Rebecca Hutchings was voted Suffolk News-Herald Player of the Week after medaling for King’s Fork High School’s golf team in a win against rival Lakeland High School.

As a sophomore on the King’s Fork golf team, Hutchings has stood out since day one. Last year she was able to compete at a high level, and she saw success during the regular season and the playoffs. She has been able to continue that this year.

Last week in a matchup with Lakeland, she shot a score of 80 a match to lead the team in its win. She also shot the best score on the team in a win against Oscar Smith High School.

“I felt I played pretty well,” Hutchings said. “There were a few things I could have improved on, but overall I felt like I had a good day.”

Hutchings said she has seen a significant difference in her game from last year to this year. While on the course, she likes to think about her next shot and how she wants to hit it. Before each shot, she makes sure to take a deep breath, so she doesn’t get distracted mid-swing.

The King’s Fork sophomore has developed her course savvy over about nine years currently. Years ago, she took an interest in golf after having lived by a golf course. Her parents also played a little, which helped her get started when she was young. She credits her mother as her inspiration, describing her as one of the strongest people she knows.

“She faces challenges head-on and always works her hardest,” Hutchings said of her mother. “She always knows exactly what to say, and I know she will always have my back.”

Even though golf is largely an individual sport, Hutchings is always thinking about her team. Wanting to be at her best for her team and for herself is what motivates her on the course.

“I want to prove to myself that I can do better than my best,” she said. “We have had a good season as a team. A lot of us have shot our best scores.”

At the moment, Hutchings’ best lies at the Class 4 state tournament last year, where she was the first King’s Fork golfer to qualify for it. She has her eyes set on getting back there this season and playing even better. Hutchings admitted that she did feel some pressure coming into this year based on what she was able to do last season, but as long as she improved, she was happy.

“My focus is pretty much the same for every tournament I play in,” she said. “I just want to make sure I go out there and do my best.”