For Ashley Goodin, watching Ila Loy compete in the state golf finals was more than seeing one of her players reach a milestone.
Fourteen years earlier, Goodin had been the last individual golfer from Adair County to reach that stage herself.
Now, as Loy’s coach, Goodin watched the freshman follow in her footsteps, becoming the first Lady Indians golfer in 14 years to advance to the state finals. But while the accomplishment marked a significant moment for the program, Goodin believes it is only the beginning of what Loy can achieve.
“I think she needs to be first team all state,” Goodin said. “I think she needs to be the fourth region player of the year. I think she needs to win Heartland. I think she needs to win region.”
Loy finished tied for 42nd at the state tournament after shooting an 83 in the first round and an 85 in the second. The finish gave her valuable experience competing against some of Kentucky’s top golfers and a glimpse of what she can work toward during the remaining years of her high school career.
When asked whether she believed she could accomplish the goals Goodin had set for her, Loy answered confidently.
“I think I can do that,” she said.
Loy’s journey in golf began when her grandfather introduced her to the sport at about 6 years old. What started as a recreational activity grew into tournament competition around age 9, and she has been involved with the Lady Indians program since fifth grade.
Her family has remained a major source of encouragement, but Loy also has a personal goal that keeps her motivated through the challenges of the sport.
“I want to play college golf,” Loy said.
Goodin said she recognized Loy’s potential early, knowing her family and watching her develop as a young golfer. One of the qualities that stood out was her ability to take instruction and put it into practice.
“She really can, if I tell her to do something, she executes what I want her to do,” Goodin said. “And a lot of people don’t do that.”
That ability, combined with Loy’s shot control and composure, has helped her develop throughout her freshman season. Goodin said Loy has improved in knowing when to take risks and how to make decisions on the course, skills that become increasingly important as competition gets tougher.
The coach also sees a level of talent that she believes Loy is still learning to recognize in herself.
“She’s very humble about it,” Goodin said. “She’s so unbelievably talented.”
For Goodin, Loy’s potential extends beyond one state tournament appearance. She believes the freshman has the ability to become one of the top golfers in the region and state if she continues developing her game and setting ambitious goals.
Reaching the state finals was an important step toward that future, but getting there required Loy to work through challenges both before and during the tournament.
Goodin said Loy woke up around 3 a.m. and did not sleep well before competition. Her routine was disrupted, and she warmed up while it was still dark. The difficult course conditions and early setbacks added to the challenge.
Still, Loy kept going.
“Grit,” Goodin said when asked what impressed her most about Loy during the tournament. “There were so many things that went wrong leading up to it.”
Rather than allowing a poor hole to affect the rest of her round, Loy said she tried to forget the mistakes and focus on what came next. She also identified mental toughness as one of the lessons golf has taught her beyond the course.
When asked how she resets after a difficult stretch, Loy offered a simple answer.
“I usually eat something,” she said, adding that apple juice is also part of her routine.
Goodin said helping Loy develop mental toughness requires understanding when to distract her from frustration and when to bring her attention back to the details of a shot. That balance is especially important in golf, where players must make adjustments independently and cannot rely on teammates to recover from mistakes.
Loy’s commitment to improving also extends beyond team practices. Goodin said she can tell when golfers put in extra work on their own, and that dedication makes a difference in competition.
“She practices on her own,” Goodin said. “I mean, a lot of people don’t do that, but you can tell, I mean, when people practice and when they don’t practice, it shows up.”
As Loy prepares for her sophomore season, she and Goodin have identified approach shots as an area to improve. Goodin said becoming more consistent from within 100 yards could help Loy turn good positions into lower scores.
Although Loy’s state tournament scores were not what she and her coach had hoped for, the experience provided a foundation for future success.
“It was a good experience for her,” Goodin said. “We have more goals moving forward now that she knows what it’s like.”
Goodin said she intentionally entered her golfers in challenging tournaments to prepare them for the possibility of reaching the state championship. Seeing Loy accomplish that goal as a freshman was a moment she had anticipated, but one that still felt surreal when it happened.
“I don’t think that people truly understand the magnitude of reaching that state level,” Goodin said.
For Loy, the experience brought excitement, pride and a clearer understanding of what competing at the highest level requires. For Goodin, it reinforced her belief that the freshman can accomplish much more.
Fourteen years after Goodin made her own state finals appearance, she now has the opportunity to guide another Lady Indian through that experience. With three seasons of high school golf still ahead of her, Loy has time to work toward the goals her coach believes are within reach.
The state finals appearance was a milestone for Adair County, but Goodin hopes it becomes a starting point for Loy rather than the defining moment of her career.
By Lily Coots
reporter@adairvoice.com
