The Times 2021 Girls Golfer of the Year: Whomever she competed against, Rylee Stenzel’s game stood out

Rylee Stenzel could have utterly, unequivocally dominated the area’s girls golf scene this past fall.

Instead, the Seneca High senior chose to step back on the tee box and up to a role as a top player on a good – quite good, in fact – Fighting Irish boys team in preparation for what would hopefully be a deep run ending in her first IHSA Class 1A Girls Golf State Finals appearance to close out a stellar high school career.

It worked.

“It was amazing to get [to the IHSA State Finals]. I was so happy to finally make it,” said Stenzel, who had near-misses her freshman and sophomore seasons before the state finals her junior season were a casualty in the effort to contain the novel coronavirus. “It was a great experience, and I was glad I played better the second day (shooting a 75 at Decatur’s Red Tail Run after an opening-day 81 to finish tied for 19th). I could have played better the first, but I was so happy just to get there.”

After splitting time in the regular season between the boys and girls teams her junior year, The Times 2021 Girls Golfer of the Year used the entirety of the 2021 regular schedule competing on the boys team in preparation for the girls postseason ... and to take part in an outstanding fall for the male Fighting Irish.

“I do feel like the yardages with the boys team benefitted me, made the yardages with the girls feel way shorter. ... And our boys team this year was very good. We had a great group of players, undefeated in conference and 18-1 total. So I thought it was very worth it to play the season and [the Tri-County] Conference [Tournament] with the boys.

“We made good memories, and we always had fun. The whole season was a highlight for me, but going undefeated in conference was just amazing.”

Stenzel didn’t just play at the boys’ level, though.

She excelled.

She was statistically the Fighting Irish’s strongest golfer – male or female – averaging 41.8 strokes per nine holes, best in the program. She tied the school record for best nine-hole round with a 1-under 35 in the boys regular season before moving on to a runner-up finish in regionals and third place in a loaded girls sectional field to finally realize her dream of making it to state.

“She was our No. 1 the whole year ...” Seneca head golf coach Bryan Erickson said, “and there are so many examples of her helping the team, being a huge part of our team.

“I think she saw it as just another thing where she could compete against different players, and it brought out a different competitive edge in her. I think she saw it as another type of challenge, something that would help make her better and more competitive.”

As for what makes Stenzel a special talent – no matter where she’s teeing off from or who she’s playing against – Erickson said three things stand out.

“One, her length off the tee. Typically, you might think ‘Girls from the men’s tee don’t hit it as far,’ but she always hits it far enough where she’s not at a disadvantage.

“Putting-wise, when you look at her putting average it doesn’t stand out, but I’ve always thought of her as a clutch putter. Inside of five feet, she just doesn’t miss those putts, and that’s the difference between shooting a 42 or a 39 some days.

“And a third thing, she doesn’t take big numbers [on individual holes]. Finalizing the stats, I have an ‘other’ column for anything higher than a double bogey. I don’t think she had more than six or seven all season. She always minimized the damage.”

“I think my strength would definitely be that I can play from whatever yardages and consistently shoot what I do, no matter the yardage,” Stenzel said.

So what’s next?

“I have no special plans for next year yet,” she said, “but I know 100% I will be playing golf.”