WICHITA, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) - The Tilma sisters at Kapaun Mt. Carmel are each in their first years on the Crusader golf team. Kate and Meg Tilmas have claimed the top two spots on the team and have broken some records along the way.

“I love seeing her on the course and smiling with her and we’re both kind of neck and neck,” said KMC freshman Meg Tilma.

Meg Tilma is a freshman at Kapaun. Finishing under par several times this season, made her the number two golfer for the Crusaders, right below her sister.

“She’s obviously better but I love trying to one-up her sometimes,” said Meg. “But we both have fun competing against each other and I think we’ve grown stronger with a competitive attitude towards each other.”

KMC senior Kate Tilma said, “I picked up golf because my whole family played golf. They never pushed me into it but they said I should try it, so I tried it and I loved it.”

Kate started golfing the summer going into freshman year. Her previous school didn’t have a girls team so she played with the boys in the spring.

“I hit balls pretty far, I hit balls all the time because it’s the most fun for me. But just my mentality, I love to practice, I could practice all day long,” said Kate.

When she transferred to Kapaun her junior year, Kate was already registered in multiple Texas and Oklahoma fall tournaments. Therefore, she couldn’t golf for the Crusaders at the same time of those non-school related tournaments. This is Kate’s first and last year golfing as a Crusader.

“They’ve come in with the foundation,” said KMC head golf coach Marie Thomas. “I think the thing that’s fun for them, is being a part of the team. Now it’s not just them by themselves competing in tournaments, they have teammates that are with them, fighting with them.”

Kate not only won the 5A Regional on October 11th, she also broke the GWAL league record in the league tournament on October 4th, shooting six under par, finishing the round at 66 with a hole-in-one.

“I have to be honest, for me, that’s probably been the best I’ve seen. They love the game of golf so much that they just want to go play,” said Thomas. “Because they practice so hard, they’re able to shoot scores like that.”

“It’s been fun being on a team with other girls, getting to bond with them,” said Meg.

“It’s been really cool, I really like being a part of the team and the coaches are super helpful,” said Kate. “But I think it’s going to be a big help next year being a part of the team where you travel with the team and you’re playing not only for yourself but for the team.”

Kate has committed to golf at K-State next year where she looks forward to continuing that team experience. But first, both Tilmas have their eyes set on the state tournament start Monday, Oct. 18th.

As great of golfers as they are, they’re even better people,” said Thomas. “They are so gracious and humble. You would never know that these young ladies have the talent that they do because they don’t walk around like. ‘Hey this is me, do you know who I am?’ As hard as they work, nobody has to tell them to go practice, to putt, to go on the range. They want to do that.”

Rising Stars: Kapaun golfers Kate and Meg Tilma