Parkers Chapel’s Bella Frisby has shown she can play a multitude of sports at a high level. As a junior, she’s put a higher priority on golf and basketball.
Basketball season hasn’t arrived but on the golf course, the extra attention she’s put into the sport has paid dividends.
Frisby has averaged a 37 per nine holes in four matches. In her two 18-hole tournaments, she’s scored 77 and 76.
“I think I’m playing pretty well. I’ve worked on my short game. I feel like that’s helped a lot,” Frisby said of her game. “I think it’s improved by, probably, six strokes. I was in the mid-40s last year, maybe low-40s. Now, I can go mid-30s, high-30s on average.”
Her worst 9-hole score was 42. She’s also shot 37,34 and a 33 at Highland.
“I think she’s been improving throughout the season. She loves golf. In all of her free time, she’s practicing. All of that practice is paying off,” said Hillary Frisby, PC golf coach and Bella’s mother.
“She has improved a lot in her short game, in her chipping and putting, which has helped save some strokes. Her extra time that she put in helped her tremendously. She’s more comfortable with her swing. She’s more comfortable with her short game. And, she’s just having fun instead of worrying about scores.”
Frisby sacrificed her sophomore softball season to focus on golf and basketball. For a girl who also plays tennis and runs track, letting a sport go for a season was a hefty price to pay.
“It’s definitely helped me mentally. I just feel more confident when I get up to the ball,” she said. “It was kind of hard not playing softball but it was definitely better for me.”
Frisby admitted golf had a ways to go to catch up with basketball on her favorite’s list. As her skills improved, so did her confidence. More relaxed, she said she’s enjoying the sport so much more.
“I changed my mindset on it. Instead of going out there and worrying so much, I’ve tried to have fun with it and it’s made my score better.”
Her free time has been spent on the links. On Sunday, she said she played 18 holes at Glenwood and shot par.
“I’ve been putting a lot of time on the chipping and putting green. I feel like that’s taking away a lot of strokes this year.”
Frisby led Parkers Chapel to runner-up in last year’s 2A State Golf Tournament. She scored 73 to lead the Lady Trojans to the conference title.
This season, she’s aiming higher. She said she’d like to win medalist at the state tournament.
“Bella’s goal is always to win everything,” her mom said with a laugh. “She sets her standards high.”
When asked what she’s looking for out of this golf season, Frisby said, “I think we have a very good chance of winning state. All of our girls have improved a lot so I’m very proud of them for that. I think we can go and win state this year as a team.
“I’m just excited to see what I can do. I’ve put in a lot of work. I think I can win state.”