ANDERSON — Lapel’s girls golf team has done some good things throughout the season on its home course at Edgewood Golf Club in Anderson.
On Saturday, they made history there.
Lapel finished in third place — the final team qualifying spot — at the Lapel Girls Golf Regional and advanced to the state tournament for the first time in school history.
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The Bulldogs shot a school-record team score of 325, one shot lower than Heritage Christian, to grab third place. Columbus North won for the second-straight year, and third time in the last four, with a score of 313. Noblesville shot 324.
The top three teams and top five individuals not on one of the advancing teams qualify for this weekend’s IHSAA State Finals at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.
“They knew coming in they had a lot of pressure on them because everyone is saying, this is our home course, but golf is a weird sport,” Lapel coach Dylan Crosley said. “You can’t practice that pressure.
“It’s an amazing feeling. They grinded it out, and they showed their toughness coming into the (final) nine (holes).”
The Bulldogs opened on the back nine at the course and had a team-round of 156, another school record. As Crosley said, the last part of the day was tougher, and his girls did what they had to do to earn that final spot.
Freshman Macy Beeson led the way with a two-over-par 73. She tied for fourth overall. Three other players had career low scores. Lone senior Lauren Lutz finished with an all-time best 81. No. 3 player Chloe Renihan shot a career-best 80. Fifth-player Grace Martin had a 96, her best score. The final scoring round came from Kerith Renihan with a 91.
“It means a lot. Golf has been a big part of my life for a while,” Lutz said of qualifying for the state finals. “This team is just the best. We make each other better, push each other, just sweet girls. It’s been a lot of fun.”
At the end of August at Edgewood, Lapel won the Madison County Tournament for the third-straight year.
“It does give you a little relief, but it’s still regional,” Lutz added on playing at Edgewood. “You still feel the pressure of that, but you know the holes well, and I feel I have been in every situation you can be in on this course.”
The team will tee-off for Friday’s first round beginning with Martin at 8:48 a.m. The Bulldogs will play the Prairie View back nine to start the two-day, 36-hole tournament. The second round is scheduled for Saturday.
“It’s amazing (to make it to state),” Beeson said. “We’ve worked so hard for this. All the work has paid off.”
Pendleton Heights finished 13th out of the 18 teams at Saturday’s regional tournament with a round of 374.
Grace Wiggins had the low round for the Arabians with an 85. Lone senior Danielle Tinsley followed with a 91. Kaylee McKenney shot 96, followed by Ryann Norris with a 102 and Kaitlynn Shamblin with a 117.
“I had trouble today. I stuck with it, but it’s not what I wanted,” Tinsley said. “I really liked being able to practice and play with all of (my teammates) one last time.
“I was glad to be able to play this one more week. I’m really going to miss them.”
The Arabians were excited to advance to the regional. They shot a 368 and finished in a three-way tie for second at the New Palestine Sectional. By tiebreaker, on the fifth players score, they advanced to the regional round with the third and final team spot.
“We shot 368 at the sectional, 374 is not that far off,” Pendleton Heights coach Hilary Slick said. “We practiced every day (at Edgewood) this week and had played better than we did today. You always want to do better.”
“At the beginning of the season, coming here was one of our goals. It was amazing to come as a team. Hopefully we can come again next year.”
