Bailey hired as Rochester girls golf coach

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Girls golf

The Rochester School Board approved the hiring of Dan Bailey as the new girls golf coach at Rochester High School at a meeting Monday.

Bailey takes over for Chad Thomas, who stepped down after 24 seasons in February. Bailey had been the assistant coach on Thomas’ staff. He is also the former boys golf coach at Rochester.

Bailey is expected to inherit four players from the team that tied for 12th place at last year’s IHSAA state finals –- Olivia Bailey, Molly Moore, Lexi Haughs and Laynie Migonis.

Olivia Bailey, a junior, won sectional medalist honors last fall and is also the two-time defending regional medalist. She finished in a tie for 20th among individuals at state last year.

She is also Dan Bailey’s daughter.

Moore and Haughs are also returning all-Three Rivers Conference players.

By enrollment, Rochester was the smallest of the 18 schools at state.

Practice begins statewide Aug. 1. Rochester will begin their season with the Kankakee Valley Invitational Aug. 4.