BEDFORD
The Brownstown Central and Seymour girls’ golf teams will return to a familiar place this Saturday.
For the second straight year, both the Braves and Owls will compete in the Washington Regional after finishing top-3 in team scoring at the Bedford North Lawrence Sectional.
At Otis Park on Saturday, BC placed second with 377 strokes while Seymour High School finished third (400) of five teams.
Led by medalist Taylor Norman’s three-over-par 75, Bedford North Lawrence held on to the sectional title, shooting 326 on the morning.
Springs Valley finished fourth (420) and Paoli was fifth (462). Orleans, Salem, Eastern (Pekin) and Trinity Lutheran didn’t field full teams.
Braves coach Brandon Allman said the team played its most complete round at sectional.
“I’m extremely proud of them,” he said. “I think this was probably the best 18 holes we’ve put together all year. It wasn’t our lowest score in a tournament, but I feel like we hit the ball really well today at times.”
Emma Zabor led the Braves with a season-low 88.
“(Zabor) hit the ball phenomenally,” Allman said. “She had 22 putts on the front nine — including four three-putts. Her score was the best of the year, but it easily could have been around an 82. She was really upset with her putting because she hit the ball so well today.”
Shelby Stuckwisch carded 94, Regan Campbell shot 94, KaCee Collins totaled 102 and Ashlyn Fox had 124 for the Braves.
“We were able to avoid our big numbers today: 8s and 9s,” Allman said. “We still had too many double (bogeys) for my liking, but we avoided the big numbers and our scores reflected that.”
Bridget Marshall was low for Seymour High School, shooting a 93.
Laken Waskom was next for the Owls at 97 while Madeline Wisler, Andrea Axsom and Bailey Goben each shot 105.
“Everything was good besides our putting,” Owls coach Lakin Covey said. “They seemed to put one good nine (holes) together and the other nine was not very good.”
Trinity Lutheran’s Morgan Gabbard finished her season with a 109.
Both Seymour High School and Brownstown Central will return four of their five girls who played in last year’s regional.
Last season, the Braves shot a season-best 349 to finish 13th while he Owls got 17th (405).
“We have a lot of confidence going back,” Allman said. “I just want our girls to play the best golf of the year. All of the girls have seen the course at least once. I feel like confidence is high today.
I just don’t want us to be happy that we’re going again. I want us to look forward to the challenge of beating teams again this year.”
Covey, who returned to the Owls as head coach this fall after stepping away for two seasons, will lead the team in regional this time around.
“Going into it, they’re going to have have confidence at the regional level,” Covey said. “I’m hoping that helps us. I’m glad we’re going. Today was tough, but I’m glad we made it.”