Local Golfers Finish Season At RegionalKENDALLVILLE – Manchester High School's Kelsey Eichenauer missed qualifying for the state finals by one stroke.
Wawasee's Belle Brunner was two shots shy of advancing.
Warsaw's Grayson Kilburn shot the best round of her prep career.
Despite their efforts in Saturday's East Noble Regional at Noble Hawk Golf Links in Kendallville the season is over for local competitors.
Manchester and Wawasee were among the 18 five-player teams in competition, while Kilburn and Lakeland Christian Academy's Abigail Fisher were among the 18 players competing as individuals.
The top three teams, as well as the top five players not on an advancing team, qualified for the state finals, which will take place Friday and Saturday at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.
Eichenauer's 79 led all 12 Times-Union area golfers in the field and was good enough for sixth place overall.
Unfortunately, it wasn't quite good enough to continue her season, as Hope Mygrant from Oak Hill got the fifth state finals berth with a 78.
As a team, Manchester finished 10th with a four-person score of 365.
Wawasee was 14th at 371.
Fishel, playing in the regional as a individual for the second straight year, carded a 90.
“I’m very proud of this senior class. They deserve all the accomplishments they have achieved and deserve a lot of credit for the legacy they are leaving behind,” said Manchester coach Josh Troyer, whose Lady Squires were playing in the regional as a team for the fourth straight year.
“Kelsey Eichenauer played a great round today. Even though she came up a bit short, not many golfers come that close to advancing to the state finals. I'm proud of her and this entire team for leaving a great legacy behind at Manchester.”
Madyson Ulrey shot 92 for Manchester, while Sam Kissell finished with a 95, Cora Barnett 99 and Alissa Bickerstaff 102.
For Wawasee, Bruner came in with an 80, followed in the Lady Warriors' lineup by Jadison Rostochak (94), Tate Cowan (96), Lesley Tayagua (101) and Taylor Cripe (101).
Kilburn's round of 84 beat her previous best a stroke.
She made the turn with a 44 and shot 40 on the back side, despite taking a 9 on the par-5 18th hole.
“She got a 9 on the last hole and still shot her best score,” Warsaw coach Tad Nieter said of Kilburn's performance.
“She played great the entire day and her ball striking was the best of the season for her.
“She really had things rolling on the back nine, but a couple bad breaks cost her strokes. I'm very proud of her effort level in practice and the grit she showed at regionals. She has a high ceiling for her potential and hopefully this propels her foward to next year when she is a senior. She can build off this momentum.”
Fishel's round of 90 included a 42 on the front side and a 48 on the back.
Homestead's Madi Dabagia was the individual champion with a 2-under par 68.
She beat runner-up Cybil Stillson of NorthWood by four strokes.
Homestead won the team title with a 299, as the Lady Spartans' scores were 68, 73, 77 and 81.
NorthWood finished second at 309, while South Bend St. Joe grabbed the last state finals berth with a 328.
Northridge finished fourth at 335, followed in the top 10 by Huntington North (349), DeKalb (350), Bishop Luers (354), Penn (355), Concord (355) and Manchester (365).
EAST NOBLE REGIONAL
(Noble Hawk Golf Links, par 70)
Note – top 3 teams and top 5 individuals not on an advancing team qualify for the state finals.
