Sapulpa’s girls golf team may be small in number, but the Lady Chieftains enter the spring season with outsized expectations and a tight-knit roster built on accountability, leadership and hard work.
With only four players on the varsity squad, head coach Abby Boren said the group has turned a potential disadvantage into a daily strength. “This season, the Sapulpa Lady Chieftains are small but mighty. With only four team members, one on one instruction has been productive, and our girls have improved so much. We hope to see lots of PRs this season with all the hard work they have put in,” Boren said.
At the top of the lineup is junior Emerson Carpenter, whose commitment to the sport sets the tone for the rest of the team. “Emerson lives on a golf course, figuratively speaking. I do not know of another kid who puts in so much extra practice time. Her and her dad play all the time, and her skills are constantly improving,” Boren said. “She is a fantastic asset to the team on and off the course. She shows tremendous integrity and leadership.”
Freshman Ashtyn Ullrich is new to the high school roster but hardly a newcomer to the program. She came up through Sapulpa’s junior golf system and has stepped into an immediate leadership role despite her age. “Ashtyn is a freshman this year on our team, but she is not new. She has spent many years in our junior program. She knows how the team works and is already stepping up like a seasoned leader,” Boren said. “Her composure and demeaner on the course is contagious. She conducts herself with the right amount of humility and competition. She is a fantastic asset to our team.”
Sophomore Mackenna Carter returns as the Lady Chieftains’ proven postseason threat after qualifying for state as a freshman. Her experience gives Sapulpa a reliable scorer and a model of multi-sport toughness. “Mackenna is our returning state qualifier. As a freshman last year, she blew us away with her post season performance,” Boren said. “Being a multisport athlete, Mackenna is a fabulous teammate and addition to our squad. We hope that she continues to put in the work to make it to state again this year.”
Behind the scenes, Boren said the program has been strengthened by the support of booster club president Shannon Carter, who helps manage the logistics that allow players to focus on their games. “As a new coach, she has been instrumental in helping me run the program. She is informative and supports the athletes 100 percent. I appreciate everything she does for our team,” Boren said.
As the season unfolds, Sapulpa will rely on its intimate roster, targeted coaching and growing experience to chase lower scores and another trip to the state tournament. For Boren, the results will be measured not just on leaderboards, but in the steady growth she sees from four determined golfers every time they step onto the course.
