Five county golfers earn all-WIC

Friday, September 2, 2016
North Putnam's Taylor Dixon sinks a putt on Wednesday in the completion of the Western Indiana Conference girls' golf tournament. Dixon was one of five Putnam County golfers earning all-WIC honors for placing in the top 17.

Each school represented in match's top 17

CLAYTON -- Putnam County represented itself well in the Western Indiana Conference girls' golf tournament, which concluded play on Wednesday at Deer Creek after only nine holes were played on Saturday due to the weather.

Each school had at least one representative on the 17-member all-conference team, led by Cloverdale with two members.

Abbie Speas shot a 101 to place 10th overall, while teammate Abby Walker tied for 17th with a 105.

The highest county finisher was Greencastle's Macey Masten, who tied for seventh with a 96.

South Putnam is represented by Alicia Haywood, who finished in a three-way tie for 11th place with a 102.

Edgewood's Megan Higgins was the medalist with a 79.

Here is a look at each Putnam County school's performances:

Cloverdale

Sammie Shrum added a 110 for the Clovers, while Ambrie Kidder carded a 127.

"It was great seeing Speas and Walker make the all-conference team," coach Matthew Langdon said. "It is always a neat thing to see a senior, Speas, go out like that. Sammie Shrum also had a nice effort in her first conference meet.

"The focus now turns to what should be a very competitive Putnam County Championship."

The county meet will be played Sept. 15 at Clover Meadows.

North Putnam

Coach Linda Patrick noted that heading to a second day of conference play, the Lady Cougar golfers were determined to do their best on the final nine holes.

"They were happy to be playing the front nine as they just had a meet with Cascade playing the same nine holes," she said. "This familiarity with the holes helped in keeping the individual 18 hole scores low.

"Congratulations to Taylor Dixon for making the WIC all-conference team."

Freshman Abby Simmerman shot a 112 to place second on the team.

"She showed improvement in her final nine holes," Patrick noted. "This proved to be a very rewarding score for her first-ever conference meet."

Emily Eltz also showing improvement in her final nine holes, finishing with a 117.

"Emily had a tough first nine-hole round on Saturday," Patrick noted, "but she managed to drop strokes on the last nine holes.

"These scores for all the Lady Cougars are excellent confidence boosters as we begin to close out the season with the county tournament and sectionals."

South Putnam

Anna Carrington supported Haywood's all-conference performance with a 134, while Reagan Ladd added a 146 and Kristi Wood had a 150.

"I was extremely happy with the effort the girls put into the two days of WIC play," coach Kevin Metz said. "The weather wasn't great the first day, however the second day was much, much better.

"The girls were a little disappointed after Saturday's first nine holes, but on the bright side of things we had room for individual improvement."

Metz noted the Eagles were in 11th place after the first day, and Haywood was outside the mark to make the All-Conference team.

"She has a tendency to put a little too much pressure on herself, which may have caused the higher number the first day," Metz said. "She came out Wednesday a little more relaxed and played a great round.

"At the end of the day she found herself making the All-Conference team, and the Eagles made up some ground to finish ninth."

Metz thought Carrington played a good round for the Eagles."

"She seemed to be pretty happy with her play," he said. "She had a few bad holes here and there but overall did a good job keeping the ball in play."

Metz thought Ladd and Wood performed to their abilities and he was pleased with how they played.

"Reagan played as well as I could have asked her to," he said. "I feel she could have scored a little lower the second day, but played her round with a missing sand wedge.

"Reagan didn't make any excuses for her missed shots around the greens, and that says a lot about her personality."

Wood had one particular hole that highlighted her tournament.

"Her shining moment was parring hole eight on the second day," he said. "I was able to witness it, and she made sure I saw it."

Like his colleagues, Metz is looking forward to the big tourneys remaining on the schedule.

"I couldn't be more proud to coach these girls," he said. "They always try their best and come to work every day. I'm looking forward to the remainder of the season, with county and sectionals still ahead."

Greencastle

Macey Masten of Greencastle sinks a putt in the WIC tourney.

Coach Robert Hedge knew his team had a bad day on Saturday, but was glad to see improvement on the final day.

"We had a much better day today than on Saturday," he said. "Macey shot a great round of 42 [tying her career best], and now we are turning our attention toward the county tournament and sectional."

Alex Weliever had a 108 for the Tiger Cubs, while Lindsey Bridgewater shot a 118, Gabby Selvia had a 129 and Rose White added a 147.

All-WIC golfers

79 -- Megan Higgins (E) 38-41

88 -- Emma Bawirkle (BC) 43-45

89 -- Laura Parsley (IC) 43-46

92 -- McKenzie Pirtle (Su) 46-46

95 -- Dixie Short (Ca) 46-49

96 -- Shay Ehrlich (Nv) 50-46, Macey Masten (Gr) 42-54

100 -- Ashley Masteller (BC) 51-49

101 -- Jess Button (IC) 49-52, Abbie Speas (Cl) 51-50

102 -- Anna Littrell (Ca) 51-51, Jenn Newman (E) 53-49, Alicia Haywood (SP) 46-56

104 -- Kaitlyn Breeding (Ca) 54-50, Taylor Dixon (NP) 49-55

105 -- Gabby Burkhart (Su) 54-51, Abby Walker (Cl) 51-54

Team scores -- Edgewood 400, Cascade 417, Sullivan 422, Brown County 422, Indian Creek 427,Cloverdale 443, Northview 450, Greencastle 451, South Putnam 528, Owen Valley 541, West Vigo 554, North Putnam (incomplete team)

In other recent matches:

* Greencastle second in triangular -- At Rocky Ridge, the Tiger Cubs finished two strokes behind North Montgomery in a triangular meet on Monday.

The Chargers won the meet with a 205, while Greencastle had a 207 and Attica had a 218.

"After a disappointing day at the WIC on Saturday, the lady Tiger Cubs bounced back with a good performance on Monday," coach Hedge said. "I was very happy with our improvement," he said noting the team had its best score of the year."

Masten had a career-low 42 to lead the Tiger Cubs.

"She was outstanding," Hedge said. "She had six pars in the round, which is terrific."

Weliever added a 47, while Bridgewater shot a 55, Selvia had a 63 and White had a 67.

* Eagles third in triangular -- At Cascades, South Putnam played in a triangular meet with Indian Creek and Edgewood and finished third.

Edgewood won with 194 strokes, while Indian Creek had a 206 and the Eagles had a 235.

Haywood led the Eagles with a 50, while Ladd and Leighla Hazlett each had a 61, Kate McCammack had a 63, Wood had a 64 and Carrington had a 66.

The rounds were season lows for Hazlett and McCammack.

"Alicia played what I call and up and down round," coach Metz said. "She had five really good holes and four holes that I know she wasn't happy with."

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: