The Warsaw Tigers have been preparing for this event all year. According to head coach Bob Turner, they even took a poor score at the conference meet for the simple reason that they were looking ahead to this. For the Tigers, it will take a complete team effort to advance to the regionals.

Kari Wortinger is also looking toward regional. She has taken medalist honors in 13 of Wawasee's 16 events. Her worst round in the past three weeks is a 43. She shot an 81 at the conference meet to take medalist honors by five strokes. And it could have been better. She shot five-over par on the final three holes. Wortinger will take a different route to the regional than Warsaw though. She will have to do it on her own. The chances of her team advancing out of the sectionals are slim.

"We started the year pretty green in terms of experience," Turner said about his Warsaw squad. "Now, we've got six girls that are experienced at the varsity level. My goal this year is to get out of sectional, but down deep in our hearts, we'd like to win it."

Turner sees competition from three teams on Saturday. East Noble, Columbia City and Manchester will battle along with Warsaw for three spots to the regional.

"East Noble and Columbia City are always tough," Turner said. "Manchester's had a good year. Their coach has done a great job. I think they are a team to be reckoned with."

Turner sees one major advantage though. It's the same advantage that Warsaw has had for years. Playing at Rozella Ford on the home course is a huge advantage.

"I think that teams will come in there and shoot a little bit higher than they normally do because of numerous bunkers and the elevated greens," Turner said. "There's a little bit more rough, and trees come into play too. So it could hurt their scores. I don't think it will hurt us. Playing at home, not riding a van, basically being around the house in the morning. That will ease the tension."

The Tigers shot a 196 in their final regular season tune-up at Rozella Ford. Turner feels that a 190 will win the event and a 205 will get his team to regionals. So his team looks to be in form to make it out of sectionals.

As for Wortinger, she will go to it alone. Yes, her teammates will be there cheering her on and she will be rooting for them. But most likely she will head to regional on her own. Warrior coach Bill Lantz wants to see his team shoot between 450 and 460, hardly numbers capable of competing for one of the top three spots. However, he knows that he has something special in Wortinger. He can say without a quiver in his voice that she is the best golfer he's ever coached.

"She's by far the best player on the team," Lantz said. "She's a tremendous leader. She's always upbeat, involving the others. She can shoot a 39 and someone will come in with a 63 and she'll say, "You did better tonight," keeping the rest of the team upbeat. She's got a super attitude. She's just a tremendous kid. Sometimes you can't say that about your best player, but you'll never hear me say a bad word about her."

Lantz has high expectations for his No. 1 golfer. To not get out of the sectional would be nothing short of a travesty. To get out of regional is a very strong possibility.

"I can't foresee her not getting out of sectionals," Lantz said. "She would have to die, literally. There's not a lot of strong individuals outside of Kari. At regional, she's played Norwood Golf Course three times this year. She would have to play her best golf, but it's not out of the realm of possibility."

Wortinger is peaking at the right time too. After starting the year shooting in the mid-to-high 40s, she is now in the low 40s or high 30s.

"For her senior year, she's really come through," Lantz said. "In the last three weeks, she's been playing her best golf. That's how you want to do it. As she finishes up her career, she's doing it the right way. She's very consistent and playing very well right now."

The Warsaw Tigers and Wortinger's Wawasee Warriors will be at the sectional on Saturday at Rozella Ford Golf Course. Valley, Manchester and Whitko will also be there. NorthWood will compete at the Penn Sectional. [[In-content Ad]]