b'GOLF ALASKAKeira DeLand Repeats as State Champion(Photo by Annie Miebs / Natural Photography)A t just 15 years old, Palmersshort golf season that only lasts aboutDeLand and her siblings out on the Keira DeLand won her firstfive months, from April or May untilcourse all the time.major amateur golf championshipOctober. We were always next to the golf at the Alaska State Match PlayYou dont really get great golfcourse, so why not go? she said. conditions until June or July and wereAround middle school and into high tournament. Last year, she madeusually done by October, DeLand said.school, I was like, Okay, I can actually it her goalat the beginning of theIve even had to play in the snow ingo to college for this, so I just started season to win both of the statesOctober before. playing a bunch.premier tournaments before headingTaking advantage of long summerDeLand graduated from Mat-Su off to college last fall. days and the favorable golfingCareer & Tech High School in Wasilla She completed the impressiveconditions that come with them wasand is continuing her competitive golf sweep by winning the womens Alaskainstrumental in DeLand reaching hercareer at the collegiate level at Lee State Amateur Championship aftergoal of sweeping the top two womensUniversity, a private Christian university claiming the Alaska State Match Playtournaments in the state in 2024.in Cleveland, Tennessee. She will be a womens title. After that successfulI was trying to play every day orsophomore this fall. summer, she went off to play on theat least practice, she said. I played aThe Flames have a Division II womens golf team during her freshmanlot more rounds than I did previously,program that produces stellar scholars year at Lee University in Tennessee.which really helped in getting readyas well as athletes, with multiple players And this summer, DeLand returnedfor tournaments. I was trying to be outconsistently receiving All-American and home and repeated as the Alaska Statethere six days a week. Academic All-American honors.Amateur champion. DeLand grew up next to the PalmerTheyre a really good golf team and It was definitely rewarding for allGolf Course and started signing up forIm excited to play with some better the hard work to pay off, DeLand said. junior clinics and then tournaments,girls, DeLand said.Unlike most other states, where golfand graduated to playing competitivelyThe female golf community in can be played competitively or leisurelythe older she got. Both her father andAlaska is small, and its even smaller pretty much year-round, Alaska has auncle love playing golf and would takeat the youth level, which has twice 4 GOLF ALASKA| SEPT2025'