When South Warren golfer Mallory Vaughn earned a spot in the 2011 KHSAA state golf championships by surviving a playoff in Region 4 Girls’ Golf Tournament, Vaughn knew she wanted her golf career to continue as long as possible.

Vaughn extended that career Tuesday, signing a letter of intent to play at Western Kentucky.

“After that playoff and the exhilaration of it, I knew I wanted to continue this and it was something I wanted in life,” Vaughn said. “And to represent my hometown at the collegiate level is amazing.”

If Vaughn wanted to extend her career after the region tournament, it’d be understandable if she had second thoughts after suffering a crazy injury during the state tournament.

While walking off the No. 5 green in the opening round of the state tournament at Bowling Green Country Club, Vaughn broke her forearm when somebody’s errant shot hit her. The injury didn’t stop Vaughn – she finished with an 89 and nearly made the cut.

“I can remember exactly where I was,” Vaughn recalled. “I was walking off the course and heard ‘fore.’ As I put my arms up in front of my head, it hit my forearm. I saved my head, but my forearm had to take the fall. But I wanted to finish that round since it was my first time at state.”

Vaughn is the second South Warren golfer to ink with a college this school year. Teammate Jackie Van Meter inked with rival Murray State, but the rivalry would likely extend to the two South Warren teammates.

“If we get paired up together, our coaches will probably kick us off for talking too much,” Vaughn joked. “We’ve always kind of been partners in crime.”