The Legends had more bite than usual.
Already long at 5,607 yards, Franklin’s par-72 course was still wet from recent rains for Monday’s delayed IHSAA regional women’s golf tournament. That led to a tough day for region qualifying as Bloomington South finished 12th with a 430 while Edgewood junior Boston Chambers shot a 110 to tie for 61st.
The removal of the double par limit allowed for many long days, with some scores well over 130.
South, which played only four, got an 81 from senior Melanie Southern, who tied for 11th. Macy Hays shot a 106, in their first regional rounds, Kirin Bowden shot a 118 and Silvia Walker a 125.
“It was tough conditions,” South coach Jim Southern said. “I think the no-double-par rule has affected some of us.
“But I’m proud of our girls. They did their best there. And Melanie’s father is starting to understand that she failed to declare. She was paired with (individual champion Rowan Pies ( from East Central who shot a 68). She got off to a good start, so (Melanie) knew she was playing for two places, not three, she was aiming to shoot 74 and that would have done the job.
Longer hitters had an advantage since the ball did not roll, but players were allowed to lift, clean and place back into fairways and bunkers.
“They were all mentally tested,” Southern said. “Kirin and Silvia, not having this double par, I prepared them as best I could. But they gained a lot of experience.”
So did Chambers, a junior who was making her first trip to the region.
“It’s crazy to play double par all the way to the regional and all of a sudden it’s gone,” Edgewood coach Garry Lee said. “And The Legends is harder and harder to put together than anything we’ve played all season. It had bad holes and good holes.
“It’s one of those places where if you can play five or six times like it is today, you might have some success, but you’ll only get one chance.”
Franklin rolled a 319 to win the team title over Batesville (321), with Center Grove (327) also advancing. Floyd Central had a 333, then a 34-shot gap in fifth place. Floyd Central’s Paige Giovenco (70) and Corydon Central’s Emma Rowland took the other individual spots. Martinsville finished seventh with 379.
This article was originally published in the Herald-Times: “Difficult conditions” for Vex zone qualifiers at regional women’s golf tournament
