TERRE HAUTE – Bedford North Lawrence advanced to the IHSAA state finals for the fifth consecutive year, finishing third in the regional at Hulman Links during girls high school golf action on Friday.
The Stars carded a team total of 363, settling for third (on the fifth-player tiebreaker) after matching Evansville Reitz. No.6 Castle, the tournament favorite, won the title with 322. The top three in the 15-team field, plus the top three individuals who were not members of qualifying teams, moved on to the state finals at Battle Ground in Lafayette on Oct. 2-3.
BNL, which won its 14th straight sectional title last week at Otis Park, adjusted to the new venue. Country Oaks has been the regional site since 2014, but course conditions there forced a late change. The Stars, the defending regional champions, did not let the circumstances faze them.
”It’s so cool, I’m so proud of these kids,” BNL coach Carly Stigall said. “It’s hard for this to settle in right now.”
Sammie Nusbaum, last year’s regional medalist, paced BNL with an 80 while Emma Voris carded 81. Nusbaum birdied the par-4 seventh hole and played the front nine in two-over while finishing third overall.
“Those two are players I don’t have to worry about,” Stigall said. “They walk in and play their game. I trusted them completely to bring in the lower numbers we needed.”
Kadynn Canada (96) and Bella Warren (106) completed the team scoring, while Bella Montgomery posted 121 in the fifth position.
“We knew we had to pick up some ground, we knew we had to get them going,” Stigall said of the final two scorers. “They fought hard for every shot. I’m really proud of those two.”
Castle’s Layna Patel won a playoff with her sister Deeya to win medalist honors after shooting 79.
Mount Vernon’s Libby Reese (82), Boonville’s Lydia Aldridge (83) and Barr-Reeve’s Lauren Knepp (87 and surviving a playoff) advanced as individuals.
The state finals, moved from Prairie View to Battle Ground, will feature two rounds (with no cut).
IHSAA REGIONAL
Team scores
Castle 322, Evansville Reitz 363, BNL 363, Barr-Reeve 375, Evansville North 377, Boonville 380, Seymour 392, Jasper 403, Washington 409, Terre Haute South 416, Gibson Southern 434, Northview 443, Pike Central 430, West Vigo 472, West Washington 477
BNL scores – Sammie Nusbaum 80, Emma Voris 81, Kadynn Canada 96, Bella Warren 106, Bella Montgomery 121
