Cloverdale soph. Fuetter earns trip to golf regional

Cloverdale sophomore Harlee Fuetter hits a shot from the tee during Saturday's golf sectional at Forest Park. Fuetter finished with a career-best 90 and qualified for regionals. (Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT)

BRAZIL -- On her second shot on the ninth hole at the IHSAA Girls' Golf Sectional at Forest Park, Harlee Fuetter rifled a ball from the fairway out of bounds. Fuetter started on the back nine, making it her final hole, and the mistake could have soured her whole round.

Instead, it was a minor blip on a career-best round of 90 for Fuetter. She recovered on the hole and finished with second-lowest from the non-qualifying schools and easily enough to advance to the Smock Golf Course regional in Greenwood next weekend.

Fuetter will be joined at Smock by Tori Vitaniemi and Ali Bazzani of South Vermillion, who scored 88 and 94 respectively. Bazzani was one stroke better than both senior Kyndra Boyce of South Putnam, who qualified for the regional last season, and senior MaKayla Moore of Cloverdale.

Doug Wokoun, the Cloverdale boys' golf coach filling in with the team on Saturday, said the accomplishment made Fuetter's school proud.

"Everyone is excited that Harlee is going to go on," Wokoun said.

Tee-times have not yet been set for the regional.

Without a complete picture of the competition, Wokoun said Fuetter will have her work cut out for her this week, particularly her short game short game.

"Chipping and putting will be very important," Wokoun said. "She really got the ball off the tee well today and she hit a lot of good second shots. ... She's knows the chipping and putting is something she needs to concentrate on and while she work on everything this week, that will be a focus."

Tee-times begin at Smock Golf Course at 8 a.m.