Girls golf: Rock Falls' Nehrkorn ready for regional

The Rock Falls junior is a three-sport athlete who also prides herself on being quite the self-taught dancer.

"I'm actually a really good dancer," the bubbly Nehrkorn said. "I just don't like to do it in public. I feel embarrassed when I do it around people. But, if I'm home by myself with nothing to do, I'll dance for hours."

Nehrkorn, who does not have a dance background, typically dances to pop music, some rock and R&B, but has yet to strut her stuff on the golf course.

"Sometimes I'll pull a Tiger Woods and pump my fist, but no dancing," she said.

If all goes well for Nehrkorn and the Rockets in the Class A Rock Falls Regional on Wednesday at Rock River Golf and Pool, Nehrkorn won't hold back.

"If we make it to sectionals, I'll dance," she said.Nehrkorn, who also plays basketball and softball, saw her season in limbo when she suffered a back injury in an Aug. 30 meet at Genoa.

"I watched her fall walking off the tee," Rock Falls coach Deena Thatcher said. "She hit her tee shot, picked up her bag and started to walk off the tee, and she fell down because her back hurt so bad."

The injury sidlined Nehrkorn for a few weeks.

"I stretched out the ligaments in my back," she said. "Now I have to wear a [wrap] brace to hold it in place."

Thatcher thinks the injury just might be a blessing in disguise.

"She's fine as long as she swings easy, which has been a good thing for her," Thatcher said. "I think maybe it's helped her game a little bit."

The highlight of Nehrkorn's season came against Prophetstown a few weeks ago.

"I've always wanted to come close to Annie Sandrock, because she's such a great golfer, and I tied her as medalist," she said. "That made me pretty happy."

Nehrkorn thinks the Rockets have a good chance to make a return trip to sectionals.

"Sometimes we overthink golf," she said. "Then, we don't do as well. But, if we're all relaxed, we normally to pretty well."