One Down, Six Weeks To Go
Golfing with two freshmen, two sophomores and its only upperclassman senior, Wawasee’s score over NLC rival Concord (218) and host Whitko’s 222 at Sycamore Golf Club gave coach Steve Coverstone something to ponder.
“I didn’t have an idea of what we were going to get today having just a couple practices under our belts,” Coverstone said. “I was more than happy to see some of the scores we posted today.”
The grace period for Coverstone’s very young team won’t be very long as the triangular today will lead into the Huntington Invite at LaFontaine Golf Club tomorrow. The pace will continue, with just over six weeks between opening day and the sectional tournament, which will take place on Sept. 15.
Maybe the surprise of the day was the medalist 44 from freshman Mikala Mawhorter, who birdied the second hole and had just one double bogey in her nine-hole round. Just off Mawhorter’s pace was sophomore Elizabeth Jackson, who doubled five and six but still carded a 46 as the second-best score of the day.
Senior Alex Goralczyk found the water twice on nine but still managed just a 49 and sophomore Courtney McDaniel rounded out Wawasee’s (2-0) scoring with a 53.
“We went pretty much with what the averages were in practice,” Coverstone said. “To go to a strange course and play this well is good for us. If we can get three scores in the 40s, we will be very competitive. We are young, so we can only get better.”
Whitko’s Hannah Himes had the shot of the day, lofting her fourth tee shot within one foot of the pin and sinking the putt for the only other birdie of the day. Himes, a senior, however, shot a 19 on the next two holes and regressed to a 56. Whitko No. 1, sophomore April Bishop, played a fairly steady round of golf and led the team with a 49. Seniors Taylor Pottinger (56) and Emily Weigold (61) concluded the Whitko (0-2) scoring.
“We have some promise, some potential, but we are looking forward to the year,” said Whitko coach Bryan Sprunger. “I always felt with the teams I have coached over the years when you see improvement, those are the most fun teams to be around. We should have a lot of fun with this group.”
Concord (1-1), whose loss to Wawasee did not count as part of Northern Lakes Conference play but will Aug. 23 when the teams reunite along with Elkhart Memorial, had a 50 from Abby Roberts as its best score.
WAWASEE (192)
Elizabeth Jackson 46
Mikala Mawhorter 44
Alex Goralczyk 49
Courtney McDaniel 53
Kylee Rostochak 55
Kamryn Foy 72
CONCORD (218)
Abby Roberts 50
McKenna Grimske 52
Michaela Searer 53
Ashlyn Ball 64
Libby Gill 68
Olivia Kauffman 63
WHITKO (222)
April Bishop 49
Emily Weigold 61
Hannah Himes 56
Taylor Pottinger 56
Kristen Crawford 72
Elizabeth Gensch 69