Columbus North won the team title at Monday’s Bloomington North Sectional at Cascades. Pictured are, from left, Erin Hopkins, Ava Bunker, Nettie Meeks, Ratisha Rashmil and Lindsey Hartwell and (back) coach Scott Seavers.
Ted Schultz | The Republic
BLOOMINGTON — Nine days before Monday’s Bloomington North Sectional, Columbus North freshman Ava Bunker fired a school record 5-under-par 66 at Cascades.
Monday on that same Cascades Golf Course, Bunker was equally as efficient. She came through with another 66 to win medalist honors and lead the Bull Dogs to the team title.
“My putts were dropping,” Bunker said. “Everything was just solid. If I couldn’t make a putt, I’d just get an easy par. I’m dialed in right now. I just have to keep practicing everything and make sure the short game is good.”
Bunker had six birdies and one bogey. She shot 2-under 33 on front nine and 3-under 33 on back.
Columbus North finished with a 339 team total. Erin Hopkins carded an 81, Lindsey Hartwell added an 89, Ritisha Rashmil shot 103 and Nettie Meeks had a 112.
“Overall, we’re happy,” Columbus North coach Scott Seavers said. “Our goal was to move on, and if we won, great. We’re just trying to keep getting better every week, and this is the next step. Now, we’ll start thinking about regional and preparing for that.”
Columbus East will join the Bull Dogs in moving on to Saturday’s Franklin Regional at The Legends. The Olympians had their best 18-hole score of the season in finishing second with a 358.
Columbus East finished second in Monday’s Bloomington North Sectional at Cascades. Pictured are, from left, Avery Brooks, Carter Gant, Katie Hong, Grace LaSell and Lilly Steinwedel.
Ted Schultz | The Republic
Carter Gant led East with an 83. Katie Hong and Lilly Steinwedel each shot 88. Avery Brooks added a 99 and Grace LaSell had a 107.
“We’re playing our best golf right now, which is the most important thing to do at this point in the season,” East coach Kylie Weichman said. “Carter got off to a little bit of a tough start, but she bounced back and she battled through the front nine, and then a 39 on the back is a great score. Avery Brooks played in our 5 spot today and had a personal-best of 99, which is just absolutely amazing. Then, to have Katie and Lilly both in the 80s, that’s good for us. We’re really pleased with that heading into regional.”
Edinburgh also had its best 18-hole round of the season in finishing seventh with a 409. Izzy Richardson had an 86 and was in a three-way playoff for the third-and-final individual qualifying spot, but bogeyed the first playoff hole.
“I was happy for Izzy,” Edinburgh coach Doug Weddle said. “She had a shot to advance. Sometimes you get it, and sometimes you don’t. Today, it just didn’t happen for her, but she played well.”
Also for the Lancers, Macie Blandford carded a 96, Jillian Turner added a 108, Gracie Myers shot 119 and Cloee Britton had a 131.
Brown County finished ninth with a 432. Lilly VanNess led the Eagles with a 101, while Hannah deWeerdt carded a 102, Chloe Poling added a 111, Ava Stogsdill shot 118 and Savannah Poling had a 119.
“We’re elevated a little bit, but when I realize only two of them have ever played this course before, certainly we would liked to have done better, but it’s not disappointing in any way,” Brown County coach Brad Baughman said.
