GREENSBURG — Based on scores put up by teams in the Greensburg Sectional this season, it would have been a monumental upset for someone to deny Columbus North a seventh consecutive sectional championship on Saturday.
The sixth-ranked Bull Dogs left little to chance. They put up a 311 team total at Greensburg Country Club to beat runner-up Greensburg by 44 shots and advance to the Lapel Regional.
“Our goal was to come in here and win, and if not, at least move on,” North coach Scott Seavers said. “We had three scores in the 70s, so I’m pleased with that.”
Columbus East finished with a 394 to claim the third-and-final qualifying spot to the regional, which will be played Saturday at Edgewood Golf Club in Anderson.
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The Bull Dogs’ Nathaly Munnicha fired a 3-over-par 73 to claim sectional medalist honors for the third year in a row.
“It could have been a lot better,” Munnicha said. “I didn’t play as well as I would have liked. I put some good shots out there, but I left a lot out there, too. I hit a lot of greens, but just couldn’t make anything. I was leaving everything short. I just need to straighten some things out.”
North’s Yestika Nischol overcame a quadruple-bogey 8 on her first hole, No. 7, to card a personal-best 77 and finish fourth indivdually.
“I think I came back really well,” Nischol said. “This is what we practiced the whole year for, so I’m really excited.”
Annie Anderson finished fifth individually with a 78 for the Bull Dogs. Ella Wilks added an 83, and Gwen Anderson had an 85.
Lauren Steinwedel and Harley Gant each shot 93 to lead the Olympians. Katie Hong carded a 103, Cristen Martinez added a 105 and Peyton Meier had a 108.
“It’s a testament to the hard work they put in,” East coach Troy Buntin said. “It’s kind of like the reward in some ways. Our score isn’t what I would like for it to be. It’s a little higher that it was in our first tournament here this summer, but Lauren is fighting a little wrist tendonitis, and Peyton didn’t have a very good day. But it’s always good to get out and play another week.”
