KENDALLVILLE - As the final team scores for Saturday's girls regional at Cobblestone Golf Course in Kendallville were posted, the Fairfield Lady Falcons and Wawasee Lady Warriors were on opposite ends of the emotional spectrum.
Finishing third and earning the final berth for Friday's state finals at Legends of Indiana in Franklin, the Lady Falcons had plenty to be excited about.The Lady Warriors, on the other hand, missed the state cut by three strokes and saw their spectacular season end.
"You can't make mistakes at this level," said Wawasee coach Scott DeHart, whose team posted a 20-0 record in the regular season and won Northern Lakes Conference and sectional championships. "There's a couple shots we'd like to have back. They add up. I'm still proud of them. We didn't have the best front nine, but we battled back. I'm proud of the way we played, and we had a very successful season."
East Noble, led by medalist Katie Sharp's 5-under 67, won the team championship with a four-person score of 323, six strokes better than runner-up DeKalb.
Fairifield finished third with a 335, followed in the 12-team field by Wawasee (338), Homestead (347), Leo (356), Warsaw (359), Canterbury (359), Norwell (367), Elkhart Memorial (368), Angola (374) and Plymouth (382).
For Wawasee, Krista Zurcher led the way with a 77, while Sathita Cheeranont shot 79, Cortney Rassi added an 86, Alexis Linnemeier finished with a 96 and Cayla Hilgenberg rounded out the Lady Warriors' lineup with a 102.
"We shot the scores we shoot, they just shot a little better than us," DeHart said of the three advancing teams. "There's three really good teams that finished ahead of us."
While Wawasee's season is over as far as team competition, Zurcher's 77 put her among the top three individuals not on an advancing team, and she will compete in the state finals as an individual.
"I'm happy for Krista," said DeHart. "We'd like to be there as a team, but the program is moving forward and will be represented at the state finals."
Also advancing as individuals are Fremont's Elizabeth Carlson, who finished second wit a 75, and Elkhart Memorial's Haley King, who tied Zurcher for third with a 77.
Triton's Emily Duff competed as an individual and finished with an 87.
Though they shot their best 18-hole round of the season, the Warsaw Lady Tigers also saw their season come to an end with a seventh-place score of 359.
"We played our best 18-hole round of the year," said Warsaw coach Chris LaLonde. "I think this gets us going for next year, it's something to build on."
Kayla Hutcherson led Warsaw with a 79, shooting a 41 on the front and a 38 on the back.
"That was one of her best rounds," LaLonde said of Hutcherson. "It was fun to watch her. She played a great round."
Also for Warsaw, Sarah Hartle carded a 90, Nikki Grose shot 94, Nikki LaLonde shot 96 and Morgan Sands finished with a 98.
EAST NOBLE REGIONAL
(Cobblestone Golf Course, par 72)
Team scores - East Noble 323, DeKalb 329, Fairfield 335, Wawasee 338, Homestead 347, Leo 356, Warsaw 359, Canterbury 359, Norwell 367, Elkhart Memorial 368, Angola 374, Plymouth 382
Medalist - Katie Sharp (EN) 67
Advancing Individuals - Elizabeth Carlson (Fremont) 75, Haley King (EM) 77, Krista Zurcher (Wawa) 77
