Lakenheath's Ethan Wright sizes up his putt on Woodlawn Golf Course's No. 1 hole during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 12, 2023, on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – One year ago, Morgan Johnson was bummed out.

The then-sophomore had qualified for the 2022 DODEA European golf championships, but her family moved from Rota to Naples around the same time as the tournament. So, Johnson didn’t get the chance to play.

On Thursday at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, the Naples junior finally got her shot at the European championships, competing in the top girls group. She said missing out last October made the experience Thursday sweeter.

“It’s exciting, and I’m glad I got to participate,” Johnson said. “I think it was worth it in the end that I ended up coming anyway (this year).”

That excitement didn’t turn into results on the course for Johnson, who posted the second-highest average in Europe heading into the tournament. She posted a 13 on the Modified Stableford scoring system, 7.3 points fewer than her season mean.

She sits in sixth place in the girls competition. Kaiserslautern junior Asia Andrews leads after the first day with 30 points, while Ramstein’s Nora Hacker is in second with 19.

Kaiserslautern's Asia Andrews follows her shot on the No. 2 hole at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, during the first round of the DODEA European championships on Oct. 12, 2023. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Naples junior Morgan Johnson tees off at the No. 17 hole at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 12, 2023. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern's Reigen Pezel putts on the No. 2 green at Woodlawn Golf Course during the first round of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 12, 2023, on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

From left, Ramstein's Nora Hacker, Wiesbaden's Alyssa Shewell and Kaiserslautern's Shaelee Moneymaker-Donachie share a laugh during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 12, 2023, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

The round marked the first time Johnson had played in Germany, let alone on the Woodlawn course. She said she putted well but is hoping to improve her mid-range game Friday.

“I feel like I could have done better if I had known the course better,” Johnson said. “I think I did decent overall.”

Johnson and her fellow golfers faced off against less-than-ideal conditions on Thursday, especially in the back half of the round.

Rain began falling in the early afternoon, with a steady stream lasting about an hour. It left the course soggy and caused balls to die faster when hitting the ground.

While unusual conditions for many on Thursday, the Lakenheath squad seemed more at home in the rain. Junior Ethan Wright said his experience during the season helped him perform slightly better than his average (21.6) with a 22.

“We’ve played in the rain multiple times, so it’s like, ‘Oh, I’m used to this,’” Wright said. “Just hold the club a little bit tighter and maybe club up a little bit. It made the greens slower. I was used to that, so I could adjust my club speed.”

Despite the gloomy weather and competitive nature of the tournament, many athletes managed to keep things light on the first day.

The top boys group of Vilseck’s Finneas Horgan, Wiesbaden’s Brian Grieve, Ramstein’s Tyler Hacker and Stuttgart’s Edmund Gavina embodied that mentality perhaps better than most. They bantered with each other throughout the round and yet supported their opponents just the same.

Hacker, who sits in second place with 28 points behind Horgan’s 31, said it came down to a positive mindset leading to good results.

“I think everybody had pretty equal jokes,” Hacker said. “Everybody just laughed at each other. I had some good jokes, Brian had some good jokes, Finn had some good jokes. It was just a blast out there today.”

As much fun as most golfers had on Thursday, the second round means business. At the end of Friday, champions will be crowned in the individual and team pursuits.

Those not in contention at the top of the results, though, still will find ways to make the 18 holes enjoyable, as it’s not an opportunity many get to make.

“It’s an amazing experience to be here in Germany playing golf,” Wright said. “Back in the States, I didn’t really have that experience.”

Kaiserslautern's Logan Mitchell hits the ball on the No. 1 fairway at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 12, 2023. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Vilseck’s Finneas Horgan chips from the rough on No. 1 during the first round of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 12, 2023, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein's David Obermuller drives off the No. 2 tee during the first round of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 12, 2023, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Following in the backround is his Royal teammate Christian McHugh. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Lakenheath's Lillian Davis hits on the fairway of the No. 17 hole during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 12, 2023, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

From left, Ramstein's Tyler Hacker, Vilseck's Finneas Horgan and Stuttgart's Edmund Gavina chat while Wiesbaden's Brian Grieve gets ready to tee off on the No. 9 hole at Woodlawn Golf Course during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 12, 2023, on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

DODEA European championship

First Round

Thursday at Ramstein Air Base

Boys

1. Finneas Horgan (Vil) 31, 2. Tyler Hacker (Ram) 28, T-3. Christian McHugh 26, T-3. David Obermuller 26, 5. Noah Carson (Kais) 25, T-6. Jeramiah Ramirez (Ram) 23, T-6. Lex Cashel (Wies) 23, T-8. Edmund Gavina (Stutt) 22, T-8. Aidan Dearing (Spang) 22, T-8. Micah Rothas (Lake) 22, T-8. Ethan Wright (Lake) 22, 12. Jackson McDevitt (Spang) 19, T-13. Brian Grieve (Wies) 18, T-13. T.J. Rice (Wies) 18, 15. Logan Synder (Vil) 17, T-16. Jacob Hwang (Vil) 16, T-16. Ryan Izaguirre (Ram) 16, T-18. Kaniela Lyman (Stutt) 14, T-18. Noah Kaper (Nap) 14, 20. Mason Dearing (Spang) 13, 21. Jordan Chacon del Bosque 12, T-22. Logan Mitchell (Kais) 11, T-22. Joshua Myrick (Nap) 11, T-24. Sam Crooks (BFA) 10, T-24. Tyler Greene (Avi) 10.

Girls

1. Asia Andrews (Kais) 30, 2. Nora Hacker (Ram) 19, 3. Reigen Pezel (Kais) 18, 4. Dallas Wassum (Kais) 15, 5. Alyssa Shewell (Wies) 14, 6. Morgan Johnson (Nap) 13, 7. Shalee Moneymaker-Donachie (Kais) 11, T-8. Mya Boynton (Ram) 10, T-8. Lillian Davis (Lake) 10.