The Legends had more bite than usual.
Already long at 5,607 yards, the par 72 course in Franklin was still damp from the recent rains for Monday’s delayed IHSAA girls golf regional. It led to a tough day for area qualifiers as Bloomington South finished 12th with a 430 while Edgewood junior Boston Chambers shot a 110 to tie for 61st.
Taking away the double-par limit made for a lot of long days, with a few scores well over 130.
South, playing just four, got an 81 from senior Melanie Southern, who tied for 11th. Macy Hays had a 106, in their first regional rounds, Kirin Bowden shot a 118 and Silvia Walker a 125.
“It was challenging conditions,” South coach Jim Southern said. “I think the no double-par rule affected us some.
“But I’m proud of our girls. They did their best out there. And it’s starting to sink in as Melanie’s dad that she did not make it to state. She was paired up with (individual champ Rowan Pies (of East Central who shot a 68). She got off to a great start, so (Melanie) knew she was playing for two spots, not three. She had a goal to shoot 74 and that would have gotten the job done.”
Longer hitters had an advantage with the ball not rolling, but players were allowed to play lift, clean and replace in the fairways and bunkers.
“They were all tested mentally,” Southern said. “Kirin and Silvia, not having that cushion of double par, I prepared them the best I could. But they gained a lot of experience.”
So did Chambers, a junior making her first trip to regional.
“It’s wild to play double par up to the regional and all of a sudden, it’s gone,” Edgewood coach Garry Lee said. “And The Legends is harder and set up harder than anything else we’ve played all season. She had some bad holes and good holes.
“It’s one of those places where if you can play it five or six times how it was set up today, you might have some success, but you only get one shot.”
Franklin had a 319 to win the team title over Batesville (321) with Center Grove (327) also advancing. Floyd Central had a 333, then came a 34 shot gap to fifth place. Paige Giovenco of Floyd Central (70) and Emma Rowland of Corydon Central took the other individual spots. Martinsville was seventh at 379.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: ‘Challenging conditions’ vex area qualifiers at girls golf regional
