Each time the competition has gotten tougher, United South Central eighth-grader Ali Wood has stepped up her game.

She did it again in the Section 2AA girls’ golf meet at the St. James County Club in St. James Tuesday by shooting 90 to qualify for the Class 2A state meet in just her second varsity season.

Wood has turned in some of her best performances late in the season, including capturing medalist honors in the four meets preceding the sub-section tournament.

Playing with the No. 1 individuals in the section was a challenging experience, but Wood held her own and played a consistent round to earn a trip to the state meet at the Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan next week.

“She just really played exceptional under that pressure,” said Rebels head coach Randy Halvorson.

Wood has been working on her game nearly every weekend with her father at the Wells Golf Course on strengthening her shot making and it paid off at the section tournament.

“Now she just needs to work on her finesse and her putting stroke,” Halvorson said. “It’s quite an accomplishment.”

Teammate Stephanie Herman had a chance to join her at the state tournament after firing a 91, but had to play in a playoff to determine the final spots and lost. Erinn Hotlzer also played in the section tournament and finished with a 116.

Another USC golfer who has turned it on at the right time has been sophomore Sam Gackstetter. Gackstetter was the lone boys’ golfer to qualify for the section tournament for the Rebels and he nearly made it to the state tournament. Gackstetter followed his 78 at the subsection meet with an 83 and missed the cut by one stroke.

“That was really disappointing,” Halvorson said. “He golfed really well. I’m sure he can see a lot of holes he missed putts that he wished he had another shot at.”

Two New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys’ golfers competed in the section meet for the second consecutive season, but failed to make the state field.

Aaron Patraw, a sophomore, missed the cut by two strokes with an 84. He shot 44 on the front and 40 on the back.

Seth Hansen, a junior, shot 90, but struggled on the back nine.

The state meet begins June 3.