Lone senior leads Quabbin's golf team, earns Golfer of Year honor for contributions

Quabbin represents the Gardner-area in Central Mass. girls golf. Though a young and learning group, the Panthers came into their own this season, with only one senior, one sophomore and five freshmen – four that had never picked up a club before.

The lone senior has led the golf team and continued to help keep the program alive and well, going up against regional schools and Div. 1 teams.

That is why Kylie Casey, senior captain of Quabbin girls' golf, has earned The Gardner News Girls Golfer of the Year Award.

Casey is a talented two-sport athlete at Quabbin. Before golf season, she led the Panthers to a Central Mass. title for field hockey.

This golf season she returned as a two-time captain as well as two-time MVP and league All-Star. Her contributions include medaling five times throughout the season and averaging the lowest score on the team.

"It was almost like she was as second coach because of the age difference, having five freshman and a sophomore," Quabbin golf coach Richard Lindsten said. "She was much more mature in areas and organized everything."

Casey and her younger sister, freshman Makenzie, also represented at the MIAA Spring Golf Championships.

"[She was] a good role model, she never got too high or too low and encouraged the other girls and tried to help them on the range. Always positive, just a good captain the last couple years," Lindsten said.

Casey will be attending Worcester State in the fall and participate as a member of the field hockey team.