​Katie Drew’s third Ladies Lincoln Highway golf title felt even more meaningful on Saturday at Shady Oaks Country Club. It marked the first time Katie, a 2024 graduate of Dixon, had the chance to compete in the same event as her younger sister, Rachel. The performance capped a standout run for Katie, who has now claimed three titles in four years as her Timber Creek teammates finished as runners-up to Kishwaukee. Timber Creek posted a two-day total of plus 99 in the best-against-bogey format, placing second after three consecutive championships. Kishwaukee finished with a plus 119, buoyed by a runner-up finish from Kim Kester, the Northern Illinois University women’s golf coach.
From a crowded leaderboard, Katie emerged with a plus 31, tying Kester, Ava Hackman, Alayna Brandt, and Kristie Pultorak after the opening round on Friday. “It keeps the field competitive into today,” Katie remarked. “There was a group of four of us leaders today, so we had a good day. Everybody in the group played well, and it was just a good day of good golf with a lot of nice people.” She had only recently played the course for the first time, a couple of weeks prior, and found it in excellent condition for the tournament.
“It’s not the longest course, but there are a lot more narrow holes, so knowing when to hit irons versus being more aggressive is key,” she explained. “I think the main thing for me was just playing smart. I took an eight-iron off the tee more often than the driver to stay in play, yet still positioned myself well for the approach on the second shot.”
Sharing the event with her sister made the weekend particularly enjoyable. Katie said it was exciting to compete in the same tournament for the first time with Rachel, who will be a Dixon sophomore next year. Rachel qualified for state as a freshman and finished Saturday third for Timber Creek with a score of plus 11. “It’s super exciting,” Katie said. “She’s starting to develop more of a love for the game that I’ve had, and it’s really cool to see that growing. I’m so proud of her and happy she came out and played, and I’m thrilled to see her game continue to develop.”
Rachel reflected on the unique experience of the best-against-bogey format, noting that it required a shift in strategy and approach. “I definitely had to change how I thought and how I played,” she said. “I took fewer drivers off the tee and played smarter, adapting from what I learned yesterday.”
For both sisters, the chance to compete behind Katie’s experience and Rachel’s growing confidence added a memorable dimension to the weekend. “We didn’t get a year in high school together, but playing this weekend was really, really fun,” Rachel said. “I can’t wait to keep playing with her.” She also looked ahead to the upcoming high school season, hoping to contribute to a Timber Creek squad that has the potential to be stronger with more teammates. “I would love to go back to state and be a lot more successful,” she said. “I’m really excited and I’m prepping hard to get better each day.”
Katie’s personal milestone came on the heels of another major achievement: she recently passed her nursing boards after studying at Sauk Valley College. As she transitions to the next chapter, the weekend at Shady Oaks stood out not only for the title, but for the family connection and the shared love of golf that will likely fuel both sisters in the seasons to come.