EFFINGHAM — Ella Tuman and Makenna Mayhood started their golf journeys together when they were 6 years old.
They ended their high school seasons together this past fall as Effingham Flaming Hearts.
For Tuman, who is continuing her golf career at the collegiate level at Aurora University in Aurora, Ill., Mayhood brings out the best in her.
“The fact that golf brought us together is insane, but what’s even crazier is that Makenna is basically my ‘sister,’” Tuman said. “From arguments to always being there for each other, golf is what brought that together and I couldn’t be more grateful for that.
“The thing I love about playing with Makenna the most is how much fun we have together. When we play, it’s not all just about the game; it’s about having fun while we’re doing it.”
Tuman noted that she can be hard on herself at times.
Mayhood helps her get back in the proper headspace.
“Makenna brings the fun out of me and I am extremely thankful for that,” Tuman said. “If I see her mid-round and I’m in my head, she always brings me back to earth and makes me smile just by doing something funny or making a weird face.”
Mayhood had a fantastic season for Effingham herself. She finished with a scoring average of 43 in nine-hole events and an 86 in 18-hole events.
She said that she plays better whenever she plays with Tuman, even though the two are ultra-competitive.
“It’s always been pretty competitive between us, both inside and outside of golf, but she is never unwilling to help me with a shot, even though we are playing against each other,” Mayhood said. “I love golfing with Ella because I generally play better when I’m with her.
“We complement each other in completely different ways. She takes it too seriously and I don’t take it seriously enough, so we balance each other out.”
The two complimented each other in that they had somewhat stressful senior years.
Both said they felt pressure at times.
“Being a senior helped my golf game, but I did have a little more pressure on myself because I felt like I needed to be a role model for the rest of the team,” Mayhood said. “I just wanted to play well and be an example for everyone else.”
“I wanted to end my high school career with something I could be proud of,” Tuman added. “The season didn’t end at all how I had planned, but I’m grateful for the improvements I have made and for the opportunity I get to be able to play my sport after high school; not everyone gets the chance to do that.”