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September 18, 2012

Hatchets miss regional by a shot

Mercer qualifies

By Gregg A. Sims Washington Times-Herald

VINCENNES — The pro shop of the Country Club of Old Vincennes resembled a party headquarters in a general election as Saturday’s golf sectional started to wind down.

The Washington girls golf team had completed its round 90 minutes earlier, and was waiting for the final tally to come in.

When the final results  were counted, the Hatchets were left with the same feeling as the past season — a result that was so close, and yet so far.

Washington shot a team score 381 that was good enough for fourth place. The top three teams advance to Eagle Valley in Evansville next Saturday.

As expected, Vincennes Rivet was the team winner with 324. Gibson Southern came in second at 379, and North Knox claimed the final regional spot with 380.

It was the second consecutive year that Washington missed the regional as a team by a stroke, although Kayla Mercer qualified to play next Saturday at Eagle View in Evansville with a round of 86.

Other Washington scores were: Natalya Meinhart, 97; Cheyenne Jones, 97; Haven Lunsford, 101; and Destiny Graber, 115.

“It’s very disappointing for everyone,” Washington coach Morris Petty said. “It’s the second consecutive year we’ve missed by a shot. The bright spot is that Kayla Mercer is going to advance as an individual. She’s done a good job this year. We’re disappointed as a team, but happy for Kayla.”

North Daviess was not as close to advancing with a 422, but the Cougars had two low scores for the season.

Meghan Knepp shot 97 to lead the Cougars — her first round under 100 — and Maggie Swartzentruber also had a career best with a round of 104.

Other Cougar scores were: Mattie Wagler, 109; Kirsten Madsen, 112; and Makayla Spears, 131.

“I thought our girls did really well,” North Daviess coach Brett Melton said.

“They struggled on the course in the Rivet Invitational earlier this year. They finished eighth. That wasn’t bad. Golf is a process and the girls are getting better. A lot of the girls were in the 120s to 130s in sectional last year. Hopefully we can keep improving each year.”

Washington started on the back nine and struggled through the opening holes. Washington, North Daviess and Linton went off the back together, and after posting the 381, Petty and his team thought they had a chance to make the regional trip.

“We played what we thought was the easier nine first (the back) and played very poorly,” Petty said. “We played what we thought was the harder nine (the front) and played very well.”

As the scores from the teams starting on the front side begin to come in, the Hatchets believed their chances was possibly lookinggood.

It came down to Gibson Southern, North Knox and Princeton as time passed.

North Knox was the first to post four scores — the teams count four of five players in the team scores — lower than Washington with its 380.

Princeton appeared to be dropping behind, leaving only the Titans.

The fourth score from Gibson Southern was posted as 2:30 p.m. after Washington had finished at 1 p.m. Their 379 secured their spot, leaving Washington in fourth.

“It came down to watching the Gibson Southern score,” Petty said. “We thought we might be in good shape after their one and two scores came in, but their three and four players played well. We knew that North Knox had beaten us by one shot, so, that was all we could do.”

Petty wasn’t certain how many players would be on this year’s  roster as the seson started after losing several players to graduation. For a time he believed he may just have two, but then found some players to fill the vacancies.

The Hatchets improved over most of the season, leaving Petty pleased with the results.

“We started with only two players,” Petty said.

 “We thought we might just play as individuals in matches, but then we had five first-time players come out, and worked hard. So, all-in-all it was satisfying, I guess, but boy, right now, it’s disappointing because it’s the second time this has happened to us.”

The wait made the result more difficult to accept in many respects. “It literally came down to the final golfers to come into the building (the pro shop),” Petty said. “We’ll get Kayla down to the regional next week and root for her. She’ll get down to the course and get in some practice down there. She did a good job.”

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