Semoball

2021 All-Southeast Missourian girls golf: Jackson's Kaydi Rhodes, Ella Overstreet earn Co-Player of the Year honors

Jackson's Kaydi Rhodes finished with All-State honors after placing fifth at the MSHSAA Class 4 State Golf Championships last year.
J.C. Reeves ~ jcreeves@semoball.com, file

The senior duo of Kaydi Rhodes and Ella Overstreet played a major role in the Jackson Indians' third-place finish in the 2021 MSHSAA Class 4 Girls Golf State Championships.

Jackson's Ella Overstreet finished with All-State honors after placing 15th at the MSHSAA Class 4 State Golf Championships last year.
J.C. Reeves ~ jcreeves@semoball.com, file

Their success on the course this season has earned the pair Co-Southeast Missourian Girls Golfer of the Year honors.

"It's a really big honor to share this title with Ella," Rhodes said. "I feel like we both put in a lot of work throughout the season to better our games, so it feels good to be recognized for that."

Both golfers made the All-State team, with Rhodes finishing fifth overall and Overstreet finishing 15th.

"I feel like I played really good," Rhodes said. "Both days there was one hole that kind of messed up the round that I had going. The second day I had a really good round going, and then we couldn't find my ball on a hole which led to a double or triple bogey. That was really devastating, but I guess it can happen. But I was really proud of myself."

While Overstreet wasn't as pleased with her performance at state, she enjoyed soaking in her last chance to play with her Jackson teammates.

"After a bad two rounds, I was just like, 'Oh well, I get one last time playing with all my teammates,' " Overstreet said. "It was an awesome feeling to just be playing together for the last time. It was kind of emotional seeing us all go different ways, but it was really, really neat."

In addition to earning All-State honors, the pair tied for second at the Class 4 District 1 championships.

Rhodes and Overstreet both committed to play golf at Division I universities. Rhodes is headed to Tennessee Tech and Overstreet will play at Southern Illinois. Overstreet had multiple reasons for her decision to attend SIU, while Rhodes felt she would fit in well at TTU.

"What made me choose SIU was just the area, I love the coach and I know some people who go there and they just love it," Overstreet said. "Carsen Silliman, he played at Jackson last year for the boys' golf team, he was really the person who made me commit to SIU. He loves it there. Honestly, I think it was the best pick for me."

"A lot of the players that are currently there have reached out to me, so I feel very welcome," Rhodes said. "I really connected with the coach and I love the school. It had a very good atmosphere and was really nice there. I feel like I can succeed with my golf game there, but also academically."

First-year coach Jim Brady credited both Rhodes and Overstreet for making his inaugural season a success and believes having the opportunity to see them play will make him a better coach in the future.

"They were a big help just with setting up practices and being able to help with the players on our team," Brady said. "They were by and large the biggest part of our team so both on the course and as teammates.

"I got to witness their greatness, and, hopefully, I can use that for some other girls going forward. I think it's the biggest thing that rubbed off on me was to see what it actually takes to be a Division I girls golfer and what it looks like."

All-Southeast Missourian girls golf team

Alana Gilbert, Jackson

Ella Overstreet, Jackson

Jacie Pattengill, Jackson

Kaydi Rhodes, Jackson

Paige Compardo, Notre Dame

Elizabeth Barnette, Notre Dame

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