Taylor Smith, Sports Editor
There isn’t much Kennedy Thacker hasn’t accomplished on a golf course.
The recent Eagle Grove graduate has been All-Conference three times, team captain three times, and is a two-time Regional Final qualifier. To top it off, Thacker even has TWO hole-in-ones to her name.
Still, there was a pesky milestone that eluded her.
On May 21 at Clarmond Country Club, Thacker shot a 101 through 18-holes at Eagle Grove’s Class 2A Sectional Tournament. With her sixth-place individual finish, she advanced to the Regional Final for a chance to qualify for State for the first time.
“Advancing to the regional final this year felt very similar to the first time I made it,” Thacker remarked. “I was nervous about being the only girl from my team, but knowing that I had my support system gave me peace of mind. That made walking into what could have been my last meet a little easier.”
It wouldn’t be her last meet, though. Thacker kept her season alive with a 91 through 18-holes at Pine Lake Country Club in Eldora for a sixth-place showing. This time to the Class 2A State Meet at Cedar Pointe Golf Course in Boone.
“Advancing to state was surreal,” she recalled. “I had an average day on the course and expected to score better. Sitting in the clubhouse, waiting for the last scores to roll in, knowing I was tied for the final state position—I was so nervous. But the moment I realized I had made it, it felt like my dad and I had finally reached a goal we had been chasing for years.”
Coach Richard Thacker, Kennedy’s father, is Eagle Grove’s girls’ golf coach. When Kennedy was a little younger, she says her dad would take her to high school meets and helped nurture her love for the sport.
“Playing for my dad has been such a big part of my growth—not just in golf, but in life,” Kennedy commented. “There were so many tears, so many emotions, and so many goals we worked toward together. He helped me practice chipping for hours in our house, took me to lessons, got me involved in Drive, Chip, and Putt, and gave me encouragement—even when I didn’t always want to hear it. He’s been everything I needed, both on and off the course.”
That guidance combined with a desire to learn paid off in big ways. Off the course, Kennedy is a member of the National Honor Society. On the course, she finished 24th in a field of over 70 golfers on her sport’s biggest stage.
On May 29th and 30th, Kennedy went up against the best in the state at Cedar Pointe. She finished with a 95 on Thursday and an 85 on Friday for a total of 180 (+36).
“This year, I came into the season with a completely different mindset,” Thacker revealed when asked about her breakout season. “I wanted to make this year the best it could possibly be—especially since I knew it would be my last season with my dad by my side.”
In her closing statement, Kennedy encouraged new golfers to give the sport a try and praised the continued progress of Eagle Grove’s girls’ golf program.
“I wish more people understood that golf is so much more than a sport—it’s a lifelong teacher,” said Thacker. “Golf teaches you about yourself. It brings people together and stays with you forever. I encourage everyone to try it, and to always remember to trust yourself and have fun. Lastly, I hope the Eagle Grove Girls Golf team continues to do great things! I will be cheering you all on!”
