Even though it’s no more than an infant compared to other programs around the state, the St. James High School girls’ golf squad will continue to rub elbows with the big girls this year at the state tournament, thanks to senior Jolie Roark and freshman Hallie Kleffner.

Kleffner and Roark assured the run of Lady Tiger state golf appearances continued by advancing to the 2026 Missouri Class 2 State Tournament, to be held Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 19-20 at Bogey Creek Golf Club in Farmington.

Despite entering this fall with a young, inexperienced group, it is the fourth consecutive season the Lady Tiger girls’ golf program - in only its sixth year of existence - has been represented at the state tournament.

It will be the first state tourney berth for both of this year’s Lady Tiger qualifiers.

“We’ve had girls go to the state tournament for four years now,” said St. James head coach Shannon Kleffner. “And we’re looking forward to the next couple of years, when we have a few newcomers come in.

“We started off the season pretty good and all of our players have been pretty consistent and close to that (state) cutoff score. I thought we could have even sent four players.”

At the Class 2 District Tournament Monday, Oct. 12 at Wolf Hollow Golf Course in Labadie, Kleffner finished 11th overall with 22-over-par 93 and Roark tied for 13th with 98 to advance.

Despite youth and inexperience - Roark was the only senior on this year’s squad - the Lady Tigers hit the ground running and was competitive the entire fall. St. James just missed the Four Rivers Conference Tournament team title by a stroke, and finished with three all-league players, with Hallie Kleffner finishing league medalist runner-up, Roark third overall and sophomore teammate Landri Abel fifth.

Kleffner consistently had high placements in meets and tournaments for STJ in her first year of high school golf.

“I thought I had a good season,” Hallie Kleffner said. “But the first few holes at district were not real good. I started on the backside, after hole 18. Once I got on the front it got better.”

Several days into the season Kleffner thought she was going to have a shot at making the state tourney field.

“It was probably after the St. Clair Invitational,” she said. “I shot a P.R. (88) there.

“I think my chipping has come the longest this season. That’s where I’ve probably improved the most.”

Hoping to be back at state for multiple years, Kleffner will use her freshman appearance as sort of a barometer.

“I’m not sure,” she said when asked what she expects there. “I think I handle pressure fine. I’m just going to play my best. I’m already there.”

Roark has made her final season as a Lady Tiger her best, and at district she shot the best score - 98 - of her career to get to the state tournament.

“I was really nervous at the very end,” Roark said of the district tournament. “I started off strong. I didn’t know until the last hole that I (qualified). There was a lot of emotion.”

Roark watched other teammates get to state for three seasons. Her senior campaign was her time.

“I played all four years of high school,” she said. “I will just try to shoot my best there. As long as I play it smart, I think I’ll be fine.”

Coach Kleffner said the district tournament gave her players a good idea of what state competition will be like.

“Our district is definitely around the same (as previous years),” she said. “We have some pretty low scores in district; our top district player was the state champion last year.

“State brings more nerves and competition. It’s experience for them - keeping an even-keel.”