ATTICA — It was post-season time for all three Montgomery County girls golf teams as they competed in the sectional at Attica on Saturday. Southmont’s Addison Meadows was named medalist of the sectional with a 79 and advanced to next week’s Regional as an individual. Southmont as a team just missed out on advancing as a team as the Mounties placed fourth with a 403.
Benton Central was named sectional champions as the Bison shot a 386. Western Boone placed second with a 388 and Seeger was third and final team to advance with a 398. Crawfordsville placed fifth with a season best score of 423 and North Montgomery finished right behind them with a 439 to place sixth.
Southmont coach Bill Whalen knew his team had the talent to get out as a team but at the same time talked about how nothing can be handed to them just because they were among the favorites to get out.
“I’ve told them that you get out of the sport of what you put into it,” Whalen said. “If you don’t pick up a club until July 30 it’s hard to think that you’ll be good enough in just six or seven weeks to get out of a sectional. I was very blunt with our girls because I’m not sure how much effort some of them put in. When you see four scores in the 100’s you’re probably not going to go very far.”
Along with Meadows’ 79, Stella Snook, in the final meet of her high school career, shot a 104. Kelsey Thompson ended her round with a 106, Courtlyn Carpenter a 114 and Parker Church a 119. While Meadows has higher goals for herself than what she shot at the sectional, she still gets the opportunity to continue her season in what she and many Mountie fans hope is another run at the State Finals.
“Today wasn’t easy,” Meadows said. “I knew that if I wanted to do good that I’d have to persevere and not let my emotions get the best of me. I knew that I was capable of being medalist and also capable of shooting a 70 because that’s what I shot here in the practice round. It’s a little frustrating because I know that I can play better, but in the end I’m happy that I still get to play at the Regional next week.”
Crawfordsville got to end their season on a high note with that season best score. Sadie Walker saved one of the best rounds of her high school career for last as she fired a 93 to lead the Athenians. Fellow senior Christen Saunders shot a 106 with Carli Payne carding a 109. Ada Hutson notched a 115 and McKenzie Wilson shot a 126.
Coach Tony Thomas was all smiles and was proud of the way his team ended it’s season.
“You can’t ask for anything more than to end the season shooting your lowest score,” he said. “Sadie played her freshman year so that we’d have five kids on the team and she’s come a very long way. These seniors as a group are some of the greatest kids that I’ve been able to coach in any sport that I’ve been involved with. It’ll be a tearful banquet for sure.”
North Montgomery was led by Grace Littell who shot a 99. Maggie Yeager carded a 108 while Shayna Ratcliff ended with a 109. Bella Priddy rounded out the scoring with a 123.
The Chargers graduate three seniors in Littell, Yeager, and Grace Shrader who had her season cut short due to injury. First-year Charger coach Bob Ryker noted how those three girls have helped build a foundation for the program over the last four years.
“I just have to give those three a very big thank you,” Ryker said of his three seniors. “We’re going in the right direction as a program and none of that happens without those three. They got better every day they were out on the course. It was a successful and fun first year for me and now we look to go up in the right direction.”
Next week’s Regional will take place at Battle Ground Golf Club in Battle Ground, IN. The top three teams and top two individuals will advance to the State Finals.
“It’s going to be really tough for sure,” Meadows said of the competition. “Even if I can’t get out, if I’m able to rebound from this round that would be just as good of a goal for me.”
