By Neal Boyer, Gary Post-Tribune correspondent
8/21/2008
CHESTERTON -- Host Chesterton had never won the Duneland Conference girls golf tournament -- until Monday.
With three of the top four finishers, the #14 Trojans beat defending champion and co-favorite #13 Lake Central by 15 strokes, 330-345 at the Brassie.
"Pretty awesome," Chesterton coach Dale Hewitt said while holding the trophy. "I knew we had a shot and figured five shots might separate us. LC is a real good team. (But) Erin (Devaney) really stepped it up."
The junior shot a career-best 77 to tie for low score at 5-over. "First time I broke 80," she said.
Lake Central senior Morgan Goldsmith, for the second straight year, won a playoff for medalist honors, helping ease the Indians' long bus ride home to St. John.
"It's exciting," she said, noting she was 0-for-2 in playoffs this month.
Trojans senior Allyse Kotso, on painkillers for back and shoulder woes, shot 79 for third. Junior Hayley Miller (86) and sophomore Raine Fox (88) broke 90.
"Having our Nos. 4 and 5 both in the 80s is the best surprise," Hewitt said. "That's how you win."
He threw out a 90 while LC counted two 90s.
Valparaiso's 394, led by Annie Nolan's odd 88 (she opened with a 50 on the back), nipped Portage by one shot for third in the eight-team field.
"Everything was on. I putted well and my irons were real good," Devaney said. She lives at Sand Creek (Chesterton's home course) and "tried to play every day this summer.
"It feels so good to beat Lake Central and win the DAC tourney. One of our main goals was to beat LC," Devaney added. She shook off a triple-bogey on No. 4 (in the water and two-putted) to go 1-under at 14. "I realized I was in the 70s and bogeyed the last three holes," she said.
It carried over to the playoff on No. 1. She hit a good drive and second shot then three-putted for just the second time all day. "That sucks," she said. "I worked all week on putting." Devaney said she was a "little nervous" in her first playoff, though she knows Goldsmith, who won on a par putt.
Goldsmith lives at Briar Ridge, Lake Central's home course, and practiced all day Sunday. "I'm very happy," she said. "I've been struggling with consistency. It was all working today and my approach shots were close." The 77 is her lowest score ever, "even playing by myself. I know I can do it now. I hope it brings my confidence up."
Kotso, who led Chesterton over Valparaiso for its first sectional title last fall, "hit the ball well but didn't putt very well with five three-putts."
She took a few months off after right shoulder surgery (bone spurs) last November then developed back pain in April.
Hewitt said his girls are improving each tourney, by about 30 strokes. "We lost to Lake Central by three at the KV Invite at Sandy Pines. We have to play LC at Briar Ridge so we're still underdogs."
Junior Brianna Davy, LC's No. 1, struggled with an 88, eight shots over her score here last year when she tied Goldsmith and lost a two-hole playoff.
"My short game, mainly chipping, cost me a lot. Now I know what I need to work on," Davy said, adding a top team goal was to defend. Her personal goal is to break the LC low average mark of 38 for nine holes.
Valpo's Nolan did OK the first two holes then "everything that could go wrong did. I was in the heather, took penalty strokes and three-putted. I lost two balls" en route to a 50. She shook it off for 38 on the front, sharing the day's low with Devaney and Goldsmith.
"It was so bad I just decided I'd shoot 38 and I did," she said. "I was making putts and chips." Her tourney best is 72. Coach Bill Miller said Nolan seems fine after offseason shoulder surgery. "She took a lot of time off," he said.
Sophomore Sarah Dienes opened with a fat 52 and turned it around with a 42 to pace Portage. She finished the last five holes strong. Portage opens at Chesterton.
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IHSAA - GIRLS GOLF
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Martinsville edged Carmel in one of the closest team finishes ever to win its second championship in three seasons and ...
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Following the tournament, Kelsey Benson of Martinsville High School was selected as the winner of the Mental Attitude Award by ...
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First team
Allyse Kotso
Chesterton senior
By the numbers: Averaged 40.5 for nine holes and 81.5 for 18 holes.
Raves: ...
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