Elletts begin final season together

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Taylor and Connie Ellett have a hard time envisioning golf without one another.

The sisters from Hampshire have dominated the Whip Purs’ golf program since Taylor became the first freshman girls golfer in school history to qualify for the state tournament.

Last season, Connie – the reigning Northwest Herald Girls Golfer of the Year – followed her big sister’s footsteps to the Class AA State Tournament and placed 25th as a sophomore. Taylor finished 43rd.

With the season set to tee off today, the Elletts once again have set the bar high.

But no matter what the season brings, one thing is for sure.

Taylor, a senior, and Connie, a junior, will have each other’s back in their final year together with the Whip-Purs.

“When things aren’t going your way [on the golf course], the girls on the other team aren’t going to help you out,” Taylor said. “Your sister will always be there to cheer you up if you’re not doing so hot.

“I’ve tried to set a good example for Connie, but she has always handled herself pretty well. We just try to pick the other up when one of us is down.”

Taylor and Connie have played in about nine tournaments this summer, according to the sisters’ mother and coach, Sue Ellett, including a one-two finish, respectively, at the IJGA-CDGA Junior Amateur on July 8.

Both have seen four strokes come off their average since summer began.

But not all tournaments allow siblings to play in the same event, so the school season couldn’t have come any faster for Taylor and Connie.

“It’s so much fun to play with Taylor because we feed off of each other’s energy,” Connie said. “In my first year as a freshman, I knew I could shoot and put up pretty good scores, but [Taylor] helped me along and pushed me to do better.

“She took me under her arm, and was like, ‘Alright, you’ll do fine. Don’t be nervous.’ I’ve been fine since.”

Last season, Hampshire won its second consecutive Big Northern Conference championship by finishing 49 strokes ahead of second-place Lutheran. Connie earned medalist honors with 7-over-par-79, and Taylor took third place with an 83.

This summer, Taylor and Connie each averaged 77s, and they expect the Whip-Purs to win another conference title this year.

“I’d like to win the [BNC] tournament, but if I don’t, I think Taylor should win it,” Connie said. “And, of course, we’ll both be cheering each other on to make it to state.”

Not surprisingly, Taylor had a similar outlook for Connie and herself.

“My goal is to win the conference tournament as a senior,” Taylor said. “But if I don’t win it, I’d love for Connie to win it again.”