The Green Hope High School Women’s Golf team placed first in the Quad City 7 Tournament on October 8th, securing the conference championship for the Falcons. The team has a remarkable record, placing 1st three times, 2nd twice, and 3rd once this season. With hard work, determination and team chemistry at the forefront of all these efforts, the Women’s Golf Team is doing an exceptional job representing the Falcons this year.
Some key honors to note that were awarded on this day are:
- Marlo Arndts named QC7 All-Conference
- Sophia Cortes named QC7 All-Conference
- Hollie Lewis named QC7 All-Conference
- Coach Denton QC7 Women’s Golf Coach of the Year
Coach Denton’s achievement was especially notable, as this was his first year coaching the Green Hope women’s golf team, though he brings experience from coaching at other schools. He emphasizes the importance of off-season growth, explaining that “most of the growth happens in between seasons… girls calling each other, getting out on the course… They encourage each other to play in higher-level competitions off-season.” His commitment to building a strong and connected team is clear – not only in their success this year but also in his plans for the future. “Oh, 100%,” he said when asked about coaching next year. “I’ve got four or five years left in education, and they will all be in girls’ golf, 100%.”
That dedication pays off for the players as well. Marlo Arndts, player and team captain, says, “Winning the conference was a really rewarding feeling. I have been on the team for the past 3 years, and we had never won before, so to be able to win was definitely amazing.”
The family-like environment of the team has brought them to new heights this year – “I think the biggest key to our success this season was the team atmosphere we built,” Arndts said. “This year we had a smaller team, which I think led to us all becoming super close. We all became each other’s biggest supporters when we’d play.”
Balancing work with play is also a big part of Green Hopes’ success – having those silly playful moments with your team and still being able to bring it all out on the course is crucial. One of Arndt’s favorite memories came after the big win. “Going to Waffle House after winning the conference – it was pretty late and half of the team had never been, but it was a super fun way to end the day.”
Looking ahead, the team hopes to carry the momentum from their conference victory into future matches and seasons, building new connections with incoming players and continuing to strengthen the program’s legacy.
For Coach Denton, what excites him most about the upcoming season isn’t just the wins, but the relationships that are created along the way. “The connections the girls make,” he said, “that’s what it’s all about. My favorite thing to see is when I come up to somebody and say, ‘Alright, I see you got a bogey (one stroke more than par — not good) on this last one,’ and she responds, ‘How is Sophia doing?’ or ‘How is Carlie doing?’ That’s the most important thing on the golf course – when you can take whatever your problems are and replace them with the success of your teammates.”
It’s that uplifting spirit – both on and off the course- that defined Green Hope’s successes, and is heavily reflected in this season’s outcomes thus far. So let’s give Green Hope women’s golf a round of applause – and cheer them on as they continue driving towards even more wins ahead.
