By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – As the lone senior on the roster, Kinleigh Root is the face of the Bedford North Lawrence program. Now she has the bandana to prove it.
As a gift for her final regular-season round at Otis Park, Root was surprised with handkerchief headgear that included her face as a centerpiece. The Stars wore that proudly while honoring Root’s finale with front-nine wins over Brownstown and Springs Valley on Thursday afternoon.
BNL posted a team score of 168 (paced by Emma Voris with a 3-over 40), the Braves totaled 219, and the Blackhawks carded 241. But that was secondary to the celebration for Root, who endured what so many seniors have to go through. The final score (44) didn’t match her vision for her farewell tour, but the emotions of that moment often override even the hardest mental approach.
For Root, the realization of the approaching end started to hit home.
“I didn’t think it would come so fast,” she said. “People would say that, but the season has flown by.
“I never thought golf would become such a hassle, but mentally it’s the most draining thing. It’s also the most rewarding thing I’ve ever gone through. It’s the friendships, learning to be so determined, to persevere. It’s hard to keep fighting.”
That’s the part most would not see when watching the always-smiling, easy-going kid with the powerful swing. She’s tougher than she looks. She bounced back from a serious hand injury last summer when she wrecked a dirt bike into a fence. She works on her game with serious intent.
“She is the team leader,” BNL coach Carly Stigall said. “She has put this team on her back, even in her slumps. She fights so hard for this team, and that’s what a BNL golfer is all about. Even on your worst night, you’re going to fight for every shot out there.”
As the solitary senior, Root had to worry about more than playing. She was the errand runner, the assistant coach to help freshmen along.
“I do have a lot more responsibilities, but I really don’t mind it,” she said. “All the juniors help a lot. We’re just a team.“
Her task now is getting the Stars aligned for the IHSAA sectional on Saturday at Otis. BNL is chasing its 13th consecutive sectional title.
”I feel like we’re really close,” Root said. “We’re falling to place at a perfect time.
”You can’t look at it as no pressure, because we have to fight for the win. We’re fired up, I don’t think we can let anyone beat us anymore. It’s the expectations for everyone to try their hardest, especially in the sectional.”
“There’s talk about how it’s almost a guarantee, but I tell these kids, if you slip up, it could be gone,” Stigall said. “I don’t plan on letting them take their foot off the gas at all. We want to go out there and compete, show them what this program is all about.”
The top three teams in the sectional, plus the top three individuals who are not members of qualifying teams, will advance to the regional at Country Oaks on Sept. 27.
BNL 168, Brownstown 219, Springs Valley 241
BNL – Sammie Nusbaum 41, Kinleigh Root 44, Emma Voris 40, Kadynn Canada 43, Bella Warren 51
Brownstown – Khloe Lingenfelter 45, Claire Brelage 53, Mairi Shaw 62, Kori Ault 59
Springs Valley – Dallas Hendrix 55, Dakota Goff 61, Kimber Weaver 62, Haley Minton 63, Lexi Grinter 63
