DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
CEYLON – The Norwell Knights won their second 18-hole tournament in two days by beating out 13 other varsity teams on another beautiful morning for high school golf Wednesday at Wabash Valley.
Norwell beat out Warsaw’s A team by 11 strokes, shooting an impressive 379 a day after winning the Bellmont Invite at Cross Creek with a 369.
The South Adams Starfires ended up with an outstanding day, finishing ahead of county rivals Bellmont and Adams Central and taking fourth place (420). They were led by Julia Arnold, who finished in the top 10 by breaking 100 with a consistent round of 97.
“It sure feels like our momentum has not stopped,” noted SA head coach Chris Toledo of his team after a long day of carting girls back and forth across the course.
The coach made sure to point out that two of his girls (Megan Yoder and Ady Toland) shot their personal career bests in the very first round of the season.
“Julia played great but was just cold with her putter,” said Toledo of Arnold.
Brooklyn Green, who is new to the varsity team this year at No. 5, had her score counted with a round of 110 in her debut.
“Wow,” Toledo said of Green. “That’s breaking out with a bang.”
While the Bellmont Braves did not finish where they wanted to, head coach Mike Macke knows it’s just two days into the season and there’s plenty of reason for optimism.
“Ella (Hockemeyer) tied for fifth overall and has put two great rounds together,” noted Macke. “She has taken a great step up for her sophomore season.”
The sophomore picked up a birdie on the par-three ninth hole midway through her round and did not record a score higher than six the rest of the way after starting on the second hole and finishing with a 95.
Krosbi Butler struggled on the open holes at the start of the round, but as she headed into the trees of Wabash Valley, she straightened out her scoring.
“Krosbi is off to a good start, as well,” says Macke. “She came back after a few rough holes to start her round.”
Addi Johnson cut six strokes from her score at Cross Creek Tuesday and is getting more comfortable playing in a varsity setting, says Macke.
Kinley Martin, who is still awaiting her first class as a Bellmont High School student, performed admirably at No. 5, much like Morgan Huss did Tuesday as the Braves wait for Abigail Blythe to return to the lineup.
“The two freshmen did great for their efforts filling in for Abigail, who will be back next week,” noted Macke. “I think we are in good shape for the season. Abigail will give us another scorer going forward and I’m confident Meghan Pettibone will get back to form.”
Adams Central had a very similar round to what they played at Cross Creek Tuesday, with Emilee Hirschy beating out Kate Moser for top spot on the team by a stroke. Hirschy drained a putt on the ninth hole for a birdie. Lilly Hurst and Sophie Johnson both cut a few strokes from their rounds the day before and Lilly Johnson made her debut for the team.
For the Heritage Patriots, it was all about getting the season underway and finding bits and pieces to work on at practice.
Head coach Amanda Minchski was pleased with the Patriots’ opening performance.
“They all had some shining moments on the course that made them happy,” she said. “Right now we are just focusing on getting better every day.”
Natalie Otte shot a personal best of 106 to lead the way for Heritage.
“All the other girls were within a few strokes of their own bests, so I would say that is a pretty good place to start.”
The Patriots play three more times in the coming days as they begin the season with a torrid pace of matches before spending more time working on their game later in the year. They will host South Adams Monday.
Bellmont will host Snider Wednesday, while Adams Central will wait a week to play Heritage on August 10th.
“Wabash Valley was in perfect shape today,” admitted coach Toledo. “I am so proud to host an event and invite teams to play here at such a beautiful course.”
Team Scores
Norwell 379
Warsaw A 390
Frankton 399
South Adams 420
Bluffton 425
Bellmont 431
Angola 434
Adams Central 457
Heritage 459
Jay County 468
Warsaw B 491
Southern Wells, Canterbury and Bishop Luers did not field full teams.
Top Individuals
Claire Reust-W 87
Ana Dodane-N 89
Emma Sperry-F 92
Ellie Gatton-N 93
Sophie Stewart-W 95
Virginia Gladding-BL 95
Emma Schwartz-Blf 95
Ella Hockemeyer-B 95
Lilly Hall-F 96
Savannah Zimmerman-N 97
Julia Arnold-SA 97
Adams Central Scores
Kate Moser 110
Emilee Hirschy 109
Lily Hurst 121
Sophie Johnson 117
Lilly Johnson 131
Bellmont Scores
Meghan Pettibone 117
Ella Hockemeyer 95
Krosbi Butler 108
Addi Johnson 111
Kinley Martin 131
Bluffton Scores
Emma Schwartz 95
Eve Corkwell 98
Tressa Renner 114
Piper Morgan 118
Aleeah Grover 129
Heritage Scores
Natalie Otte 106
Olivia Minnich 122
Alexis Bremer 117
Aubree Rebeck 114
Aubrey Stoll 131
Jay County Scores
Maddy Snow 99
Meah Davoe 118
Brooklyn Bright 130
Whitney McIntire 121
Jamie Davis 140
Norwell Scores
Anna Dodane 89
Ellie Gatton 93
Emmy Heaston 100
Savannah Simerman 97
Nevada Lenwell 104
South Adams Scores
Julia Arnold 97
Addy Hinton 126
Ady Toland 105
Megan Yoder 108
Brooklyn Green 110
Southern Wells Scores
Caroline Rippenger 117
Kolbie Bevans 116
Sophie Meeeks 114
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