Busque & Jordan are State Golf Bound

Busque, Jordan keep Lady Bulldog state run alive

By Dave Roberts
Davesports Regional

The beat goes on for the Rolla High School Lady Bulldog golf team, thanks to senior Madison Busque and sophomore Brylan Jordan.
For the 10th consecutive year the Lady Bulldogs will be sending at least one golfer to the Missouri State Championships.
Both Busque and Jordan advanced to the Missouri Class 3 State Tournament with their respective performances at the District 3 Tournament Thursday, Oct. 8 at West Plains Country Club.
Busque tied for 14th overall while Jordan tied for 16th overall at the District 3 Tournament to move on as individuals. Busque shot 29-over-par 99 and Jordan 100.
The Lady Bulldog duo are to compete in the Class 3 State Tourney Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 19-20 at Meadow Lake Acres Country Club at New Bloomfield.
Zack Nixon has had great success in sending both boys’ and girls’ golfers to the postseason in the past decade, and is proud of this year’s group making it 10 years in a row for the Lady Dogs.
“It speaks volumes for the kids we’ve had and the effort they’ve put forward,” Nixon said. “Every coach dreams to have golfers like this. We lost some key people - some good players and leaders. And it’s amazing to see these girls step up.
“Seeing the advances made from the beginning of the season in these two, you could see fire in their eyes. They switched into a different gear.”
Busque began playing competitive golf when she joined the Lady Bulldogs as a freshman, as her sister was also on the team. And her journey has led her to the state tournament.
“My goal was to make it to state,” Busque said. “I thought I could.”
To get there, her game has made positive progression this fall.
“Maybe my short game,” she said of what has made the most improvement. “My pitch shots; from 30 to 100 yards. But I’d say my mental game has improved the most.”
She wasn’t sure of her fate until after her round was complete.
“At district, I hadn’t played the course before and literally was coming off the last green when I found out I made it,” Busque said. “Coach told me. He came up to me and told me it was not my last tournament. I was so excited and happy I cried! I was so proud of myself.”
Now that she’s there, Busque will take what she can get as part of the state field.
“I’ll just be the most pleased having fun,” she said. “Having a good day. What’s most important now is being level-headed. I like (the state course). It scares me a little; makes you a little nervous. It’s pretty hard.”
For Jordan, making it to state was just keeping it in the family, as she is a part of the most successful Rolla golfing family in recent years.
There are a stunning nine all-state golf medals in her family from the Missouri State High School Activities Association, including an individual state championship.
Her father, Jared, was an all-state golfer in his Bulldog playing days; her two brothers, Chayton and Chancen, won a total of four all-state honors, and her uncle, Jonathan, was all-state four times, including a state championship as an RHS junior five seasons ago.
Now it’s Brylan’s turn.
“It feels good,” she said. “I got advice from my brothers and dad. They just told me to focus on one shot at a time. I do feel like I needed to be good because of my family. I think I focus on each shot better; I think I’m more committed to it this year.”
Like Busque, Jordan has had continued improvement in her game this fall.
“I think my drives (are improved),” Jordan said. “And my irons are better. My dad has helped me a lot with my swing this year. I try to keep my mental game good.”
Her goal? Well, she certainly doesn’t want to be outdone by her brothers and dad! And she hopes this is the first of three attempts at state tourney medals.
“My goal is to try and make all-state,” she said. “I definitely want to be better. I want to go on and play in college.”
Nixon is unsure what the ceiling is for his two golfers at state this time around.
“It’s hard to say,” he said. “Scores this year have been a little higher, although we had a girl shoot two-under at our district. It will be interesting to see where they end up individually.
“Madison doesn’t plan on playing golf in college, so I want her to leave with good memories and be proud of what she’s done. Brylan is going to gain some valuable experience, and she’s got the next two years to come to build on it.”