BEDFORD — Saturday was the beginning of the 2023 postseason for girls golf with sectional at Otis Park Golf Course in Bedford.
Seymour, Brownstown Central and Trinity Lutheran all competed for the chance to advance to the regional competition Sept. 23.
The Braves advanced as a team, finishing in second place as a unit with a score of 387. Gracie Reynolds led the way for Brownstown with her score of 83. Khloe Lingenfelter followed with 100, Megan VonDielingen carded 101 and Abby Schroer and Jayda Clodfelder both shot 103.
Bedford North Lawrence ran away with the victory, scoring 328 as a team. The Stars recorded the top three individual scores with 77 from Kenley Craig, 79 from Kinleigh Root and 80 from Chloe McFaddin.
Springs Valley took the third spot as a team with a score of 418.
Seymour was not able to make it to the next stage as a team, falling just three strokes shy with a fourth-place finish and a 421. A positive note for the Owls is that Katie Cottrill secured a spot in the regional as an individual with her round of 97.
Emmy Followell scored 101, which is her personal-best score for 18 holes. Shana Spray followed with 107. Caroline Dennis ended her round with 116, while Emily Windley carded 117.
Owls head coach Jim Hoffman spoke about the results for his team.
“Overall, our expectations from the past few weeks have been very high,” he said. “So we are a bit disappointed in our scores. We worked hard, and we know we all left some strokes out there. Not making it by three strokes really hurts, but we are young, and we will be more stringed next year and much more experienced.”
The coach congratulated Cottrill on her regional appearance.
Trinity Lutheran’s Allie Schocke finished her round with 115. Unfortunately, she will not qualify for the next event.
Cougars head coach Kylie Weichman spoke about Shocke’s performance.
“It was a day of good shots. We just didn’t score well,” Weichman said. “She got off to a rough start but buckled down and worked hard to get back on track. Allie hit nine of 14 fairways but struggled with hitting greens in regulation and getting up and down.”
Weichman said she’s proud of Schocke for how she represented Trinity Lutheran during the season.
“While golf is an individual sport, it’s not easy to be the only person from your school to participate,” Weichman said. “I am proud of how she put herself out there and how she improved along the way.”
The Braves and Cottrill will compete on Saturday in regional at Country Oaks Golf Club in Washington. The meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. The competitors wil; try to advance to the state finals on Sept. 29 and 30 at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.
Feeder sectionals for the regional include Bedford North Lawrence, Northview, Jasper, Evansville Memorial and North Knox.
Team scores:
1, Bedford North Lawrence, 328. 2, Brownstown Central, 387. 3, Springs Valley, 418. 4, Seymour, 421. 5, Eastern Greene, 475. 6, Mitchell, 482. 7, Salem, 498.
Individual scores:
Brownstown Central: 1, Gracie Reynolds, 83. 2, Khloe Lingenfelter, 100. 3, Megan VonDielingen, 101. 4, Abby Schroer and Jayda Clodfelder, 103.
Seymour: 1, Katie Cottrill, 97. 2, Emmy Followell, 101. 3, Shana Spray, 107. 4, Caroline Dennis, 116. 5, Emily Windley, 117.
Trinity Lutheran: 1, Allie Schocke, 115.