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Officially, nine teams are competing for the top three spots in Saturday's Huntington North Girls Golf Regional.
Unofficially, Warsaw coach Bob Turner says bananas to that.
"Bishop Dwenger is the favorite," he said. "They shot 302 at the East Noble Invitational. Boys teams don't even do that. Dwenger and Marion are the top two favorites.
"The rest of the field is playing for third. The only way, and I mean the only way, either one of those two teams will falter is through a disqualification."
The way Turner sees it, seven teams are competing for the third spot. The top three teams will advance to the state finals.
If you think his bragging on Marion and Dwenger may be overblown, consider this: Dwenger is ranked third and Marion fourth in the latest golf poll. Also consider this: Dwenger had the second-best team score (314) in the state in last week's sectionals. Marion's 332 put the Giants sixth-best. The best? Martinsville, which shot 299.
A year ago Warsaw's tee times put the Tigers with Huntington North and Fort Wayne Snider. Snider finished first and Huntington North third. Warsaw finished a distant eighth.
Turner stopped short of saying the pressure wrapped its hands around the Tigers' collective necks last year. What he did say was he likes their position going into Saturday's regional.
This year Warsaw enters the regional as a bottom feeder, along with Columbia City and East Noble. Columbia City and East Noble beat the Tigers on their home course at last week's sectional, but Warsaw beat both during the regular season.
Now it is the best of three between these three teams.
"I think this year we will play a lot better," Turner said. "We're not playing the big teams like last year, when we golfed with Huntington North and Snider. This year we golf with Columbia City and East Noble. Our girls are friends with those girls.
"I think you'll see the three bottom teams play well, because there is no pressure. I think one of those three may play real well, well enough to sneak into the top three."
No pressure, no expectations. Last week, Warsaw was expected to place in the top three, if not win, its sectional. This week, Warsaw lurks in the background, just the way Turner likes it.
Dwenger is expected to go on to the state finals. Marion is expected to move on to the state finals.
"This week has been real low key," he said. "The kids have been participating in homecoming activities. It's been a fun week. The lower the key for us, the better.
"Last week we were as tight as a drum. This week the expectations are different. As a result, I think we'll play better."
1998 HUNTINGTON NORTH GIRLS GOLF REGIONAL
Saturday at Norwood Golf Course
Tee times for local competitors
Warsaw -ÊApril Turner, 11:06 a.m.; Lara Reed, 11:13; Ashley Cooper, 11:20; Tosha Nance, 11:27; Kerri Wrobel, 11:34
Manchester - Dorey Bungitak, 9:35 a.m.
Tippecanoe Valley -ÊBrenda Rose, 9:49 a.m.
Wawasee - Julia Wolfe, 9:49 a.m.
Turner's Take
Warsaw coach Bob Turner on Saturday's Huntington North Regional at Norwood Golf Course:
• "Putting can be a problem at Norwood. The greens will be a problem. It's been a dry September, so a lot of balls will go farther than normal. There's a lot of space behind the greens at Norwood.
"I truly believe you will see the state champion come out of this regional. It will take a 360 to get out of there."
On his five golfers:
Kerri Wrobel -Ê"She hits the ball fairly long. She played all summer in the Mountain Dew Tour. She has a lot of experience and doesn't get too rattled."
Tosha Nance -Ê"She hits the long ball, is very intelligent and plays within her ability."
Ashley Cooper -Ê"She's solid, a four-year player. Hopefully she will play her best match yet Saturday."
Lara Reed -Ê"She's stronger this year, pretty solid at chipping and putting."
April Turner - "April's made great strides. If she could eliminate one bad hole, she'd really shoot well. She shoots 46 or 47 and has one hole where she goes seven or eight."
