Shrum finishes in a tie for 22nd at state

Monday, October 1, 2012
Cloverdale senior Sydney Shrum watches a long birdie putt on its way to the sixth hole. She made the putt and finished with six-over 78 on Saturday, giving her a tie for 22nd at the IHSAA State Finals.

FRANKLIN -- A promising start and a strong finish helped propel Cloverdale senior Sydney Shrum to 22nd place at the IHSAA State Finals on Saturday.

Shrum's second round 78 gave her a two-day total of 151, 14 strokes behind winner Kelly Grassel of Chesterton.

"It's been fun to work with her and see her mature," Cloverdale head coach Matthew Langdon said. "That was the first time in school history for the golf program (to send someone to state finals). It was definitely an experience."

Shrum's day began eerily similar to her first round.

Teeing off on 10, her opening drive landed in a fairway bunker.

She recovered quickly, reaching the green in regulation and two-putting for par.

Shrum's approach game carried her through the day.

On the next hole she chipped to within three feet and made an easy birdie putt.

She remained 1-under until her fifth hole, a par that she two-putt for bogey.

Another bogey on 15 left her at plus-1.

The sun began to creep out when she reached the tee on the par-four 18th hole, her ninth hole of the day.

A bogey left her with a respectable plus-2 on the back nine, but she carried with her the momentum of the lost shot as she began the front.

A bogey on one, followed by two double-bogeys eliminated any chance she had of finishing in the top 10.

"She started out really well and then to have that stretch in the middle and to come back was very impressive," Langdon said. "I think it showed how much her game has matured over four years."

Shrum said after the round that she was playing scared and decided after the third hole that she needed to make a change.

"I told myself I was going to birdie the next hole," Shrum said. "I hit the hole with my chip, so I had to settle for par. I had to wait for my birdie."

That came on a 12-foot putt from the fringe on hole six.

Pars completed the round for Shrum, who she enjoyed the event but believed she could have done better.

"I'm disappointed, but it's good," she said. "I hit it too well today to shoot 78."

Shrum ends her high school career as the most decorated golfer in school history.

She became the only Cloverdale golfer, girl or boy, to make an appearance at State Finals and she has a number of offers to golf in college.

To celebrate her accomplishment, the school held a pep rally for her on Thursday.

"That was awesome and it got me pumped," she said.

Langdon said he talked to her before the event about enjoying the moment, and he seemed to take the advice himself.

"It was fun for myself and it was fun for her," he said. "It's been fun to work with her and to see her mature."

Langdon said that earlier in her career, the two double-bogeys may have sabotaged the entire round, but that being able to bounce back showed the reason she has colleges looking at her.

"To be able to keep her emotions in check and finish the last six holes one-under was very impressive," he said. "I think we'll just see her get better and better."

Shrum will play again at the Hoosier Junior Championship at Otter Creek Golf Course in Columbus in two weeks.