Columbus East’s Carter Gant watches her tee shot on No. 3 during a golf match Thursday at Otter Creek Golf Course.
Tommy Walker | For The Republic
After shooting 423 for 18 holes in Wednesday’s season opener, Columbus East girls golf coach LaDonna VanDeventer set a goal for her players to break 200 in Thursday’s tri match at Otter Creek.
The Olympians shattered that 200 plateau, and it almost got them a victory. Their 191 tied Whiteland, but the Warriors won on the fifth-score tiebereaker.
Greenfield-Central finished a distant third with a 244.
“Our goal today was to break 200, and we did,” VanDeventer said. “It’s very satisfying. I felt like this nine was harder than Seymour, so I think our girls did well.”
East did have the medalist for the match. Senior Carter Gant carded a 4-over-par 40 on Otter Creek’s East Nine to lead the Olympians.
Gant drove green on the par-4 No. 4 and picked up a birdie. But she had a 7 on the par-5 No. 8.
“I definitely chugged through some tough holes,” Gant said. “It’s just about staying steady and keeping the momentum going. There’s always room for improvement. It’s the beginning of the season, so I’m not too worried.”
Gant had opened with a 76 on Wednesday at Shadowood. She thought she played better on that day than she did on Thursday.
“I don’t feel like my irons were as good as they were (Wednesday), and that definitely affected my score, and the putts weren’t falling tonight,” Gant said.
Ali Trueblood carded a career-best 48 for East. Grace LaSell added a 49, Dyana Foster shot 54 and Allison Sharpe had a 69.
“We have a lot of work to do, especially with our short game,” LaDonna VanDeventer said. “But we’re coming along. We’re a pretty young team.”
The Olympians will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to the Greensburg Invitational at Greensburg Country Club.
“We’re looking forward to having another 18-hole event on Saturday and seeing if we can improve on our 18 holes from (Wednesday),” East assistant coach Keith VanDeventer said.
