NorthWood senior Rachel Beebe checks out her drive on number one. (Photos by Nick Goralczyk)

MIDDLEBURY – It was the showdown of the girls golf season and it did not disappoint.

Northridge and Meadow Valley Golf Club played host to the Northern Lakes Conference’s top two teams on Tuesday night as NorthWood and Wawasee would square off with the NLC regular season title on the line. Both entered undefeated in conference play but it would be the Panthers that would escape with bragging rights this time. NorthWood shot a 176 to edge out Wawasee (180). Northridge (226) was no contest for either team.

“We worried about ourselves today and it worked,” said NorthWood head coach Adam Yoder. “We played well on the par five, very well. We also got a huge night from Rachel Beebe. She played like a senior tonight. She had her worst round of 18 this past Saturday and then tonight we needed her and she had her best round of nine for the season. That was big for us.”

Northridge’s Lucy Wisolek second guesses her shot on number nine.

Beebe shot an impressive 42 on the night, giving NorthWood three score in the 40s. Wawasee had four scores in the 40s but NorthWood grabbed the edge with Linnzie Richner’s 39 to lead its lineup.

Summer Stillson was up and down but had several very nice shots over the past few holes to capture a 45 for the Panthers. Baillie Richner came in with a 52 while Madison Richner shot a 50 for the Panthers fourth score.

Wawasee’s top two golfers, Mikala Mawhorter and Elizabeth Jackson, both shot a 44. The score was high for both girls as both have hovered around the 40-42 range for much of the season. Kylee Rostochak used a birdie on one to secure a 45 while Aubrey Schmeltz stayed consistent with shooting a 47. Kamryn Foy’s 53 would be the fifth score for the Warriors.

Northridge was led by Emily Thomas’ 50. Lucy Wisolek (53), Katy Plaimet (62) and Kelly Dodson (61) rounded out the scores for the Raiders.

“We played well tonight,” said Wawasee head coach Steve Coverstone. “NorthWood just played a little better. This is the fourth time we have seen them and we have each won twice now. It just comes down to who is playing better that day.”

Wawasee fell to NorthWood at the Wawasee Invite earlier this year but finished ahead of the Panthers in both the Rochester and Culver Academy tournaments. The fifth meeting will come this Saturday at the NLC tournament.

Wawasee (15-1, 6-1) and NorthWood (8-0, 7-0) will enter the NLC Championships as the two favorites on Saturday. The tournament is being held at South Shore Golf Club in Syracuse, the site where NorthWood bested Wawasee earlier in the year. The stakes will be higher this time around.

Kylee Rostochak crushes a drive for the Lady Warriors.