Tom Reck
Tribune-Star Correspondent
TERRE HAUTE —
Terre Haute North claimed its second championship of the season in girls
golf on Thursday, winning its first Vigo County title since 2005.
The Patriots shot 166 in the match played at River Bend at The Landing. Terre Haute South tooks second with 171 and West Vigo carded 238. South senior Caylee Walburn and North junior Rachel Welker shared medalist honors, each shooting a 3-over-par 39. Both had two birdies in their round.
It was Walburn's best score of the year.
Welker also shared medalist honors a year ago, shooting 39 to tie Kelsey
Fuqua of South in the 2009 match played at Rea Park.
North and South's No. 2 players, Rachel Helt and Morgan Patterson, each shot 41. It was the best of the year for Helt.
Anna Potter, playing No. 5 for North, had a career-best 42 and Nicole
Anderson shot 44 to round out the North scoring.
Katie Thomas had 44 and Alex Pickens 47 for South.
Ciara McClain had 55 and Kristina Smith 57 to lead the Vikings. Three of the West Vigo players have only been playing golf for about a month.
"Anna was the difference and Rachel had a good night. I didn't know if we
could pull it out since Nicole and Jesi [Kaperak-Easton] were off some. It
was good to win with them not having their usual good scores. We have a lot
of work to do," said North coach Abe Nasser.
South coach Cara Stuckey said she was really proud of the scores shot by
Walburn and Patterson.
"We talked about players stepping and up being leaders. Today was a step in the right direction," she said. "I was proud of our effort and the score. We don't judge our success by wins and losses."
The Braves had their second-best score of the season.
West Vigo coach Sylas Smith said the match was good for his young players.
"They got to see some good golfers and know where they can be. I hope they learned from it," he said. The Vikings also had their second-best score of the season.
North is now 6-0 and will meet West Vigo and North Central at River Bend next Thursday. South plays Cloverdale at Rea Park the same day while West Vigo meets Linton on Tuesday and South Vermillion on Wednesday at River Bend.
North and South will compete in the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference Championships at Oak Tree on Sept. 11. The Patriots earlier won the North Invitational played at Hulman Links and also defeated South and Northview in a match played at Forest Park.
Vigo County Championship
Team scores — Terre Haute North 166, Terre Haute South 171, West Vigo 238.
Terre Haute North (166) — Rachel Welker 39, Rachel Helt 41, Jesi
Kaperak-Easton 46, Nicole Anderson 44, Anna Potter 42.
Terre Haute South (171) — Caylee Walburn 39, Morgan Patterson 41, Katie Thomas 44, Alex Pickens 47, Kristen Krockenberger 52.
West Vigo (238) — Ciara McClain 55, Kristina Smith 57, Olivia Butterman 63, Alainie Shepard 63.
Next — Terre Haute North (6-0) will play North Central and West Vigo at
River Bend next Thursday. Terre Haute South (5-2) plays Cloverdale at Rea Park the same day. West Vigo (1-9) plays Linton on Tuesday at River Bend.
In other high school golf:
• Arrows second — At Bicknell, host North Knox got a 38 from Lauren Primus and defeated Sullivan, Gibson Southern and an incomplete Vincennes Rivet team.
At Bicknell Country Club
Team scores — North Knox 175, Sullivan 206, Gibson Southern 212, Vincennes Rivet incomplete team.
Medalist — Lauren Primus (NK) 38.
Sullivan (206) — Leslie Lindsay 49, Lara Benningfield 51, Courtney Morris 55, Alex Thompson 54, Erin Hazelrigg 52, Logan Ellett 66.
Next — Sullivan competes Wednesday at Forest Park against Northview and North Central.
