive when she admitted she “didn’t take it seriously until 8th grade, and that’s when I started really enjoying the sport.” 

Sports like golf are difficult because players require mental resilience while alone during games. These games can take up to four hours of mentally taxing play. Vattana is able to prepare for these games because she “tr(ies) to remember this whole thing is a process,” she said.

“I’ve struggled with this my whole golfing career. I would get extremely frustrated with how I was playing,” Vattana added.

Although golf is a solo sport, Vattana’s team still supported and encouraged her every step of the way. Teammate Jenny Keane, a senior, said, “She definitely takes practice the most seriously but still finds time to joke around with the girls and have fun.”

Being a high-performance athlete means practicing like you play and playing how you practice. Vattana is well-versed in dedicating herself to tough practices, Keane agreed, saying, “She takes pride in practicing hard.”

Head Coach Matthew McMurray said, “She works harder and more diligently, especially in the off-season, than anyone I’ve ever coached.”

Vattana’s drew inspiration from the Illinois Junior Golf Association (IJGA) player’s challenge at Whitetail Ridge, which was especially helpful in developing her skills. She placed first in the challenge and said that it was a great experience because “I got to play with some competitive players.”

As a sophomore, Vattana’s road is far from over. “She’s very dedicated and determined to get better, even though she’s already one of the top competitors in the state,” said Keane. Vattana exhibits strong dedication and drive, both are driving factors of her success.

“She sets that example for the other girls,” said McMurray. “She’s become one of the kids that the newer kids…look up to.”