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By TR HARLAN Chesterton girls golf coach Dale Hewitt was very pointed with his comments in the preseason. His Trojans had a simple goal – to make the State Finals at the Legends of Indiana Golf Course the first weekend of October. Mission accomplished. Chesterton finished third as a team Saturday at the LaPorte Regional at Beechwood Golf Course with a 339 team score and earned the school’s first-ever ticket to the State Finals. “Our goal at the beginning of the year was to make it to State,” Hewitt said. “It’s pretty neat. I really thought we had a good chance today. It’s 11 years in the making for me here. We’ve come a long way.” The Trojans were led by senior Allyse Kotso, who lived up to her No. 1 status with a 5-over-par 77. “I actually figured out how to play golf today,” Kotso said. “I think all season I’ve been trying too hard and trying to hit the ball too hard. Today I was really relaxed. I didn’t overswing and I wasn’t trying to kill it.” Because of flooding, the first two holes at Beechwood were unplayable. The tournament organizers decided to start the round on the third hole and finish with the golfers repeating the 10th and 11th holes at the end. “I guess with not playing the first two holes, it didn’t really seem like the Regional,” Kotso said. “Today was the best I’ve played in a long time. Everything went well except my putting. I still had five three putts.” “She played very well,” Hewitt said. “She was really focused all day and I knew she’d play well. She always plays well in big matches.” The big story for the Trojans came with the 83 fired by freshman Raine Fox. “I’m really excited,” Fox said. “I was more determined to play well because I had a bad week last week (at the Sectional). That’s the best score I’ve ever shot.” Hewitt wasn’t surprised by the score, but sure was happy to see it. “It’s great to see Raine come in with the 83,” Hewitt said. “She’s always been capable of it and she pulled it all together today. I think she had the right attitude today and didnm’t put any pressure on herself. “That really got us over the hump today.” Fox had a chance to lose the round with a double bogey five on the par 3 9th hole, but responded with a par on No. 10 to right the ship. “I got really mad after the five,” Fox said. “I made a par on 10 and then I was ok. I putted really well and chipped well. Everything just worked today.” The Trojans third score came from junior Erin DeVaney with her 86. “I’m really proud of her,” Hewitt said. “She had a tough front nine, but came back with a solid back nine.” Chesterton’s Hayley Miller fired a 93, while Jessica O’Brien shot 95 to round out the scoring. “Our three and four were a little higher than usual, but everyone else came in low,” Hewitt said. “It was a team effort today just like it has been all year.” The Trojans will be paired with Avon, Noblesville and Evansville Memorial in the opening round of the State Finals on Friday. Jessica O’Brien will begin play for the Trojans with a 9:24 a.m. tee time (EST) and will be followed by Hayley Miller (9:33), Erin DeVaney (9:42), Raine Fox (9:51) and Allyse Kotso (10:00).
LaPorte Regional AT BEECHWOOD, Par 73 (Top 3 teams qualify for State Finals Oct. 3-4 at The Legends Golf Course in Franklin, Ind.) Team Results 1. Penn, 319; 2. Twin Lakes, 336; 3. Chesterton, 339; 4. Lake Central, 344; 5. Mishawaka Marian, 356; 6. LaPorte, 368; 7. Valparaiso, 380; 8. Munster, 384; 9. Crown Point, 389; 10. (tie) Lowell and SB St. Joseph’s, 395; 12. Highland, 397. (Top 3 individuals from non-qualifying teams advance to State Finals Oct. 3-4 at The Legends Golf Course in Franklin, Ind.) Individual Results Medalist – Maggie Willenbrink (Penn), 75. Chesterton – Allyse Kotso 77, Raine Fox 83, Erin DeVaney 86, Hayley Miller 93, Jessica O’Brien 95. Crown Point – Carolyn Kupchik 85, Lauren Bryner 94, Kelly Rostin 103, Chelsea Gyure 107, Angela Roberts 116. Highland – Acasia White 88, Brianne Torrenga 99, Kaitlin Vianello 103, Margaret Haley 107, Nina Kepler 113. Lake Central – Morgan Goldsmith 80, Brianne Davy 82, Megan Matura 83, Emily Sandefur 99, Jen Pufahl 105. LaPorte – Lisa Mullen 87, Nikki Dunham 89, Darby Alcorn 89, Sara Benefiel 103, Cassandra Jerkovic 110. Lowell – Mallory Pratt 92, Kandice Ausdemore 96, Taylor King 99, Natalie Johnson 108, Alex Steuer 121. Mishawaka Marian – BreAnna Zim 88, Caroline Tripple 99, Caroline Ladue 89, Katie Firth 91, Bridget Liddell 94. Munster – Kamryn Klawitter 91, Laura Kinser 95, Allison Skimehorn 99, Sarah Kinser 99, Emily Imrich 109. Penn – Maggie Willenbrink 75, Deanna Song 78, Haley VanEs 80, Meghan McNerney 86, Kassy Femsler 89. SB St. Joseph’s – Anne Ormson 75, Ashley Spaulding 96, Caitlin Warrick 111, Michele Fredlake 113, Lieren Lorenc 115. Twin Lakes – Rachel Hickman 80, Katie Reiff 84, Carly McLeland 85, Grace Amsler 87, Abby Dilling 98. Valparaiso – Annie Nolan 86, Kelly Copeland 88, Kate Manning 103, Libbie Gilliland 103, Lyndsey Holmes 105. Andrean – Katie Derek 92. Griffith – Alexis Morikis 115. Merrillville – Sarah Martin 113, Alexis Connely 99. SB Washington – Shalonda White 113, Melissa Jones 93. Oregon-Davis – Olivia Kus 94. Hobart – Kathleen Cooper 81. John Glenn – Emily Jaske 103. Hammond Clark – Vicky Campos 113. MC Marquette – Mary-Kate Slatery 93. Rensselaer – Andrea Van Meter 84. Kankakee Valley – Heather McMillan 94. Boone Grove – Jillian Joyce 79.
Posted 9/29/2008
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