The wind certainly wasn't the only thing that blew through the high school girls golf sectional at Stonehenge Saturday. Playing in blustery conditions that made the going tougher than the course itself already did, the NorthWood Lady Panthers shot a four-person, 18-hole score of 348 to claim the team title. NorthWood was dominant before and after the turn, shooting a 171 on the front and 177 on the back, as the Lady Panthers topped runner-up Wawasee by 12 strokes. Columbia City finished third with a 378, followed by Warsaw (383), Rochester (383), Plymouth (385), Bremen (422), Triton (461), Whitko (461), Tippecanoe Valley (512) and Caston (513). The top three teams, as well as the top three indviduals not on an advancing team, qualified for Saturday's regional at Cobblestone Golf Course in Kendallville. “Obviously we wanted to win, but we're thrilled to advance to the regional,” said Wawasee coach Steve Coverstone, whose team was 17-1 in the regular season – the one loss coming to NorthWood – and who beat the Lady Panthers to win the conference tournament at South Shore. “We didn't play as well as we could have, but we played pretty well,” added Coverstone. “NorthWood played a little better than us. We had some high numbers on a few holes, and I don't think NorthWood had that problem. They played a little better than us, but we're thrilled to advance.” Elizabeth Jackson led Wawasee with an 83, while Mikala Mawhorter shot 87, Kylee Rostochak and Aubrey Schmeltz carded 95s and Kamryn Foy rounded out the Lady Warriors' lineup with a 108. NorthWood cruised to the team title behind Linnzie Richner's overall second-place score of 79, while Summer Stillson shot 82, Rachel Beebe carded a 91 and Ballie Richner and Madison Richner finished at 96 and 109, respectively. Rochester's Karsten Lingenfelter was the match medalist with a 5-over 76 and qualified for the regional as an individual. Other individuals who advanced were Plymouth's Randi Dunn (82) and Rochester's Kinley Lingenfelter (88). While Coverstone was thrilled for his players to advance to the regional, Warsaw coach Ray Davis said he felt bad for his team. The host Lady Tigers missed third place and advancing as a team by five strokes, while senior Alexis Manwaring was just one stroke short of qualifying as an individual. “I told the girls to keep their heads up,” said Davis. “From where we were last year with these girls to what we shot today, they should be proud. We took 24 strokes off our nine-hole average. “I knew we had to be close to 180 (at the turn) to be sure to get the third spot and we shot 194,” added Davis. “We battled on the back nine, but so did everyone else.” Manwaring led the Lady Tigers with an 89, while Madi Graham shot a lifetime-best 93, Ash Jain carded a 99 and Page Desenberg and Kristen Watson finished with 102 and 112, respectively. “I feel bad for Alexis, a lot, especially with this being her senior year,” said Davis. “Not only with the team, but finding out she was one shot from advancing as individual, I feel for her.” Hannah Jennings led Triton with a 91, while April Bishop paced Whitko with a 100 and Victoria Biddle led Valley with a 112.
WARSAW SECTIONAL (Stonehenge, par 71) Note – top three teams, as well as top three individuals not on advancing team, qualify for Saturday's regional at Cobblestone G.C. in Kendallville. Team scores – NorthWood 348, Wawasee 360, Columbia City 378, Warsaw 383, Rochester 383, Plymouth 385, Bremen 422, Triton 461, Whitko 461, Tippecanoe Valley 512, Caston 513 Top 3 Individuals – Karsten Lingenfelter (Roch) 76, Linnzie Richner (NW) 79, Summer Stillson (NW) 82, Randi Dunn (Ply) 82 Advancing Individuals – Karsten Lingenfelter (Roch) 76, Randi Dunn (Ply) 82, Kinley Lingenfelter (Roch) 88 NorthWood – Linnzie Richner 79, Summer Stillson 82, Rachel Beebe 91, Ballie Richner 96, Madison Richner 109 Wawasee – Elizabeth Jackson 83, Mikala Mawhorter 87, Kylee Rostochak 95, Aubrey Schmeltz 95, Kamryn Foy 108 Warsaw – Alexis Manwaring 89, Madi Graham 93, Ash Jain 99, Page Desenberg 102, Kristen Watson 112 Whitko – April Bishop 100, Elizabeth Gensch 115, Claire Reiff 117, Aurelia Stephens 129 Valley – Victoria Biddle 112, Liz VanMeter 113, Blake McBrier 133, Jordan Krotke 154, Jade VanMeter 176 Triton – Hannah Jennings 91, Lillie Berger 117, Kayla Kreft 122, Tessa Heaton 131
