By Kyle Daubs

Taryn Pearson won’t say that she is the No. 1 golfer on the Charleston High girls team. 

It has nothing to do with confidence in her game.

She just doesn’t know who it is. 

Pearson is one of four returning golfers from a team that captured its eighth straight regional title and its first Apollo Conference title in five years. With All-Apollo golfer Hannah Harpster now competing at Illinois College, Pearson believes that one of any four girls, as well as some newcomers, can compete for the top spot on the team. 

“Stacy Zerbst is a senior, and she has potential to be a No. 1,” said Pearson. “Madeline Sanders is a junior, and she has shot some pretty low scores. We have Riley Babbs back, and she’s going to be pretty good. Some new girls have done some pretty good things, too. I think there is going to be a lot of competition for the top spot.”

Pearson tied with Harpster for fourth at the Apollo Conference match, shedding 24 strokes off her score from her 2019 performance in conference at the Lake of the Woods course.

“It gives me hope moving forward,” said Pearson. “Not every round is going to be the same as the round before. The conference was one of my better rounds the whole season.”

Pearson had another solid round at the Sectional, carding a 99 to help lead CHS earn a tie for second overall. Had there been a state tournament, Charleston would have qualified.

“I’d like us to keep it up and win the matches that lead up to the state,” said Pearson. “I think if we try our best, we have a shot to do it.”

Pearson isn’t worried about what comes after high school for now, but instead to go out and enjoy her final year as a golfer. 

“I just want my senior year to be fun,” said Pearson. “I’m going to enjoy the last year. My goal is to shoot below the 50s, for sure. It would be cool to be up in the top spots, but I just want to have some fun.”