By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Do not play cards with Emma Voris. Bedford North Lawrence’s laser-focused junior is the Lady Gaga of the golf course. She’s got that poker face.
According to the card sharks, everyone has a “tell” that reveals emotions or intent. Golfers are the worst in terms of hiding their reactions. Voris is the exact opposite. Good or bad, birdie or double bogey, great bounce or bad break, her demeanor rarely shifts, whether it’s the shade of a smile or flash of a frown. She needs to copyright that. Many would pay well for that trait.
She never knows her score, another fantastic way to play. Too many start projecting rather than finishing the round, paying a price when the scorecard fails to match expectations or fantasies. When BNL coach Carly Stigall asks how her round is going, she rarely gets an acceptable answer. That drives Stigall a little crazy, but it leaves her free to practice her drive-by psychology pep talks on those in tears or on the verge of a breakdown.
Voris is stress free. And now she’s added another level to her game – medalist. For the second straight match, she posted the lowest score, backing up her breakthrough during Saturday’s Terre Haute South Invitational with another solid outing at Otis Park. She led the way with a 42 on the front nine, although that didn’t stop New Albany from marring BNL’s belated home debut on Monday.
While others showed the entire range of the game’s maddening mental anguish, Voris was the collected, cool one. Take note, that’s the best way to play.
“I try not to let it bother me,” she said. “I just think of every shot as a new beginning. Honestly, as long as the ball is in play, and I can play it, I’m OK with it. I stay focused on that one shot, try not to get into my head too much, try not to think what I have to do. I remain confident, just hit the ball.
“I don’t keep track of my score, during the round, in my head. It messes me up. I don’t know what I have until the end.”
Voris is a study in steady. Nothing flashy, nothing spectacular. Her card will include the occasional birdie, but most rounds are a combination of pars and bogeys. Consistency adds up.
“I ask her how it’s going, and she really never has an answer,” Stigall said. “That’s a blessing and a curse. I like to know where we are. But she has confidence in herself. She knows her game better than anyone. I don’t question her judgment.”
For Voris, a two-sport athlete, golf is still her first love. She surprised herself with her round at Terre Haute’s Rea Park, which was a last-minute destination after BNL changed events on the fly. That opened her eyes to the possibilities in front of her.
“I guess it showed I was capable,” Voris said. “I would like to get to the point where I’m consistently in the 70s. It’s just being consistent in my short game, being able to save par.”
”I hope she sees that she’s a leader on this team,” Stigall said. “I would like to see her get more competitive with it, show other teams what she’s made of. A lot of people forget she’s on the team, and she’s making a name for herself. I’m ready to see her explode and bust out some low numbers.
“It’s the hunger, the mentality, the ‘want’ to get there. She takes her mishits, accepts them and moves on. She will get to the point where she will want that hunger to take a few more risks.”
With Voris at the front, No.16 BNL shot a pedestrian 194, with the Bulldogs posting 185. Sammie Nusbaum struggled with tee shots while fighting her way to a 46 for the Stars. Ava Quinn paced New Albany with 45.
The Stars will return to Shadowood to face Jennings County on Tuesday.
New Albany 185, BNL 194
New Albany – Emma Reavis 47, Emma Prince 44, Emily Spainhour 49, Miya Mangas 49, Lexi Berryman 50, Ava Quinn 45
BNL – Sammie Nusbaum 46, Emma Voris 42, Kadynn Canada 51, Bella Warren 55, Bella Montgomery 64
