For high school girls golf teams around the state, the survive-and-advance season has begun. The Wawasee Lady Warriors and Warsaw Lady Tigers are among the fortunate ones, as both teams finished in the top three in Saturday's sectional at Stonehenge, advancing to the regional round of the 44th annual state tournament. The top three teams, as well as the top three individuals not on an advancing team, qualified for Saturday's regional at Cobblestone Golf Course in Kendallville. NorthWood won the sectional in convincing fashion with a four-player score of 340, overcoming a lengthy weather delay as well as the other eight teams. Wawasee was second, 45 strokes behind, while the host Lady Tigers finished third with a 391. Bremen (405), Plymouth (418), Rochester (440), Triton (474), Tippecanoe Valley (475) and Caston (498) rounded out the field. Lakeland Christian Academy and Whitko were both represented in the sectional but did not field full teams. “I thought we had a chance to get out, and the girls really came through today ... especially the young girls on the last several holes where I went up to them and said ‘hey, if we play these last holes good we could get out,’” said Wawasee coach Steve Coverstone. “Our veterans, the two seniors, did their job, but the young girls, Zoe and Jadison, did pretty good.” Aubrey Schmeltz and Madison Beaman paced Wawasee with an 88 and 90, respectively. Zoe White finished the day with a 102, while Jadison Rostochak carded a 105 and Lesley Tayagua rounded out Wawasee’s lineup with a 115. “The girls did a great job, they kept their focus,” Coverstone said of the weather delay and the ensuing course conditions. “I don’t know if I could have kept my focus that many hours. We’re really proud of the girls.” For second-year coach Tad Nieter and the Lady Tigers, it’s all about progress. A year ago, Warsaw was represented at the regional by one player, Madi Graham. Graham, now a senior, will have her teammates playing with her this time. “I couldn’t be more proud of the girls,” said Nieter. “There were several times throughout the round today they could have just folded, but didn’t. They stuck with it, and didn’t let each other down. They fought for each other, and I’m super proud of that. “It’s all about progress, and where we’re going with that process. We’re growing and improving.” Graham led Warsaw with a 90, while fellow senior Page Desenberg carded a 95. Delaney Wihebrink, Izzy Ray and Madelyn Ray finished at 102, 104 and 106, respectively. Victoria Biddle led Tippecanoe Valley with a 94. For Triton, Kate Gardner led the way with a 115. Whitko had just two golfers – Claire Reiff with a 122 and Makayla Compton at 140. Lakeland Christian Academy’s lone entrant, Abigail Fishel, finished with a 108. NorthWood’s winning lineup included Mackenzie Weaver (79), Summer Stillson (80), Madison Richner (88), Abby Slabaugh (93) and Alaina Benjamin (95). Rochester senior Kinley Lingenfelter was the individual medalist at 4-under 67. Lingenfelter’s previous best round at Stonehenge was a 77. She advanced to the regional for the fourth time. “It means so much to me,” Lingenfelter said when asked how impressive that score was considering how tough Stonehenge is, only to be made tougher by the weather Saturday. “I’ve never shot in the 60s. I’ve been very close multiple times, but I feel like there’s always been kind of a mental block. I was able to finally overcome that and work on being patient.” Prior to Saturday, Lingenfelter’s career best on any course was 71.
WARSAW SECTIONAL (Stonehenge, par 71) Note – top 3 teams, as well as top 3 individuals not on an advancing team, qualify for regional)
