The school year hasn't even started, but the Warsaw Tigers girls golf team is already well into its season.
Following its 190-225 win over Columbia City at Stonehenge Golf Club Monday, the Tigers sit at 2-1 on the young season."We're kind of up and down, like the weather," Warsaw coach Bob Turner said. "That's the way golf is. When you watch the pros, sometimes they're up and sometimes they're down. That's the way it is with this game. You're playing one golf course that has slow greens, then you turn around and play a course that has fast greens."
The Tigers weren't as perfect as the 75-degree weather Monday, but they were good enough to pick up the home win, led by No. 3 golfer Kayla Hutcherson's 44 on the par-35 front nine.
Along with Hutcherson's performance, not one Lady Eagle finished with a lower score than Warsaw's highest qualified score, which was a 51 by the Tigers top player, Audrey Petro.
"She played too quickly," Turner said of Petro, who finished the course in just under an hour-and-a-half. "When you play too quickly or too slowly, it tends to throw you off. She's a lot better than a 51.
"We've been playing in some tournaments, which allow for slower play," the coach added. "So today, I think she just hurried herself."
In between Hutcherson and Petro's scores were Alyssa Cameron's 49 and Sarah Hartle's 46. Kristina Cripe shot a 60 for the Tigers, accounting as the fifth-player score.
Warsaw did achieve its goal against Columbia City, but there's still work to be done.
"Right now, our short game is a little less than desired," Turner said. "I think if we can get that down, by the end of the season, we should be pretty decent. Right now, we're just trying to get better with each match. We'll be all right in the end."
With Petro, Cameron, Hutcherson and Cripe all returning from last year's squad, Turner returns a lot of experience, and he's also got talent with freshman Hartle.
"She's a good find," Turner said of Hartle. "She's going to be an excellent golfer, and she's heading that way right now. She has golf in the family, so she has a good background with it."
The familiarity the girls have with each other has been a good thing for Warsaw to this point.
"I'm happy with these girls," Turner said. "They have great team chemistry, great team chemistry."
WARSAW 190, COLUMBIA CITY 225
(Stonehenge G.C., Par 35)
Medalist - Kayla Hutcherson (W) 44
Warsaw (190) - Audrey Petro 51, Alyssa Cameron 49, Hutcherson 44, Kristina Cripe 60, Sarah Hartle 46
CC (225) - Courtney Hinen 51, Emily Yoder 65, Rachel Hazelet 59, Olivia Western 55, Megan Yoder 60
