Temperatures of 90-plus degrees Fahrenheit Sept. 2 couldn’t deter Excelsior Springs sophomore Allison Deere from shooting her best-ever nine-hole round of golf.

Playing in a varsity girls quadrangular with Richmond, Lawson and Norborne at Shirkey Golf Course in Richmond, Deere finished the par-38 round with a 55 (+17). In doing so, she led Excelsior Springs to a team score of 277 and third-place. Richmond, led by a 40 (+2) from Karoline Dooley, won with a 210. Lawson, led by a 50 (+12) from Elena Caballo, was runner-up with a 212. Following Excelsior Springs was Norborne with a 305.

Positive thinking was key to the round, according to Deere.

“I thought, ‘The next hole will be better,’” she said afterward in the Shirkey clubhouse.

When asked for the source of positivity, Deere replied, “Just, like, all the people around me and Jesus.”

Deere’s performance was noteworthy to Excelsior Springs girls and boys coach David Stalder.

“Shirkey’s tough,” Stalder said. “And when you have your best score …