LA Golf’s Sells Advancing To Regionals

Livingston Academy Freshman Golfer Gabbie Sells will play at the region tournament Monday.

In her first season of high school golf, Gabbie said she wanted to become a leader for the girls team. She is the lone Wildcat to advance beyond districts, shooting a 96 in the district tourney.

“I just really hope I can play the game I know that I can play,” Sells said. “I believe in myself and I believe I could make it to state. But I know there’s other golfers in our district and our region that’s probably quite a bit better than me. But as a freshman, I’d just be happy to play my own game that I like and I’d just really like to have fun.”

Gabbie said she fends off pre-round jitters by being as prepared as possible and playing practice rounds to familiarize herself with the course and its quirks. She said she played Deer Creek the day before the district tournament to be as comfortable on the course as possible, but it was the courses greens that were a challenge.

“I’m not very familiar with those greens and they’re not a lot like our home course’s greens,” Sells said. “They were very fast and I was really struggling with that, but I feel like I can do better next Monday with my putting.”

In her round of 96, Sells said that she was struggling off the tee and not providing herself good looks at the green. But, she said it was her approach and recovery shots that were keeping her round alive and she feels like that will continue to be a strength going forward.

Livingston Academy golf coach Buddy Sells is cherishing this accomplishment a bit more due to Gabbie being his daughter. He said this time of celebration has caused him to look back upon his own golfing career at Livingston Academy.

“30 years ago, as a freshman I played and I didn’t even make it to districts,” Buddy Sells said. “It feels good that she gets to move on and I’m extremely proud of the hard work she’s put in.”

The Regional tournament will be held at Southern Hills Golf Club in Baxter on Monday.