By Rick Cassano

CLEVES – The success of Harrison High School’s girls golf season can be seen in the list of achievements that continues to grow.

The Wildcats have never advanced an individual or a team out of sectional play, and that drought may or may not end this year. But first-year head coach Richard Newsom said something is being built within the program.

“There’s a lot of ways to define success,” Newsom said. “For this team, history dictates that the sectional is probably going to be an uphill battle, especially as inexperienced as we are. But I’m very, very pleased with the progress and how much they’re doing and how much they’re getting better each week. We’re excited for the future. I’m looking forward to what comes next for these girls.”

Wednesday’s match with Mount Notre Dame at Miami View Golf Club was emblematic of a team on the rise and dealing with growing pains at the same time. Harrison lost 188-198 on the par-35 front nine as medalist honors were shared by the Wildcats’ Ava Farmer and Sophia Viltro and MND’s Elin Jurkowitz, who all shot 46.

It went down as a defeat, but the 198 and the 46s were the best-ever showings by Harrison at Miami View.

“MND is a perennial powerhouse,” Newsom said. “Our girls had never broken 200 at this course until today. The numbers weren’t as low as the girls would like to see, but given the difficulty of the course, I was pleased for the most part with how we did. This is a course a lot of high school girls struggle on, and we definitely played a lot better than the last time we played here against Seton.”

That loss to Seton was a 186-223 decision on Aug. 17. Viltro, a senior, said it felt great for the team to play better this time around at Miami View, including her.

“I was proud of myself for improving on what I did last time,” Viltro said. “Today I think I focused more on each of my shots because I knew that every one of them was going to count. I putted a lot better and my irons were pretty good … irons are generally my strength.”

Farmer, a junior, said she had more steady play than a standout part of her game.

“The fairways were in pretty good shape,” Farmer said. “We didn’t have really bad lies, so it went pretty well.”

Senior Sophia Merrill (48), senior Jillian Magalski (58) and freshman Elaina Wyke (62) rounded out the Wildcats’ lineup. Jurkowitz was one of four freshmen competing for the Cougars.

“This was a pretty good day,” MND coach Don Minning said. “We’ve had better, but this is a tough course, it was extremely hot, and we have a young team. We got a win out of it and the girls got some experience on a tough golf course, so that’s a good thing.

“I’m really excited about coaching this group. This team will take its lumps, but in the future, we’re going to be very good.”

Wednesday was the second straight record-breaking day for the Wildcats. They played Mariemont and Madeira at The Mill Course on Tuesday, with Viltro’s 41 and Harrison’s 185 ranking as the program’s best-ever scores at The Mill.

Viltro finished strong Tuesday and notched a birdie on the eighth hole. The 41 tied her personal-best effort.

“I figured out my driver halfway through … it was frustrating me early in the day,” Viltro said. “Once I figured that out, I think it kind of clicked. I was on a roll for the last few holes.”

Viltro, Farmer and Merrill are the Wildcats’ returnees this season. Magalski and Wyke are first-time golfers who have made big strides in a short period of time.

Newsom said there are only 10 girls in the program and one of them – sophomore Alice Essen – can’t play this year after undergoing shoulder surgery.

“We only have five girls play some matches and only four play a lot of matches,” Newsom said. “We’ve got a lot of things in the works on the junior high side of things to try to improve our numbers.”

Harrison doesn’t have a league championship to play for, but the Wildcats have been able to defeat a lot of teams this season, particularly in tournaments.

“If you go by wins and losses, we have 29 wins on the season. I was expecting zero,” Newsom said. “We’ve performed far, far above expectations. And if you take wins and losses out of the equation, I’m even more pleased with the girls and how wonderful they are to be around. They’re terrific. We enjoy every day.”

Newsom noted that a MND parent pulled him aside after Wednesday’s round and commented on the sportsmanship and positivity displayed by some of his players.

The Wildcats took the first trip in program history Aug. 22, competing in the Barren County Trojanettes Invitational at Willow Oaks Golf Club in Glasgow, Ky.

“They made the whole deal out of it – hit the outlet malls, went through a tour of Mammoth Cave and rented a cabin and had a couple mom chaperones while I stayed at a hotel a couple miles down the road,” Newsom said. “They just had so much fun. It made them fall in love not just with golf, but the golf experience.”

Harrison will compete in the Division I sectional at Walden Ponds Golf Club on Sept. 15. Newsom said Farmer and Viltro are the team’s best shots to make it out of the sectional.

The Wildcats have had some recent close calls. Farmer finished two strokes behind the final district qualifier last year. Maggie Seiter came up four strokes short in 2024.

“We’re knocking on the door,” said Newsom, noting that the program has been around for 25 years.

Farmer and Viltro both take the game seriously, though Viltro said Farmer may be the more dedicated player.

“I do try my best and go out whenever I can,” Viltro said. “I was kind of busy this summer with work and vacations and stuff, so I didn’t get out as much as I wanted to. I think I made do with the time I had.”

Farmer said she loves the team aspect of golf.

“I’d say whenever we’re together, we’re always having a good time, no matter how bad we played,” Farmer said. “We all have our off days, but our off days don’t define us. Whenever I have a bad round and I’m already being hard on myself, it’s always nice to know that the entire team are all my best friends and I get to talk to them when I’m done.”

Viltro said she gave up playing softball after her freshman year “because it messed up my golf swing. Golf’s all I do now.”

She said she’d love to advance to the district tournament, “but I just want to know that I gave it my best shot and tried my best. If that isn’t good enough, then so be it.”

The Wildcats will have their Senior Night match Tuesday against East Central (Ind.) at Hidden Valley Golf Club in Lawrenceburg, Ind.

“My dad will caddy for me. It’ll be really fun,” Viltro said. “I’m going to be emotional because I’m going to miss playing with Ava -- she’s my best friend at golf and not at golf. I’ll probably be a little emotional with my dad too because he really likes golf a lot. He kind of started that for me.”

MND will participate in the Girls Greater Catholic League tournament Tuesday at Glenview Golf Course.

Mount Notre Dame 188, Harrison 198

MND: Elin Jurkowitz 46, Aubrey Lambert 47, Audrey Steinmetz 47, Emma Markle 48, Molly Earhart 51, Olivia Koretchko 52

Harrison: Ava Farmer 46, Sophia Viltro 46, Sophia Merrill 48, Jillian Magalski 58, Elaina Wyke 62