MCLEANSBORO — It’s been a roller coaster senior year for Hamilton County golf standout Kylee Vaughan. After not knowing if there would even be a season or how long it would last, Vaughan was quarantined during the season. She won multiple events including the Black Diamond Conference tournament for the fourth straight year, but didn’t get a chance to play in the state tournament a fourth time because the IHSA canceled it due to the pandemic.

Fast forward a month, and Vaughan is officially signed to be a Saluki.

She says the opportunity to stay close to home in addition to the coaching staff and loving the campus were the main factors in her decision to sign with SIU.

Vaughan put together quite the high school resume: 61 career medalist honors, four BDC championships, three regional championships, two sectional championships, and three top 20 finishes at state. She also owns the school record for low 9-hole score (32) and low 18-hole score (69).

Vaughan knows it will be quite a step up to compete at the Division I level, but she is excited for the challenge.