Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Though all the scores were written in red on large posterboards, two stood out like a sore thumb at Saturday's Warsaw Sectional at Stonehenge Golf Club.
Warsaw senior Emily Johnson shot a 5-over par 76 to cruise to the individual sectional championship while Wawasee used a consistent four-person score of 362 to win the team championship.
The host Tigers finished a distant second after shooting a team score of 397.
"We played consistent golf," said Wawasee coach Scott DeHart. "We wanted to get off to a good start on the front nine and maintain on the back. A 171 on the front is a pretty good score. We did what we had to do to win. I'm very pleased with our round."
The sectional championship was the first for Wawasee since 1995.
Though Johnson won the state championship as a freshman, becoming the youngest to win the Indiana individual title, earning medalist honors Saturday was the first sectional championship of her prep career.
She finished second individually with a 77 a year ago, leading the Tigers to the team championship.
"She was steady," Warsaw coach Chris LaLonde said of Johnson, who will play collegiately for the Indiana Hoosiers. "She bogeyed two of the first three holes. For her to be two over right away and finish just five over is impressive. The wind started blowing. That starts playing with your head."
The top three teams, as well as the top three individuals not on an advancing team, will play in Saturday's regional at Cobblestone Golf Course in Kendallville.
Columbia City shot a 404 to finish third, followed by Northridge (407), Elkhart Central (435), Whitko (435), Concord (441), Goshen (446), Elkhart Memorial (458), NorthWood (472), Fairfield (481) and Triton (559).
Roger Moriarty's Tippecanoe Valley Vikings had just three girls compete and didn't receive a team score.
Samantha Summe led Valley with a 125 while Merideth Craig shot 138 and Amanda Clennon 141.
Advancing to the regional as individuals are Goshen's Lynn Weaver (89), Elkhart Central's Brittany Bueter (97) and NorthWood's Amy Thompson (97).
Overall, Wawasee sophomore Taylor Goshen was nine strokes behind Johnson, finishing second with an 85. Warrior senior Jessica Rondeau was third overall with an 89.
Weaver tied for third overall.
Wawasee's consistent team score also was aided by Kayla Brown, who shot 91 to finish fifth individually, and Kelsey Mark's 97. Mary McCauley played in the fifth spot for the Warriors and shot a 122.
"This is a tough course," said DeHart. "It forces girls to use clubs they may have not used during the rest of the season. You have to know yardage and know where you need to be."
DeHart was impressed with Brown, a freshman, shooting a 91 in her first sectional round at Stonehenge. Mark's 97, DeHart said, was her best round of the season.
"Brown had a very pleasing round, 91 for her first time here is pretty good," said DeHart. "Mark had her best round of the season. This is the time you want them playing their best."
Other Warsaw scores included Alyssa Cameron's 102, Audrey Petro's 108, Tracy Thallemer's 111 and Kylie Dishman's 115.
Whitko, which finished the regular season with a 15-1 mark in dual and triangular matches, was led Saturday by Kelsa Visalli's 101.
Alyssa Newswanger shot a 107, followed by Sierra Doty's 112, Adrienne Carrico's 115 and Gari Ratliff's 122.
Bethany Shively paced Triton with a 127 while Brittany Mason shot 130, Kelsey Bessinger shot 146 and Abbey Reichert shot 156. Stacy Weissert was listed as a withdrawl.
(WARSAW SECTIONAL)
Team scores - Wawasee 362, Warsaw 397, Columbia City 404, Northridge 407, Elkhart Central 435, Whitko 435, Concord 441, Goshen 446, Elkhart Memorial 458, NorthWood 472, Fairfield 481, Triton 559
Wawasee - Jessica Rondeau 89, Taylor Goshert 85, Kelsey Mark 97, Kayla Brown 91, Mary McCauley 122
Warsaw - Emily Johnson 76, Tracy Thallemer 111, Kylie Dishman 115, Alyssa Cameron 102, Audrey Petro 108
Whitko - Kelsea Visalli 101, Alyssa Newswanger 107, Sierra Doty 112, Adrienne Carrico 115, Gari Ratliff 122
Triton - Bethany Shively 127, Abbey Reichert 156, Brittany Mason 130, Kelsey Bessinger 146, Stacy Weissert WD
T. Valley - Merideth Craig 138, Amanda Clennon 141, Samantha Summe 125
Top Three Individuals - Emily Johnson (Warsaw) 76, Taylor Goshert (Wawasee) 85, Jessica Rondeau 89
Advancing Individuals - Lynn Weaver (Goshen) 85, Brittany Bueler (Elk. Central) 97, Amy Thompson (NorthWood) 97
