GIRLS GOLFER OF THE YEAR
Lauren Pleiman
SCHOOL Bentonville
CLASS Senior
NOTABLE Pleiman is a four-time Class 6A all-state selection and 6A-West all-conference selection. ... Finished one shot behind Emmerson Doyle of Cabot in the 6A state golf tournament. ... Lost to Pulaski Academy Anna Kate Nichols in a one-hole playoff in the state overall tournament. ... Was a member of Bentonville's 2019 Class 6A state champion golf team. ... Represented Arkansas at the 2022 Southern Cup matches and won a singles match. ... Two-time Arkansas State Golf Association tournament winner last summer. ... Won the 2022 First Tee Confidence Classic, shooting a personal-best 66 (6-under par). ... Has committed to play collegiately at the University of Cincinnati. ... Has been playing golf competitively since the age of 8.
THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID "Going into my senior season, I did a lot of tournaments over the summer and I noticed a lot of improvement, so I was excited about my high school season. I have committed to play at the University of Cincinnati and I'm excited about that. I'm looking at continuing to improve my game and get better every year. The strength of my game is my driver and long iron play. I consistently drove the ball over 275 yards and I have been putting in a lot of work on my short game. I think the biggest improvement in my game this year was on tournament strategy and course management, which helped me become a more well-rounded player."
....
BOYS GOLFER OF THE YEAR
Connor Goens
SCHOOL Fayetteville
CLASS Junior
NOTABLE Led the Bulldogs to a second-round comeback that resulted in a Class 6A state team championship. ... Finished as runner-up to Easton Denney by one stroke in the 6A state golf tournament 151-152. ... Was selected to the Class 6A all-state team each of the past two seasons. ... Fired a second-round 76 at Paradise Valley Golf Club to lead a second-round rally that led to the Bulldogs winning the state title after the team trailed by eight strokes after the first round to win by two strokes over Cabot 618-620.
THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "It was definitely scary being eight shots down. We did not want it to turn out like this after the first day, but we talked to each other about what we needed to do. Basically, we just needed to play our game and maybe fix a few shots, or fix a few holes that we made a mistake on the first day. And we had to hope the other team didn't do as well. So we kept hyping each other up ... 'We know we were the No. 1 team in Arkansas, and we got this.' And it paid off. Generally, when I play, I don't watch the scoreboard, but being down eight strokes, you want to know what's going on. But I don't like to watch the scoreboard because that just adds to the pressure. After we got the lead, I didn't watch the scoreboard anymore and I played my last four holes at one-under par."
All-NWADG Girls Golfer of the Year Lauren Pleiman (Bentonville) Go to nwaonline.com/photo to see more photos. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Spencer Tirey)
All-NWADG Boyd Golfer of the Year Connor Goens (Fayetteville) Go to nwaonline.com/photo to see more photos. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Spencer Tirey)
All-NWADG Boyd Golfer of the Year Connor Goens (Fayetteville) Go to nwaonline.com/photo to see more photos. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Spencer Tirey)