Kaiserslautern's Lola Wesseler hits the ball on the No. 18 hole during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 9, 2024, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – Many of those struggling through an otherwise miserable Wednesday at the Woodlawn Golf Course might look back at the 2024 DODEA European championships as a character-defining moment down the road.

Lola Wesseler doesn’t need long, though. By simply taking the course, the Kaiserslautern freshman showed how much these kind of events can mean to those participating.

Wesseler battled through not only a steady rain but also a completely altered golf swing thanks to a broken left arm she suffered a few weeks ago.

She needed to plead her case to her parents, coaches and others to let her compete despite the injury.

“I was really disappointed when I found out that I made it and that I couldn’t play,” Wesseler said. “I just really wanted to, so I convinced everybody to let me play.”

Wesseler completed the 18 holes with her season-worst score of one point in the modified Stableford scoring system that awards points based on a golfer’s performance at each hole. That placed Wesseler in a three-way tie for 12th – well behind teammate Asia Andrews, who totaled 30 points.

The Raiders, who have won three straight girls teams titles, might draw as much inspiration from Wesseler as Andrews during Thursday’s final round.

Just getting through the round was an accomplishment. The southpaw not only had to adjust her swing because she couldn’t use her dominant arm, but she also had to keep the cast dry. She accomplished the latter by wearing multiple layers and a rain jacket.

“It’s bad because you don’t have the proper grip you would have,” Wesseler said. “I have to aim more to the right because it will turn the club to the left otherwise, and I have to use more of my hips than my hands to swing. Otherwise, I will let go.”

Wesseler had established herself as the Raiders’ No. 2 golfer in their second and third rounds of the season with scores of 12 and 11 points.

She broke her arm while playing soccer, however, and missed the final two weeks of the regular season.

Sitting second behind Andrews in the girls competition is Ramstein’s Nora Hacker with 25 points.

Lakenheath's Ethan Wright drives off the No. 1 tee as teammates Aydin Atalay, left, and Christopher Quintero Aizpurua watch during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 9, 2024, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Naples golfer Morgan Johnson chips onto the No. 2 green during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 9, 2024, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Wiesbaden's Jonah Harvey swings his driver on the No. 1 tee as Lakenheath's Aydin Atalay, left, and Christopher Quintero Aizpurua watch during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 9, 2024, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Naples' Jackson Shorey drives off the No. 4 tee as Ramstein's Christian McHugh watches during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 9, 2024, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern's Sophie Pezel clears debris off the No. 18 green before putting during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 9, 2024, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein’s Ryan Izaguirre found the weather just to his liking – producing a career day on the course.

A European qualifier in 2023, the senior posted his highest-ever score of 30 points, which put him tied for seventh with teammate Micah Rothas.

Fellow Royal senior Grayden Taylor leads after 18 holes with a score of 41. Stuttgart freshman Tyler Korell sits in second place one point behind Taylor.

Izaguirre credited the weather with aiding his performance on Wednesday. He recalled a chip-in for par on the No. 11 hole as his best shot of the day.

“I quite like the rain,” Izaguirre said. “It’s quite relaxing to me. So, it helped me get in the (right) mindset.

“The sounds are very soothing. I don’t mind getting a little wet. It doesn’t affect my game too much.”

Ramstein's Micah Rothas hits out of the woods on the No. 4 hole during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 9, 2024, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein's David Obermuller hits on the No. 4 fairway during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 9, 2024, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Wiesbaden's Milo Singleton drives off the No. 9 tee during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 9, 2024, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Spangdahlem's Mason Dearing tees off the No. 9 hole during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 9, 2024, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Hohenfels' Marcus Freeman walks down the No. 9 fairway during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 9, 2024, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Naples’ Morgan Johnson echoed Izaguirre’s sentiments regarding the rain. The Wildcat senior totaled 23 points to be tied for third in the girls competition with Ramstein sophomore Mya Boynton.

“I honestly prefer when it was raining,” Johnson said. “For some reason, I would push myself to hit the ball harder.”

Wednesday’s first round might be a “dry” run for Thursday’s final.

More rain is expected, with winds of 30 to 37 mph possible, according to the Deutscher Wetterdienst (German Weather Service). Izaquirre, though, said he won’t be fazed.

“It’s a good wake-up call of what to expect for tomorrow,” he said of Wednesday’s weather. “As long as I continue to bring the same energy and mindset into tomorrow, I can do just as well if not even better.”

Ramstein's Michael Schmiedel chips out of the sand trap on No. 7 during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 9, 2024, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein's Grayden Taylor reacts after sinking his putt on the No. 7 hole during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 9, 2024, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart's Edmund Gavina hits out of the woods during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 9, 2024, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Rota's Jacob Arrington drives off the No. 2 tee during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 9, 2024, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Vilseck's Jacob Hwang putts on the No. 1 green during the first day of the DODEA European golf championships on Oct. 9, 2024, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

DODEA European golf championships

First round

Wednesday at Woodlawn Golf Course, Ramstein

Boys

1. Grayden Taylor (Ram) 41, 2. Tyler Korell (Stut) 40, 3. Michael Schmiedel (Ram) 36, 4. Tyler Hacker (Ram) 35, 5. David Obermuller (Ram) 34, 6. Christian McHugh (Ram) 32, T-7. Micah Rothas (Ram) 30, T-7. Ryan Izaguirre (Ram) 30, 9. Jeramiah Ramirez (Ram) 29, 10. Marcus Freeman (Hoh) 26, 11. Milo Singleton (Wies) 24, 12. Ethan Wright (Lake) 22, T-13. Clay Christensen (Lake) 21, T-13. David Manus (Nap) 21, T-13. Connor Landreth (Hoh) 21, 16. Jonah Harvey (Wies) 20, T-17. Talen Francisco (Ram) 19, T-17. Hayden Blackmon (Wies) 19, T-19. Jacob Hwang (Vil) 18, T-19. Jordan Chacon-Del Bosque (Lake) 18, T-19. Christian Schultz (Ram) 18, T-22. Edmund Gavina (Stut) 16, T-22. Nolan Schmidt (Ram) 16, T-24. Jackson Shorey (Nap) 15, T-24. Jack Lutrell (Stut) 15, T-26. Cohen Mendiola (Spang) 14, T-26. Isaac Taylor (Lake) 14, 28. Christopher Quintero Aizpurua (Lake) 12, Mason Dearing (Spang) 8, 30. Jacob Arrington (Rota) 6, 31. Aydin Atalay (Lake) 4.

Girls

1. Asia Andrews (Kais) 30, 2. Nora Hacker (Ram) 25, T-3. Morgan Johnson (Nap) 23, T-3. Mya Boynton (Ram) 23, 5. Sofia Johnson (Kais) 12, T-6. Mackenzie Dager (Kais) 9, T-6. Lilianna Greene (Ram) 9, T-8. Sophie Pezel (Kais) 8, T-8. Molly Singelton (Wies) 8, 10. Isabelle Spencer (Stut) 5, 11. Clara Thompson (Stut) 4, T-12. Lola Wesseler (Kais) 1, T-12. Alexandra Barnes (Wies) 1, T-12. Inara Johnson (Ram) 1.