DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
DECATUR – The Bluffton Tigers picked up another trophy Tuesday, but they got great competition with Norwell finishing just two strokes out of the lead with a stellar day at Cross Creek.
The season started just a bit too early for the Knights, who were forced to play with just three on Monday at Wabash Valley. They were subsequently ineligible in the team competition, which ultimately went to Bluffton. A day later, Norwell had their full complement and made it a great tournament. Bluffton won despite Norwell taking the top two individual spots, with Ellie Gatton and Savannah Simerman tying for medalist honors with 81s.
Londyn Smith followed up her 88 on Monday with an 89 Tuesday to lead the way for the Jets, taking fourth place individually. The sophomore is playing great golf early in the season, nearly matching her best round of the year last year (87).
Tenley Hendricks shot a career-best round of 95 to finish in the top ten and help the Jets to a third-place team finish with the exact same team score (398) as the day before.
The Bellmont Braves showed that they were playing on their home course, dropping scores from their top three players. Ella Hockemeyer was fifth with a 91, while Morgan Huss shot 102 and Kinley Martin 108. Lyla Post and Ava Billman, both coming off career-best rounds at Wabash Valley Monday, had respectable rounds. Post navigated the 18 holes at Cross Creek as well as she ever has in her high school career, shooting 110.
“I like the girls’ attitude and effort out there,” said coach Mike Macke. “Each had a few rough holes today, but stayed with it and turned in decent scores. Each has an idea now of what they can work on to improve with a few days before our next round.”
For Heritage, the Patriots shaved 14 strokes from the day before and they start the 2025-26 school year feeling good about the progress for their young team. Liz Buuck had a career-best round (105) to lead the team as the No. 1.
Team Scores: Bluffton 363, Norwell 365, Adams Central 398, Bellmont 411, Heritage 461, Jay County 488
Top Individuals: 1st-Ellie Gatton-Norwell 81, 2nd-Savannah Simerman-Norwell 81, 3rd-Emma Schwartz-Bluffton 83, 4th-London Smith-AC 89, 5th-Ella Hockemeyer-Bellmont 91, 6th-Eve Corkwell-Bluffton 91, 7th-Addison Kauffman-Bluffton 93, 8th-Emma Burnau-Norwell 94, 9th-Tenley Hendricks-AC 95, 10th-Piper Morgan-Bluffton 96, 11th-Morgan Huss-Bellmont 102, 12th-Liz Buuck-Heritage 105, 12th-Aleeah Grover-Bluffton 105, 12th-Adrienne Johnson-AC 105, 15th-Kinley Martin-Bellmont 108
Adams Central Scores: London Smith 89, Adrienne Johnson 105, Tenley Hendricks 95, Lilly Johnson 109, Sophie Johnson 131
Bellmont Scores: Ella Hockemeyer 91, Morgan Huss 102, Kinley Martin 108, Ava Billman 114, Lyla Post 110
Heritage Scores: Liz Buuck 105, Natalie Sorg 117, Aubrey Stoll 122, Morgan Comment 59, Leah Koroncevicius 126
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