Columbus North won its first girls golf regional title in 30 years when it captured the Lapel Regional in 2017.
Then last year, the Bull Dogs made it back-to-back championships.
Saturday, North will be favored to win its third consecutive regional title when they tee it up at Edgewood Golf Course in Anderson.
"I feel like if we do what we’re capable of doing, we have a legitimate chance to win," North coach Scott Seavers said.
The sixth-ranked Bull Dogs’ main challengers will be No. 10 Noblesville and co-No. 11 Hamilton Southeastern. Those are the only three ranked teams in the field, and the top three qualify for the Oct. 4-5 state finals at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.
North is coming off its seventh consecutive Greensburg Sectional title. The Bull Dogs, who fired a school record-tying 302 in the Conference Indiana Tournament at Timbergate last week, shot 311 Saturday at Greensburg Country Club.
"Our goal every year is to try to peak at the right time, and we played well at the sectional," Seavers said. "All the girls played better than they did the previous year at the sectional. We were coming off a good conference performance. Our girls are confident, and we hope to carry that into Saturday."
Columbus East also qualified for regional again after finishing third at Greensburg with a 394. The Olympians will be looking to improve on that score at the regional.
"Obviously, you want to play your best," East coach Troy Buntin said. "Competition there is tough. I’d just like to see everybody play their best and shoot their best and have a good end to the season."
Meanwhile, two local individuals will play in two other regionals on Saturday. Jennings County’s Sophia Curry will play in the Roncalli Regional at Smock Golf Course in Indianapolis, and Brown County’s Allison Stogsdill will compete in the Washington Regional at Country Oaks in Montgomery.
The top five individuals on non-qualifying teams advance to the state finals.
North senior commits
Columbus North senior Lauren Opalka has committed to play volleyball at Muskingum (Ohio) University.
The 5-foot-5 outside hitter and defensive specialist has missed most of this season with an injury. Last year, she recorded 69 kills, 18 digs and two aces.
Teams seeking titles
Two local teams can wrap up outright conference titles with wins at home today.
Columbus North’s unbeaten third-ranked boys tennis team can wrap up a perfect Conference Indiana season with a victory against Bloomington North. Columbus East volleyball can clinch the outright Hoosier Hills Conference title with a win at Floyd Central.
Meanwhile, East’s girls soccer team can win the outright HHC title with a victory Oct. 3 at home against Seymour. East’s unbeaten and Class 3A No. 4-ranked boys team also is in the HHC driver’s seat with a 4-0 conference record.
North’s 3A No. 14 girls soccer team won the outright Conference Indiana title Monday with a win against 3A No. 10 Bloomington South. The Bull Dogs also won conference titles last week in girls golf, boys cross-country and girls cross-country.
Ted Schultz is sports editor for The Republic. He can be reached at tschultz@therepublic.com or 812-379-5628.
