SLAYTON — She just completed her sophomore year of high school, yet she’s already emerged as one of the top golfers in southwest Minnesota. Murray County Central’s Rachael Huso has become a state tournament mainstay over the past few years, recently making her third state golf appearance. Her rise to becoming one of the best area golfers is unlikely, considering she had never played golf before the seventh grade.

At that time, her grandpa first got her into the game and encouraged her to go out for the sport. “Well, when I first got into the sport, I actually didn't want to do it,” Huso said “My friends and my grandpa convinced me to do it, and then I was very nervous in seventh grade to be on varsity, because I wasn't that good and I didn't take it seriously.” Since then, Huso has seen quick and steady improvement in her game as she has competed in the Class A State tournament in each of the last three years.

ADVERTISEMENT In 2022, as an eighth grader, she competed as part of the Rebels Section 3A championship team. At state, she finished with a two-round, 18-hole score of 230 to place 76th overall. She saw improvement throughout her freshman season as she qualified for state individually for the first time.

After placing fifth in sections, she placed 60th at state with a score of 206. This past season as a sophomore proved to be her best one yet. In 10 regular-season meets, she won three of them, finished second in four others and placed in the top five in all.