COLUMBUS
Bri Harwell’s medalist performance was almost enough to pull out a Whiteland win in a three-way competition with Columbus East and Greenfield-Central at Otter Creek Golf Course.
Harwell shot a 42, but the Warriors’ team score of 206 was just one stroke shy of East’s 205. Greenfield-Central finished with 227.
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Click here to purchase photos from this gallery“I think I played pretty well, considering it’s the first match of the season,” Harwell said. “I think I did my driving pretty well and my putting. But I think I need to work more on chipping and working more on my close-to-the-green stuff.”
Rachel Giroud shot a 47, and Allie Watson carded a 57. Kierra Mitchell shot a 60 for the Warriors, and Lucy Gearhart finished with a 63. Abby Mott finished the day with a 64.
Whiteland coach Crystal Morse said she was happy with how the team did. She said there was a little bit of rust that needed to be dusted off in the first match of the season. Two of her athletes golfed some during the summer, but many of them were busy with softball and other activities.
“I knew it was going to take them a few matches to kind of find their groove,” Morse said. “But overall, I’m really happy. The most thing I’m most proud of them for is their mental attitude.”
The Whiteland golfers did not let their bad holes affect their attitudes throughout the match.
Morse said they are going to need that attitude throughout the entire season and is glad she saw it in the first match.
“The first match of the season, I feel like it just sets the tone,” Morse said. “Whether we win or not. No matter how we do I feel like their mental attitudes just set the tone for the season.”
