Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER - Warsaw golf coach Bob Turner liked much of what he saw in his team's 184-198 Thursday win over Manchester at Sycamore Golf Club.
He liked the season-best score of 184. He liked that four of his five golfers shot in the 40s. He liked that his team escaped with a win on Manchester's home course - the Squires are 9-3 this year.
But what he liked most of all was his team's putting.
Every girl, from the first golfer in the lineup to the last, took between 16-19 putts.
Brooke Westover, Warsaw's golfer in the first spot, putted 16 times and shot a 46. Ashley Cooper putted 17 times and shot a 42. April Turner putted 17 times and shot a 49. Kerri Wrobel putted 19 times and shot a 47. Tosha Nance putted 19 times and shot a 54.
"This is our best putting day collectively this season, and it comes at a nice time," Turner said. "Putting wins matches. If the rest of your game goes, putting can still win matches for you."
The joke going around the clubhouse afterward was that April can usually shoot a decent score like a 52 but still take 32 putts.
"We putted better than normal," Turner said. "April had 17 putts for her best putting day."
April also birdied the fourth hole, a par-3 hole. Cooper parred four holes.
Manchester's 198 was the Squires' second-best score this season. Their first two golfers - Katie Parker and Dorey Bungitak - held their own against Warsaw, shooting a 45 and 47 respectively.
What separated the Tigers and Squires were the three through five golfers. Warsaw's shot a combined 150, while Manchester's shot a 166. Jodee Ruppel had a 55, Kasha Wieland 60 and Demara Knight 51 for the Squires.
"Our three through five golfers are pretty even," Turner said. "We have a cushion with five players. It's not like we have just four players who can golf."
Warsaw came into this match after shooting one of its worst scores of the season, 207 in a 20-stroke home win over Wawasee last Thursday. Still, Turner wasn't worried about the 207, brushing that off because of sickness.
Turner was right not to worry - the 184 comes right before Saturday's Northern Lakes Conference Championship match.
When someone asked if the Tigers' scores were good because the course was easy or they played well, Turner said "We played well," while Westover said "Easy course."
Whatever.
Turner will take a 184, because he was worried about just beating Manchester.
"The course is probably shorter than (home course) Rozella (Ford), but it still has water," he said. "We normally play well on this course. We do as good on this course as we do bad at (Goshen home course) Maplecrest.
"It's been a while since we had four in the 40s. Maybe we're peaking at the right time. I was worried about this match. Manchester is a good team. I feel pretty good about beating them, because they are a team to be reckoned with."
Manchester won the junior varsity match 244-248. Christina Evans shot a 53 to lead Manchester, while Lara Reed's 57 led Warsaw. Manchester is 1-1, while Warsaw is 7-6.
Warsaw's (12-2) NLC Saturday match at Larimer Greens (formerly Black Squirrel) begins at 8 a.m.
WARSAW 184, MANCHESTER 198
Warsaw - Brooke Westover 46, Ashley Cooper 42, April Turner 49, Kerri Wrobel 47, Tosha Nance 54
Manchester - Katie Parker 45, Dorey Bungitak 47, Jodee Ruppel 55, Kasha Wieland 60, Demara Knight 51
JV: MANCHESTER 244, WARSAW 248
Manchester - Wendy Reynolds 57, Christina Evans 53, Lindsey Hix 67, Alexis Leininger 67
Warsaw - Lara Reed 57, Kacy Jones 65, Jaci Thallemer 62, Erin Owens 64
