Nathaly Munnicha
After struggling on the front nine in Wednesday’s opening round, Nathaly Munnicha has redeemed herself in a big way over the past 27 holes of the Indiana Women’s Amateur.
The Columbus North graduate and Xavier junior-to-be fired a 1-over par 73 on Thursday at Otter Creek. She had opened with a 45 on the front nine and an 85 overall for her first round.
“It’s a whole new day,” Munnicha said. “It was great. I had fun with the people I was playing with, and my dad is caddying for me, so I had fun. I’m just glad that my practice is paying off the second day. Tomorrow is a new day again, so hopefully, I can play as well as today.”
Munnicha is tied for 38th place at 14-over 158 going into today’s final round. She will be carrying a little momentum after birdieing the final two holes Thursday, the latter coming on a 15-foot putt on No. 18.
Munnicha’s 73 tied for the fifth-best score of the day on Thursday.
“I think just mental-wise, I wasn’t so down on myself,” Munnicha said. “You have the next hole. I just missed a few birdie putts, and I was like, ‘That’s fine,’ and I finally made one on 18. I just tried to stay patient.”
Tobi Herron
Meanwhile, the other Columbus resident in the field, Tobi Herron, carded her second consecutive 77. She is tied for 24th at 10-over 154.
Herron, who played at Columbus North and Missouri, shot even-par 36 on the front Thursday, but bogeyed the first three holes on the back nine.
“I played great on the front and struggled a little bit on the back,” Herron said. “I had a couple wayward second shots got me in trouble. I hit it really solid, and I felt my putting was better today. I kind of got out of my own way on that. I actually didn’t hit it bad on the back. I just hit it is a few spots where it’s hard to make par from there.”
Julia Potter-Bobb, the wife of Columbus East graduate and former Otter Creek assistant pro Kiel Bobb, fired a second-round 68 and leads the tournament at 6-under 138. Kayla Benge of Plainfield is second at 3-under 141, and Becky Williams of Zionsville is third at 1-under 143.
Herron credited director of agronomy Brent Downs and course superintendent Mitchell Eickhoff with having Otter Creek in top condition.
“They have the greens running smooth and fast — true championship conditions,” Herron said.
