NLC Golf: Panthers Take Title Once Again
NAPPANEE – The NorthWood girls golf program has accomplished a lot in the last several seasons.
The Panthers added to their lengthy list of accomplishments in impressive fashion once again on Saturday.
A little rain was not about to end NorthWood’s reign in the Northern Lakes Conference that was a safe bet.
The Panthers felt right at home on their home course in winning the NLC Tournament for the second straight year on a soggy day at the McCormick Creek Course.
Senior star Summer Stillson led the way as NorthWood finished at 340 to win the event. Stillson earned medalist honors with a four-over round of 76 and also became the first NorthWood player to earn All-NLC honors for four straight years.
The 340 shot by coach Adam Yoder’s team was a new school record for NLC action. It gave the Panthers their third NLC Tourney title (the others came in 2009 and 2015) and it clinched their fifth straight overall league championship.
Warsaw turned in a strong showing to capture a third-place finish. The Tigers shot 378, finishing just one shot behind runner-up Concord (377). Warsaw was fourth at the NLC Tournament in 2015 with a 399.
Senior Madi Graham fired a round of 91 to lead the way for coach Tad Nieter’s Tigers. Graham earned All-NLC honorable mention honors for the second straight season.
The duo of Delaney Wihebrink and Madelyn Ray each shot 93 for Warsaw. The pair of Page Desenberg and Izzy Ray each carded a 101 for the Tigers.
Stillson gives the Panthers its sixth medalist in the NLC Tournament in the last nine years. She was second in the tourney a year ago, shooting 83 to finish one shot behind then teammate Linnzie Richner.
Mackenzie Weaver had a strong effort too for the Panthers with a round of 80. Madison Richner finished with an 86, Alaina Benjamin a 98 and Abby Slabaugh a 99 for the champions.
Wawasee finished in fifth place in the tournament with a 401. Aubrey Schmeltz topped the Warriors with an 83.
Madison Beaman shot a 92 for coach Steve Coverstone’s Warriors. Lesley Tayagua shot 109, while Zoe White had a 117 and Jadison Rostochak a 118.
NorthWood topped the field with its 340, followed by Concord (377), Warsaw (378), Plymouth (387), Wawasee (401), Northridge (405), Elkhart Memorial (427) and Goshen (491).
The Panthers win the overall NLC title after going 7-0 in the round robin portion of the schedule.
Earning All-NLC honors were Stillson and Weaver of NorthWood, along with Schmeltz and Beaman of Wawasee. Also named All-NLC were Braedyn O’Dell of Northridge, Erika Shirley of Concord, Courtney King of Memorial and Katie Johnson of Plymouth. All-NLC honorable mention picks were Graham of Warsaw, Richner of NorthWood and Elise Boessler of Concord.
Yoder was named the NLC Coach of the Year.
Warsaw will face Whitko on Tuesday at Sycamore in North Manchester. NorthWood takes on Penn and LaPorte on Wednesday at the Knollwood Country Club in Granger.
Warsaw, Wawasee and NorthWood will all compete in the Warsaw Sectional next Saturday at the Stonehenge Golf Club. The Warriors are the defending champion in the 11-team field. The top three teams from the sectional then advance to the East Noble Regional on Sept. 24.