Warsaw’s Page Desenberg works from the side of the fairway on the fourth during Warsaw’s double dual against LaPorte and Chesterton Thursday morning. (Photos by Mike Deak)

WARSAW – Thursday morning was no joke on the links. It was hot in the kitchen and sticky on the back porch. For 18 holes, Warsaw entertained LaPorte and No. 10 Chesterton in the girls golf home opener, won by Chesterton with a 332. Warsaw finished at 383 to salvage a split as LaPorte carded a 385.

Madelyn Ray takes a look at her drive on five.

If anyone was as red-hot as the sun blazing over the Stonehenge Golf Club, it was Warsaw senior Page Desenberg. Shooting her career-best score of 88, Desenberg was nine shots clear of her previous top score. Desenberg birdied the second hole, shot just one-over her final six holes, and even showed up on one of her bugaboo holes, the 11th (old No. 2) where she avoided the dreaded water and nailed down a bogey.

“She led the team and did a fantastic job,” said Warsaw head coach Tad Nieter. “She thrives under pressure, always has, and seemed to just welcome the challenges today. We don’t have even close to the score we had without her round today.”

Warsaw’s 383 was also a benchmark score. With the team currently constructed, the score was 15 shots better than it had last year with virtually the same lineup. Going back to opening week in 2015, Nieter offered his team was 37 shots ahead of the pace set out of those gates.

“We just are working on managing the course, managing the heat, and playing smart golf,” Nieter said. “It’s small things like pulling the right club. The girls are doing a much better job.

“The season is so short and so fast,” continued Nieter. “There isn’t a lot of room to pace right now. After next week, things do calm down a little. The girls are smart enough to play the pace and are doing a great job.”

Madi Graham sends an approach on nine.

Madi Graham shot a 90 for Warsaw, and likely would have led the team in scoring if not for a trio of triple-bogeys. Madelyn Ray came in with a 102, Delaney Wihebrink shot a 103 and Izzy Ray had a 104.

Chesterton’s lofty ranking is buoyed by No. 1 golfer Elyse Stasil, who made the Stonehenge grinder look tame. Stasil had six birdies and eagled holes six and 11 to field a 70, posting just a 33 on the back nine.

Cara Kroeger had an 84, Caylee Casbon and Alex Smith had 89s, and Madison Simms had a 103 for the Trojans.

LaPorte was led by Emily Wilmsen’s 92 followed by Hannah Schuster at 93, Claire Miller at 99, Bethany Schuster at 101 and Rylee Ogle at 114.

In the JV ranks over nine holes, the teams from LaPorte and Warsaw played the front side with the Slicers taking a 225-250 scoreline.

For Warsaw, Grayson Kilburn led with a 51, with Madison Martz at 63, Valerie Messmore at 66, Miriam Hagg at 70 and Ella Knight at 79.

LaPorte was led by Maggie Schuster and Madeline Fleshman’s 53s. Chesterton’s lone player, Abby Joesten, had a 63.

Warsaw (1-1) will reload for Saturday’s East Noble Invite, the Fort Wayne Canterbury Invite on Monday and dual again Tuesday at Stonehenge against West Noble.

Delaney Wihebrink wills her approach on four.