Because of its thick heather, bunkers and water hazards, Warsaw girls golf coach Bob Turner said teams are intimidated to play at Stonehenge.
Not Turner's team, which was a runaway winner against visiting Northern Lakes Conference foes Wawasee and Goshen Tuesday."On our home course, we're fairly tough," said Turner. "We know where to position the ball on this course. We've got good course management here. Other golf teams don't like playing this course. They pull into the parking lot and it looks intimidating. They see the waste bunkers and the water and heather, it's intimidating to young high school players."
The host Tigers won Tuesday's three-way NLC match by shooting a four-person score of 173, while the Wawasee Warriors finished with a 194 and the Goshen Redskins a 214.
Warsaw, which returned four players from last year's regional-qualifying team, improved to 9-0 overall and 2-0 in the NLC.
"We're doing fairly well," said Turner. "We're not totally consistent, all five girls had a couple bad holes. If you take two strokes away from each girl (that counts in the team score), that's eight strokes. We still need to get down in the 160s to play with some of the better teams in the conference and to do well in the sectional."
One of the top teams in the NLC, Elkhart Memorial, plays at Stonehenge on Sept. 1.
The Tigers will have to play NorthWood, also one of the top-tier teams in the conference, at McCormick Creek in Nappanee, but Warsaw will later have the advantage of hosting the sectional.
Alyssa Cameron shot a 41 on the front nine at Stonehenge Tuesday and was the match medalist, while teammate Audrey Petro finished with a 42. Kayla Hutcherson and Sarah Hartle carded 45s, while Laksika Kannasut finished with a 48.
"We've got five girls that can play," said Turner. "They can all play, nobody is going to hurt us. Our No. 6 girl, Morgan Sands, shot a 49 tonight. I'm very happy for her."
Wawasee is now 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the NLC, while Goshen fell to 3-4 and 0-2.
Krista Zurcher led the Warriors with a 44, while Cortney Rassi carded a 46. The rest of Wawasee's team turned in scores in the 50s, including Cayla Hilgenberg's 51, Kara Kaiser's 53 and Alexis Linnemeier's 55.
The Redskins had just one player turn in a score in the 40s, Heather Gladfelter, who shot a 47.
Katelyn Flory turned in a 53 for Goshen, while Mackenzie Miller shot 56, Brook Cripe turned in a 58 and Amanda Rose finished with a 67.
Warsaw is in action again Thursday at Oak Hills Golf Course against Northridge and Concord.
Wawasee hosts West Noble today at Maxwelton Golf Club.
WARSAW 173, WAWASEE 194, GOSHEN 214
(Stonehenge G.C.)
Warsaw (173) - Audrey Petro 42, Alyssa Cameron 41, Kayla Hutcherson 45, Sarah Hartle 45, Laksika Kannasut 48
Wawasee (194) - Krista Zurcher 44, Alexis Linnemeier 55, Cortney Rassi 46, Kara Kaiser 53, Cayla Hilgenberg 51
Goshen (214) - Heathler Gladfelter 47, Mackenzie Miller 56, Katelyn Flory 53, Brook Cripe 58, Amanda Rose 67
