Menu
Tiger Cubs dominate, win WIC golf title
BRAZIL — Greencastle dominated the Western Indiana Conference girls’ golf meet at Forest Park on Saturday, shooting a 346 to beat runnerup Indian Creek by 14 strokes.
Macey Masten of the Cubs was second overall with an 81, three shots behind medalist Lauren Parsley of Indian Creek.
Five other Putnam County golfers made the all-conference squad, as Greencastle’s Bailey Shuee (fourth) and Marin Nally (fifth), North Putnam’s Taylor Dixon (tied for 11th) and Cloverdale’s Abby Walker and Greencastle’s Rose White (both tied for 13th) all scored low enough to earn all-WIC honors.
For Greencastle coach Steve Paquin, whose five-player team contains three first-year performers and another in only her second year of competition, the victory had to be especially pleasing — if not unexpected when practice began about a month ago.
“Very consistent play paid off for the Cubs in winning their first WIC championship,” Paquin said. “Good driving, second shots, chipping and putting by all the Cub players contributed to them having a great tournament.”
Masten is the only veteran of more than one year, and Paquin credits her with helping guide the others.
“Macey continues to be the leader and encouraging the others to play their best,” he said. “Senior leadership by her, Marin and Rose is helping Bailey and Molly [Ramey] to improve each week. The team is gaining confidence and looking forward to the rest of the season and sectionals.”
South Putnam placed eighth in the team standings, despite not getting one in the top 16 for all-conference honors, while Cloverdale was ninth as a team and North Putnam was 10th.
South Putnam coach Kevin Metz was “very proud” of the way his girls performed at the conference meet.
"My goal was for all five of them to break 120, which they all were able to do,” he said. “Drew Steffy played a great round and I see her improving over the next three years and hopefully making the all-conference team. I had great play from both seniors, Reagan [Ladd] and Anna [Carrington]. Leighla [Hazlett] and Kate [McCammack] both played really well and I’m hopeful we will be able to play even better for the remainder of the season leading up to sectional.”
Cloverdale coach Kyle Walter had similar thoughts.
“I was really happy with how my girls played as a team on Saturday,” he said. “This was our first 18-hole match of the season and all the girls adjusted to the longer round very well.
“I was very proud of Abby Walker for making the all-conference team in a very competitive field. I think we are starting to turn the corner as a team and should have some low rounds coming as we head into our county match and the sectional.”
North Putnam coach Linda Patrick was happy that Dixon was able to complete the first of her 2017 goals.
“Starting the golf season with three primary goals, Taylor was able to accomplish her first goal of making the all-conference team for 2017,” she said. “A sprained ankle put a damper on her practices and meet scores, but once she was able to play on a regular basis it was decided to hold back on the use of her driver until closer to sectional time. This strategy was a factor in earning her a spot on the all-conference team.”
Patrick had praise for her other players as well, all of whom are freshmen except Dixon and sophomore Abby Simmerman.
“Abby played strong with a 106,” she noted. This was her first 18-hole score of the year and was only two strokes higher than her sectional score last year. Being a two-sport athlete [also playing volleyball], it becomes difficult to stay consistent with limited playing time.
“Abby has a great short game but will need to improve her drives to get her more distance to cut down some strokes for sectionals. It is hoped she can start getting below 50 in the remaining meets to be strong for sectionals.”
Patrick noted that Nyiah Goff managed to continue to drop her 18-hole score again by shooting a 117, 11 strokes off from last week.
“Inconsistency in her swing still remains a problem and needs to be fixed by sectionals,” she said. “Brittany [Bonifacius] and [Haylee Greene] both had good short games, but struggled with getting their drives straight and getting the right club to use for the second shot.”
Overall, Patrick was pleased with the outcome and the effort put forth by all her players.
“As the Lady Cougars begin to prepare for the sectionals, the younger players will need to be more conscious of course management, strategy and club choice to help them continue to drop strokes,” she said. “Congratulations to Greencastle for winning the conference title.”
Team scores — Greencastle 346, Indian Creek 360, Brown County 283, Cascade 389, Sullivan 421, Owen Valley 424, Edgewood 425, South Putnam 427, Cloverdale 437, North Putnam 446, Northview 459, West Vigo 520
Greencastle scores — Macey Masten 81, Bailey Shuee 84, Marin Nally 85, Rose White 96, Molly Ramey 135
South Putnam scores — Drew Steffy 100, Anna Carrington 104, Reagan Ladd 107, Leighla Hazlett 116, Kate McCammack 120
Cloverdale scores — Abby Walker 96, Sammie Shrum 100, Hannah Nichols 106, Libby Dominguez 135, Michaela Nees 140
North Putnam scores — Taylor DIxon 94, Abby Simmerman 105, Nyiah Goff 117, Brittany Bonifacius 130, Haylee Greene 130
All-Western Indiana Conference girls' golf team
78 — Lauren Parsley (IC)
81 — Macey Masten (G)
83 — Ashley Masteller (BC)
84 — Bailey Shuee (G)
85 — Marin Nally (G)
87 — Mariah Summers (OV)
88 — Jacqui Button (IC), Dixie Short (Ca), Ana Littrell (Ca)
94 — Olivia Parsley (IC), Taylor Dixon (NP), Gabby Burkhart (Su)
96 — Abby Walker (Cl), Rose White (G)
97 — Carsyn Wayland (Su), Megan Cassidy (BC)