Lady Cats make history, advance to regional

After a dual match against Providence a few weeks ago, North Harrison head coach Joan Martin noted that she believed her girls golf team had a legitimate shot of advancing from the Seymour Sectional so long as its entire lineup ‘came to play.’
On a beautiful Friday afternoon at Shadowood, the Lady Cats came to play.
Despite a lengthy, 6-hour-plus round played under clear blue skies, North Harrison fired a 386, which was just one stroke behind sectional runner-up Seymour. Floyd Central won its first sectional championship with a total of 358.
Those three teams join Evansville Memorial, Evansville North, Boonville, Northview, Jasper and Terre Haute South at Saturday morning’s Bedford Regional at Stone Crest Golf Course. Individual qualifiers from the sectional round will also take part.
Corydon Central’s club wound up 14th at sectional with a score of 469, one spot back of Crawford County’s 448.
A season after then-freshman Allison Dooley became the first girls golf player from Harrison County to advance to a state championship, Dooley helped North to become the first girls golf team to qualify for a regional.
‘I’m extremely proud of the whole team,’ Martin said. ‘We have played well as a team these last few matches.’
North Harrison started the afternoon playing on the back nine at the par-73 course.
Dooley, who wound up with an 89 to lead the team, marked par on the opening hole.
Teammates Megan Woolston and Holli Schulz each carded par on the next hole, which was followed by another par for Dooley. Woolston and Schulz had par on No. 13.
Then, after a 26-minute delay at the tee, Dooley birdied the par-5 14th after a solid tee shot left her with a 20-yard chip to the green. The bump was left just a few feet short of the hole, with her first putt finding the center of the cup.
Dooley and Schulz each had one last par on the opening nine.
The lengthy round seemed to take its toll on the second nine hole, but Barr was able to battle through for a 44 after firing a 52 to start her day. She finished with a 96 for the team.
Woolston ended with a 99, Schulz had a 102, and Cyndi Garrison penciled a 104, highlighted by a birdie on No. 11, and a par at No. 5.
‘Allison has done a wonderful job in leading the team all year as the No. 1 player. Barr finished with a last nine with a 44, after a rough start with a 52. Megan and Holli were steady as the third and fourth players,’ Martin said.
North’s coach was somewhat critical of the event as the sectional ended just before dark.
‘It took about six hours to complete,’ Martin noted, adding in the late finish. ‘It’s the largest sectional in the state. I hope the IHSAA will take a look into this and split the sectional.’
Corydon Central’s squad started on the front nine, teeing off about 15 minutes later than expected.
Heidi Zimmerman had five bogeys en route to her team-best score of 110. She was followed by Elizabeth Kitterman, just one stroke back at 111. Kitterman had five bogeys as well for the Lady Panthers.
Melanie Windell’s 119 was next-best, with three bogeys on her trip. Kylie Hall had a single bogey in her round of 129. Gretchen Zimmerman rounded out the afternoon for Corydon Central with a score of 156.
Regional play begins at 8:30 a.m. at Stone Crest Golf Course in Bedford.
The top three teams and top three low individuals (including all ties for third place) who do not advance with a team will qualify for the Sept. 29-30 IHSAA state final at The Legends of Indiana Golf Course, which is located in Franklin.
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