Panthers Earn Key Win In NLC Chase
NAPPANEE – You could see the grass bending and rolling from hundreds of yards away. That didn’t stop NorthWood from maintaining its bend-but-don’t-break attitude in the Northern Lakes Conference.
Despite a 20-mile-per-hour crosswind through much of the McCormick Creek course, NorthWood posted three rounds under 40 to best Concord 160-189. The win keeps NorthWood in the driver’s seat in the NLC chase, the Panthers looking for its eighth straight title. The win also keeps the Panthers unbeaten at 3-0 in the NLC, and its win streak going at 53 in a row.
“It was a nasty wind tonight, that’s for sure,” noted NorthWood head coach Adam Yoder. “The down-wind shots were almost as hard as the into the wind shots at times. In conditions like that, we know that scores can be a little wonky. I was very proud of how we accepted what was in front of us and then accepted the results as they came. That will bode well in September and October when the weather definitely will change.”
A rare pair of bogeys were found in Cybil Stillson’s round of 37, but after her approach on two landed in the bunker and the out barely left the lip, Stillson turned around and birdied the third.
Breanna Goss had a pair of bogeys on six and seven, but still turned in a card of 38, and Kirsten Schrock, one of three seniors on the varsity five, celebrated Senior Day with a 39. Classmates Delaney Davis (46) and Makenna Gall (47) both had their senior moments, but were consistent enough to contribute in a big team win.
“These seniors are such “team first” kids,” stated Yoder. “I am most happy for them in all of our early season success. They deserve it as much as anyone in our program. They have always been the biggest cheerleaders for their teammates, clutch performers when we needed them to be, and willing to see the big picture in our program. They have improved so much since they were freshmen. All of them have top 10’s this year and have been in the low 80’s or high 70’s at some point. That is just really, really fun as a coach. Seeing that improvement is what its all about.”
Concord, which played at McCormick earlier in the month at the NorthWood Invite and were ranked in the state at one point, drop to 1-2 in the NLC with the loss. Lauren Boessler and Gracie Tucker both carded 43s to lead the Minutemen, and Evelyn Theinert had a 48. Gabby Sponseller struggled in turning in a fourth score of 55.
The NorthWood JV posted a 201 to just three Concord juniors. Kylee Gall had a 44 and Abbie Richner shot 45 to highlight the NorthWood juniors.
NorthWood next works Saturday in Tippecanoe County at Battle Ground Golf Club in the Lafayette Jefferson Invite.