DIAMONDHEAD, Miss. (WLOX) – “I know these girls are going to succeed in the future, they can’t help it, that’s just who they are,” Hancock girls golf coach Charles Bourg said.

The Hawks have been on a tear in the last few years, winning three out of the last five 6A state titles, and the ones they haven’t won, they’ve been the runners-up.

For senior and William Carey golf signee Kenley Archer she says it’s all about the daily work.

“Just every day for hours, just that dedication,” Archer said.” Even when you don’t want to be out here, coming out here to just get a little bit better.”

That’s something Bourg sees from them day in and day out

“They’re that good and that dedicated that you almost have to run them off the course and tell them to go do something else, as soon as you turn your back they’re back on the driving range, just working every chance they get,” he said.

One of the younger members of the team, sophomore Karstyn Altese, has grown up around the program and was able to hit the links with her sister Katelynn before she went off to play college golf at Troy.

“I’ve grown up being able to watch my sister compete with other really high caliber golfers, and now they’re all off in college winning on that level,” Altese said. “So that’s really inspiring because I’ve been able to see what high school golf is supposed to look like.”

Through all the practices, the girls continue to motivate not only themselves but each other as they strive to play at a high level every day.

“It’s hard, it’s not something that’s easy, it’s very mental but we always keep each other up and motivated and say positive things all the time,” sophomore Kaylee Mays said. “Even when we have a bad round, it’s always nothing but motivation from each other.”

“I would say we try to remind each other, it’s not one round that defines us, it’s our character and the sportsmanship we show other teams and just trying to represent Hancock to the best of our ability,” Altese added.

The future is bright for the Hancock girls golf team and the outgoing upperclassmen have given the younger members including eighth-grader Mary-Taylor McAlpin a lot to look forward to.

“It’s very inspiring to see how amazing they are and how much I look up to them,” McAlpin said. “I really want to keep it going. I’m excited to play and get to play with people who I really care about.”

“Something I did was watch the others and grow from them but I’m going to miss Kenley obviously so it’s a sad bittersweet moment,” Mays said.

“It’s been really special, I’m going to miss these girls and they’ve put in a lot of hard work and dedication and I’m excited to watch them grow in these next few years and I’m going to miss them,” Archer added.

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