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Greencastle girls' golf team takes WCC honors
BELLEVILLE--The first West Central Conference title in the conference's final campaign was up for grabs Saturday as the WCC girls' golf match was played out at Deer Creek Golf Club.
A chilly morning tee-time did not deter Greencastle from winning its second straight conference title with a round of 417.
Cascade held off Cloverdale by three strokes with North Putnam finishing 10 shots back in fourth place and South Putnam fifth.
Lauren Bridgewater claimed medalist honors with a round of 92, one stroke better than teammate Lokysa Scheuermann's 93. Macey Masten gave the Tiger Cubs a third All-WCC selection with a round of 105, while Alex Weliever shot 127 and Haley Cash carded a 129.
Greencastle coach Bob Hedge said the squad wanted to go even lower than last season but was still pleased with the outcome.
"I thought it was a really good day," Hedge said. "Actually, I was kind of hoping for a playoff with Lauren and Lokysa for medalist but they both played very well.
"Everyone struck the ball well in poor conditions this morning between the cold and the wind. We'll have to get better with our third and fourth score, though, to compete in the sectional next weekend.
"Our goal for Lauren and Lokysa was to break 90 and for Macey was to break 100,"Hedge added. "All three came close.
"Haley and Alex would have had better rounds if not for a couple of bad holes. We wanted, as a team, to be under 400 but given the conditions, we'll take what we got."
Anna Spencer and Harlee Fuetter had All-WCC rounds of 99 and 105 respectively to lead Cloverdale to a third-place finish. Hannah Nichols, Abbie Speas and Abby Walker came in two shots apart from one another with rounds of 115, 116 and 117, respectively.
Clover head coach Matthew Langdon said the squad didn't quite have the day they were looking for to challenge Greencastle for the top spot.
"We knew it would have to be a good day for us to take home first place and we had an average day," Langdon said. "Greencastle came in at 417 and I told the girls it would take a round under 420 to win.
"Greencastle was the favorite and it was going to take a good day from either us or Cascade to put pressure on them and we didn't have that today. Nobody played bad but we couldn't put four scores together to get there.
"It was great for Anna Spencer, our senior, to break 100 for the first time and at the conference meet," Langdon added. "Hannah Nichols shot a good score, a score below her average."
North Putnam also had two All-WCC golfers through Olivia Zarate's 99 and Jessie Cox's 100. Emily Harrington carded a 117 while teammates Taylor Dixon added 129 and Emily Eltz shot a 134.
Cougar coach Linda Patrick was pleased with the round and said that several weeks of work were paying off.
"Overall, I felt the girls did very well," Patrick said. "The last three or four meets we've worked on things to bring our scores down and we've brought down our high scores tremendously.
"I thought we came in in better shape this time and they were ready to face the course. Our two seniors were mentally ready today and while they had a couple of bad shots, they did what they wanted to do today and that was their goal.
"Team wise, it was still a little high but at least we had a score this year," Patrick said, referring to last season. "We've got three girls who now know what the conference match is all about and I'm pleased with what they did."
Alicia Haywood's round of 105 ensured all four county schools had at least one All-WCC golfer. Carlee Schlatter shot 119 for South Putnam while Israel Polster came in at 162 and Kristi Wood finished the day with a 168.
Eagle head coach Kevin Metz was pleased for Haywood and said that it was a learning experience for half of his squad.
"It was pretty chilly outside this morning so all of the players had to adapt to that," Metz noted. "We wanted to see Carlee and Alicia around the 110-range.
"Carlee shot 119 and was happy with the score but a little disappointed with the back nine. Alicia did well with her round of 105 and it's special for her to make All-WCC as a sophomore.
"Today was the first WCC match for Israel and Kristi and their first 18-hole round," Metz pointed out. "I'm proud of how they did and even though the scores aren't the lowest, I'm happy with the performance."
The WCC match kicked off a frantic push to the end of the season as the four Putnam County schools reconvene at Clover Meadows on Thursday for the Putnam County Golf Match, followed by sectional play the following Saturday.
North Putnam and South Putnam each have a loaded schedule as both teams have three matches in-a-row in the middle of the week.
Patrick and Metz both said that their squads would have to rest quickly ahead of a frantic week.
"Hopefully the girls get some rest in Sunday and we have a good practice on Monday," Metz said. "We'll keep working on chipping and putting to try and get rid of some three, four and five-putts.
"All three matches are at home and hopefully we can play one of the first two rounds on the front nine. We'll keep working on things and see how the rounds play out."
"Sunday is all they're going to get for rest as we need to get together Monday," Patrick said. "We had some putting difficulties we really have to work on before we face the county.
"Putting has been a nemesis this year and the girls have to concentrate. We'll do that Monday, play Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and then spend Friday getting ready for sectionals."
Cloverdale has an on-again-off-again schedule with rounds Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Langdon said that having a match at home Tuesday would help get the squad geared up for Thursday.
"It helps that we play West Vigo at home," Langdon said. "It will be nice preparation for county and it gives us another chance to practice on that course.
"It's easier to knock someone off on nine holes than it is over 18 holes. If we have a little bit better day than today, we have a chance at a win."
Greencastle, meanwhile, does not play again until Thursday and while Hedge said that would give the squad time to see the sectional course before Saturday, the squad could not ease off during Thursday's round.
"We've got time to practice and on Wednesday, we'll go over to Forest Park and get a practice round in over there," Hedge said. "The season is coming to a close very quickly.
"The girls have to remain focused and play their game on Thursday. You can't count anyone out, especially Cloverdale on their home course.
"They had some players today that weren't very happy with their scores because they're better golfers than that and I look for them to bounce back. They put it to us pretty good last year so we're not taking anything for granted."
At Deer Creek Golf Club
WCC Girls' Golf Match
Greencastle 417, Cascade 432, Cloverdale 435, North Putnam 445, South Putnam 554
Individual Scores
Greencastle -- La. Bridgewater 92*, Scheuermann 93*, Masten 105*, Weliever 127, Cash 129
Cloverdale -- Spencer 99*, Fuetter 105*, Nichols 115, Speas 116, Walker 117
North Putnam -- Zarate 99*, Cox 100*, Harrington 117, Dixon 129, Eltz 134
South Putnam -- Haywood 105*, Schlatter 119, Polster 162, Wood 168
* denotes All-WCC