On August 28th, Vedha Karkala (‘26) and the Skyline Girls’ Golf Team traveled up to the Oakland Hills Golf Club for a competition against Marian High School. Little did Karkala know that this day would be something she would remember for the rest of her life.
“I remember the day being a really hot one,” says Karkala. “Everyone was exhausted and the mood was down. But once the ball rolled in, the dynamic flipped completely.”
Karkala only played the back nine holes of the course. Stroking the ball with her iron on her first shot of the back nine, she immediately felt her club shave the green and saw the ball float in the perfect direction. Before everyone’s eyes, the unimaginable happened: a hole-in-one!
The Oakland Hills course has hosted many PGA-related events. Golfing there is a privilege for any golfer, and as Kakarla noted, “hitting a hole-in-one added that extra spark to the already amazing opportunity.”
To Kakarla, this feat was more than just a great shot. “I was just getting my tempo back into golf,” said Karkala. “I was in a short slump. The achievement is exactly the motivation I need to start a great season.”
This accomplishment symbolizes the culmination of pure grit and effort that Kakarla has dedicated to the sport. “Vedha’s hole-in-one really just shows the hard work she put before and during the season” explains team captain Reva Patcheva (‘24). “Golf is a highly mental sport, so the shot was definitely a large confidence booster, confirming that she deserves to be at the highest level.”
“[Vedha] is a very good golfer–both talented and committed to the sport,” said assistant women’s golf coach Mary Packard, who has been involved in golf for over 30 years. “As for the team, they are nothing but supportive of one another. One golfer’s feat is a celebration for all of them, a representation of the chemistry that the program has.”
The hole-in-one is truly a testament to both a bright-looking future for the program and the tight-knit community that makes up Skyline golf. The program recently qualified for states for the first time last year, proving that they are no stranger to firsts.
The team recently competed in the regional tournament on October 9th, where they fell just short of top-three placement necessary to qualify for the state tournament. Nevertheless, reflecting on their season, the team has much to be proud of. Moving forward, Karkala has all the momentum she needs to continue succeeding in the following seasons to come.
