Area seniors finish up high school golf careers at Franklin Regional

Bloomington North head girls golf coach Harrison Carmichael was standing on the 18th green at The Legends during Saturday's Franklin Regional, when it hit him hard. As each Cougar took their turn on the last hole, Alli Rensi, Annika Lowinger, Sadie Woodring, Mira Bruce and Kate Johnson, their high school careers were coming to an end.

And all Carmichael could think about was the incredible amount of work they had put in over four years, to go from a team finishing eighth at sectional with a 434, to one capable of finishing eighth at regional.

"From Kate to Alli, they really did work hard as a group," Carmichael said. "It was odd having all seniors. Normally, you're on the 18th saying, 'One or two are graduating and the rest are back.' But none of them will be back.

"So it was a somber 18th green. But we knew we did the best we could. And we knew we came a long way from where we were."

North shot a 392, 18 shots better than last year. Bruce, who birdied No. 8, went 46-47 for a 93, while Johnson had three pars on the back 9 for a 45 finish with a 95 total. Woodring shot 101, Rensi 103 and Lowinger 108.

"I was very proud of them," Carmichael said. "I can't ask for better. They didn't play the way they wanted to. Every single one, if they were honest, would say that.

"I think on the drive home and afterward, most of the conversation was about how much they've grown, Mira and Kate were shooting (138 and 116) as freshmen at sectional, so they've shaved a ton of shots off their scores. That's something to be proud of. They worked hard, all of them did and they left the program better than they found it."

State-ranked teams Center Grove (315), Floyd Central (337) and Franklin (339) advanced. Martinsville was sixth at 355. Olivia Alvey of Center Grove was medalist with a 71. It took an 82 to advance as an individual. Just two of the individual qualifiers from sectional broke 90.

Edgewood's Libby McElhinney, who was at regional last year with the Mustangs, shot a 100, six shots better than last year. Bloomington South's Silvia Walker fired a 105 and Owen Valley's Jacklyn Wheeler had a 109, getting off to a rough start on the back 9, but came home in 47.

In the Terre Haute North Regional at Hulman Links on Friday, Eastern Greene's Maddie Sylvester shot a 116.

McElhinney finished up her day with her second par to go with seven bogeys.

"She had a few bad holes that put a damper on what she was trying to do today," Edgewood coach Garry Lee said. "The course was in good shape, a bit damp. I had her play a combination of the golf and black tees at Cascades to get her used to the length.

"She played well in spots and struggled on a few holes, which is The Legends. It's tough for anybody. But overall, she had a pretty good senior season. Winning conference and playing really well at times."

Like the five Cougars, Walker capped her senior year with one last round at regional.

"Silvia had some inconsistency in her ball striking today but putted well," South coach Jim Southern said. "It was my great pleasure as her coach to walk along and coach Silvia today as she played her last round of her high school golf career for Bloomington South.

"Silvia handled setbacks well and she gave it her very best today on a tough and long course set up. I'm proud of her not only as a golfer, but also for the great person she is. It has been my pleasure coaching her for the past four years and she is going to be greatly missed on this team."