PARK TWP. — West Ottawa senior girls golfer Lauren Villemure is using a simple approach in a currently difficult world.

“It’s our senior year, so we want to make the best of it,” Villemure said.

Her senior year has started, but with protocols for COVID-19. There were times the season looked in doubt.

“It’s an old cliche but we literally have to go one shot at a time,” Panthers coach Tarry Cutter said. “Just take a deep breath. We’re still playing. There’s at least three other sports stuck in limbo, football’s done — we’re still fortunate to be out here competing.

“So we tell them to enjoy every day because we don’t know what tomorrow is.”

Villemure was the Panthers top golfer last season and figures to be the team leader in 2020. She recently competed at the Thornapple-Kellogg Invite, where she placed 11th with an 87, one stroke outside the top 10.

As a junior, Villemure led the Panthers in stroke average (48.5), putting average, green/fairway in regulation average and recovery percentage.

She put in work this offseason to take strokes off her scores and so far, it’s paid off.

“Now she just has to execute,” Cutter said. “The other seniors have played enough now where they have their own expectations, too.”

Villemure said she was able to prepare mostly as normal. She mostly got practice rounds in at West Ottawa Golf Club, Crestview Golf Course in Zeeland and Golden Sands Golf Course in Mears.

“I started practicing again and I got to practice over the summer, so it didn’t affect me a lot, but a little bit,” Villemure said.

She’s focusing on being a leader, too.

“If one of my teammates needs help, I’m always the first to try to help them, just to make sure they like the sport and to keep playing,” Villemure said. “Golf is hard, but with a little practice, it’s easier.”

Despite having to wear masks anytime she’s not playing because of COVID-19, Villemure feels fortunate to still be looking forward to her senior golf season and an opportunity to potentially attempt to make state for the first time.

She’s hoping it stays that way — it’s all she can do.

“I’m thrilled,” Villemure said. “I love my team, I love my coach — everybody at West Ottawa has helped me greatly and I don’t think I’d be where I am today without them. I really hope our governor says to keep playing and I hope that I do well this season and — fingers crossed — I get to go to state.

“Everybody’s just taking precautions, so it’s going to be a little different than other seasons, but hopefully it ends up well.”

— Contact Assistant Sports Editor Beau Troutman at btroutman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @BVTroutman.