![](https://www.wbiw.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/221194F8-BDD4-4A11-B1F9-1EE6D76C8942-e1624838415662-528x340.png)
![](http://www.wbiw.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/89F2F53B-FBB1-4F65-BE1A-481B5F39B5FA.png)
Courtesy photo
BEDFORD – Defending the crown was a difficult task for former Bedford North Lawrence standout Taylor Norman, who carved out a one-shot victory to take home the limestone trophy in the Bedford Women’s City Tournament at Otis Park on Sunday afternoon.
Norman fired a second-round 76 and posted a 36-hole total of 154, clipping former BNL teammate Olivia Sanders by that deciding stroke. Brooklyn Cromwell was third on the congested leaderboard at 157.
![](http://www.wbiw.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/221194F8-BDD4-4A11-B1F9-1EE6D76C8942-227x300.png)
For Norman, the pressure of defending her championship was greater than the challenge of winning the first time. After sleeping on the first-round lead after an opening 78, she came out firing with an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole, overcame some nervous struggles in Death Valley (the infamous 14th and 15th holes on the back nine), and settled with a clutch par from the front bunker on the par-5 17th hole.
”Winning again was tough,” Norman said. “The first time was a goal I wanted to achieve. But the second time was something I really wanted to do. I knew it would be another close round, like it was last year, and I put some pressure on myself. But it all worked out.”
The eagle on the fifth, set up by a brilliant second shot to 6 feet, was an early key to her round, and Norman added two birdies. She stumbled through the Valley, but calmed down with a par on 17 after hitting a bunker shot to safety. She went to the final hole with a two-shot lead and held on.
“I didn’t want to know where I stood,” said Norman, who has transferred to Purdue Fort Wayne to continue her college career. “I would play with numbers in my head if I did, and I was struggling and getting nervous. After hitting the second shot on the bunker on 17, that next shot was pretty big.”
![](http://www.wbiw.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/906FB05F-110F-4A93-8F5B-710C7270A390-202x300.png)
Sanders carded rounds of 79-76, while Cromwell had the round of the weekend with a 1-over 73 on the final day.
In the other City tournaments, BNL’s Chloe McFaddin won the girls Junior, carding 87 in the second round while cruising to a 10-shot win. Colten Girgis fired a two-under 70 en route to the boys Junior title with a sizzling two-round total of 146.
Larry Weilbaker won the men’s Senior, carding rounds of 71-74 to clip former BNL standout J.T. Bellush by one shot.
![](http://www.wbiw.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/F54041E3-E53F-4E11-809B-8F5376377F5F.png)
![](http://www.wbiw.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/115C784F-865F-4DE4-B543-D540367DD3D2.png)
![](http://www.wbiw.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/FEC899FC-BE96-4534-AF66-3E02AA545437.png)