Greg Uptain
Special to the Post-Dispatch
Visitation golf coach Julie Jones remembers the first time she encountered a freshman newcomer four years ago.
“I remember we were on the range that first day of practice her freshman year and I heard her hit a golf ball,” Jones said. “I wasn’t even really watching; I was looking at somebody else. And just the sound was so different, and I was like, ‘What’s going on over here?’ ”
The freshman hitting the ball was Avery McLaughlin, who was just beginning a memorable journey as a member of the Vivettes golf team.
McLaughlin went on to have three all-state (top 15) individual finishes and would be a big part of three state championship teams at Viz.
That culminated in an individual tie for 14th place at this year’s Class 4 state tournament at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau and the Vivettes’ second successive team championship in the state’s highest classification after also winning the Class 2 title in 2021.
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For her efforts, McLaughlin is the Post-Dispatch All-Metro girls golfer of the year.
“I would say my senior season was pretty consistent for the most part,” she said. “I got off to a bit of a slow start and then I kind of picked it up in the middle of the season. Obviously, state didn’t go how I wanted it to, but I’m just happy we had that team win and I just tried to hang in there as long as I could.”
For McLaughlin to win an individual award flies in the face of all that she believes in. She is team-first all the way.
“I would trade any individual success for team success,” she said. “I’m just so proud of our group of girls. Playing for not just yourself but your teammates is a big thing on our team. I think that’s honestly why we’ve been so successful.”
That kind of team-first attitude cries natural born leader and that’s what McLaughlin is.
Jones said she’s seen that trait in her standout for a long time now.
“She’s a remarkable leader and teammate. She’s got a huge heart. She really sees the whole picture in terms of it’s not about her and she appreciates the fact that golf is a team sport in high school,” Jones said. “She’s definitely grown in that leadership role as the years progress. She’s very aware that her playing ability sets her apart and makes her an automatic leader on the team. She’s always been very mature in how she handled that responsibility. She’s wise beyond her years.”
Avery McLaughlin (holding trophy), coach Julie Jones (right) and the Visitation team celebrate Tuesday after repeating as the Class 4 girls golf state team championship Tuesday at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau.
Gordon Radford
McLaughlin said she’s taken to heart the role of leading the younger core of Vivettes, which includes her sophomore sister Olivia.
“That’s really the point of high school,” she said. “You take it from the older girls and pass it on to the younger girls. That’s really what I’ve tried to do as a captain this year and a teammate in general.”
On the course, McLaughlin was rock solid as usual.
She fired a sizzling 4-under-par 67 at the Golf Club of Wentzville to win the prestigious Angel Classic title on Oct. 1.
“I think everything was kind of clicking,” she said. “Leading up to that day, I was playing good golf but not great golf. And that’s just kind of the day it all came together for me. During the week prior, I just tried to get myself in a mindset to try and kick it into gear. It was a very fun round. It was easygoing. You just feel comfortable out there when that happens.”
Prior to state, McLaughlin earned her second straight district championship, this one by just one stroke at Westborough Country Club.
“That’s really what it all comes down to,” she said. “All the season tournaments are awesome, but it’s nice to win when it counts and when your team needs you to show up.”
At the state tourney, McLaughlin had a solid first-round score of 78 to place her just four shots off the lead. But a tough final round of 85 knocked her from individual title contention.
Even so, her efforts and those of her teammates allowed them to hold off rival St. Joseph’s by just three strokes for the team title.
“She would have liked more at state (individually). But when you look at the body of work, not even this year, but her contribution to her school and team and what she’s done at state the last four years is pretty remarkable,” Jones said. “She has lots to be proud of. She had high expectations for herself, so I have never had to ask her for more. But she has delivered year in and year out.”
McLaughlin will play golf in college next year at Richmond, a place she said, “just felt right.”
“I would say it was academics and the people,” she said. “When I met the coach, she just really had the values I aligned with.”
Jones, for one, believes her standout will stand out even more at the next level.
“She has the skillset and the work ethic to be successful at D-I golf,” Jones said. “Will there be additional refinements? Of course. But she’s got such a solid foundation that I have no doubt she will be successful. The sky’s the limit. Whatever she wants out of golf, she can have it.”
Read about the St. Louis area’s top high school girls golfers and their accomplishments throughout the 2024 season.
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