Bluffton edges SA for ACAC golf title; Smith, Arnold share medalist honors

DANE FUELLING

WZBD.com

Two excellent rounds by two of the top players in Adams County were not enough to keep Bluffton from winning the team title Saturday afternoon at Cross Creek as the Tigers shot 391 to beat South Adams by eight strokes for the team trophy.

The Starfires’ Julia Arnold finished with the same 18-hole score as Adams Central’s Londyn Smith, with both players carding 87s. Smith led all players at the turn, but Arnold gained a stroke on the back nine.

One key for both Arnold and Smith was their play on the tough green on hole No. 5. Both players recorded a par on the hole and were the only players in the field to do so.

*Julia Arnold hits her tee shot on No. 16 during Saturday’s ACAC tournament in Decatur.*

Smith’s round of 43 on the front and 44 on the back represented her best scores on each of those courses, and her best 18-hole score of the season.

Smith won the medalist’s honor by virtue of the first tiebreaker.

South Adams head coach Chris Toledo shared his opinion that the conference hasn’t been as strong in years based on what he saw Saturday and he thinks that speaks well for the future of the ACAC in girls golf.

“The ACAC will be a handful for other conferences next year,” said Toledo. “It’s good to see ACAC girls golf becoming aggressive again.”

Julia Arnold was one of only four players in the field to record a birdie. She took advantage of the wide fairway on No. 16 to card a four on the par 5 hole.

Sophie Meeks of Southern Wells finished in third place overall, beating out Emma Schwartz of Bluffton because of a birdie on the first hole and an incredible eagle on the always-difficult No. 9.

Meeks’ teammate, Erika Beavans, found the bottom of the cup in two strokes on the short No. 16, a feat also accomplished by Woodlan’s Olivia Robinson.

Another potential favorite to win medalist honors was Emma Schwartz. She finished four strokes back of the lead.

Notes from area teams:

Heritage – Liz Buuck had an outstanding day with a score of 110 for the Patriots, her best 18-hole score of the season. Aubrey Stoll’s solid score of 55 on the front nine gave her the best round of her season.

Adams Central – Besides the heroics by Smith, the Jets also got solid play from Lilly Hurst on both sides of the Biggs-Kreigh course. Hurst set a new 18-hole personal best with her round of 54-48. Sophie Johnson was 13 strokes better Saturday than the last time she played 18 at Cross Creek.