ANDERSON — It took a better performance than it had in 2018, but Columbus North girls golf was able to repeat as the Lapel Regional champions.
The sixth-ranked Bull Dogs had a team score of 313, 20 strokes lower than in 2018, to win Saturday at Edgewood Golf Club in Anderson. It’s the school’s third regional championship in the past four years.
North advances to the IHSAA State Finals Oct. 4-5 at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.
“I am happy with the way we improved over last year’s score,” North coach Scott Seavers said. “If we shot (333) this year, we wouldn’t have got out.”
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The top three teams advance to the state meet. No. 10 Noblesville was second with 324 and Lapel picked up the third spot with a 325, one stroke lower than Heritage Christian.
“Anytime you can win a regional, it’s a big deal,” Seavers said. “We’ve been fortunate enough to win three of the last four. Before that, we hadn’t won one in over 30 years. I’m thankful and proud of the girls and the way they competed today.
Nathaly Munnicha led the way for the Bull Dogs. She shot a 1-under-par 70, which included an eagle on No. 18. She finished second overall, two strokes behind Heritage Christian’s Yanah Rolston, who finished with a 3-under 68.
Munnicha had carded a 76 in each of the past two regionals. She was third overall in the 2018 tournament.
“It’s just a great feeling. We’re coming in with confidence for state,” Munnicha said. “We even improved from last year, which is great. If we shot the same thing as last year, we wouldn’t have made it. It’s great to see we’re improving and having better scores.”
North’s Annie Anderson and Ella Wilks each shot 80. Yestika Nischol was the other team scorer with an 83. Gwendolyn Anderson had an 86.
“We’re very consistent and support one another,” Munnicha added. “If we lose, we lose together. If we win, we win together. I just love this team and am so proud of what we have accomplished over these past years.”
The tournament also represented the end of the season for Columbus East. The Olympians shot 393 and finished 16th.
Qualifying as the third team out of the Greensburg Sectional, East realized the regional likely would be the last stop for 2019, but no one on the team or coaching staff could have imagined how the season would end for senior No. 1 player Lauren Steinwedel.
Prior to teeing off on her first hole (No. 10), Steinwedel was struck in the shoulder by an errant tee shot. She still wanted to try to compete, but was unable. Steinwedel was taken for x-rays, and it was determined she had a fractured left clavicle.
“I was just standing there. I saw one of my teammates duck and I moved my head and saw it hit my shoulder,” Steinwedel said.
Dr. Mihir Patel, who is a 1990 Columbus East graduate and a doctor of orthopedics, was at the tournament watching his daughter play for Park Tudor. The former Olympian tended to her at the tournament and helped get her taped up after she was struck.
“It could have been a lot worse,” Steindwedel said. “I’m glad I was able to come back out and watch my teammates finish.”
Harley Gant was low for Columbus East with a 91. Cristen Martinez shot 94, followed by Peyton Meier with a 102 and Katie Hong at 106.
“With finishing third at the sectional, we just wanted to come in, have a good showing and have some fun,” East coach Troy Buntin said. “The team collectively had good rounds, but I feel so sad for (Steinwedel). That’s not the way you want to go out as a senior. Everyone improved and it was a good day (on the course), but it’s soured by such a freak accident.”
