Published: August 09, 2008 10:37 pm            

Fuqua’s hole-in-one helps South girls claim TH North Invitational

TERRE HAUTE — Can one shot make the different in an 18-hole girls high school golf tournament? Kelsey Fuqua made a strong case Saturday that one can.

The Terre Haute South junior got a hole-in-one, her first ever, on the 13th hole at Hulman Links during the Terre Haute North Invitational, and the Braves won the team title by two strokes over Evansville Reitz.

A 1 on the hole instead of perhaps a par-3, and a two-shot victory? You do the math.

“I didn’t play very well today,” said Fuqua, who finished with an 88, “but at least I helped the team.”

It was indeed a team effort for the Braves, who counted four scores between 86 and 93 in securing the trophy, and it was a good day all around for both Vigo County teams.

Although the host Patriots finished fifth among eight teams, for example, North had the low Vigo County score of the day — freshman Rachel Welker made her debut with a 79 — and a team score of 392.

“I don’t think we ever broke 400 [for 18 holes] last year,” coach Abe Nasser recalled.

South’s winning team score was a 355. In third place was Kokomo, eighth in the state last year, with a team score of 361; Kristi Cardwell of the Wildkats, their No. 1 player during that tournament run, was individual medalist Saturday with a 76.

Kokomo counted three other scores in the 90s, however, and Reitz had to use a 94 and a 98.

“The most important thing for us was the team was consistent, [players] one through four,” coach Cara Stuckey of the Braves noted after the tournament.

The Braves could easily be unbeaten after two opening tournaments; a player disqualification, on a day when Fuqua was unavailable, cost them a chance at the Plainfield Invitational earlier in the week.

“The first invitationals are just a starting point, and you build from there,” Stuckey said. “But this does give us confidence for the rest of the season.”

“I think we’re going to do well this year,” added Fuqua. “We’ve got a strong five players.”

Being able to score a 1 on a hole also helps, of course.

“My swing [with a 5-hybrid] was pretty solid [on No. 13], so I felt [the shot] was going to be close,” Fuqua said of her ace on the 150-yard hole. “I didn’t feel it could go in the hole though.”

“Cara sent me a text message and asked what I was giving away for holes-in-one,” Nasser said later. “I said there was no way. That hole was long today.”

Nasser was busy tracking the progress of Welker, who was even-par through 11 holes before running into trouble on No. 13 and No. 14.

“Not bad for a rookie,” he joked. “Here she is … a freshman, in her first varsity tournament, and she was cool as a cucumber. She had it going real good.”

The rest of the Patriots also impressed their coach.

“Abby Colwell [who shot a 94] has improved dramatically, and the back end [of the lineup] was really good,” he said, noting that North’s highest three scores on Saturday were still well below what they might have been a year ago.

His other freshman, Jesi Kaperak, had a 106 in her first tournament of any kind. “She just played 18 holes for the first time a couple of days ago,” Nasser said. “That’s why we scheduled this tournament, to create more competition … these young girls need competition.”

Both teams play on Monday at the Mooresville Invitational, then the following day at South’s invitational at Rea Park.



Terre Haute North Invitational

Team scores — Terre Haute South 355, Evansville Reitz 357, Kokomo 361, Franklin 372, Terre Haute North 392, Gibson Southern 437, Evansville Bosse 448, Lawrence North 468.

Medalist — Kristi Cardwell, Kokomo, 76.

Terre Haute South (355) — Katelynn Gosnell 88, Sloane Engle 86, Kelsey Fuqua 88, Alana Whitlock 93, Katie Thomas 105.

Evansville Reitz (357) — Mayer 78, Young 87, Gibson 98, Gower 94, Crews 117.

Kokomo (361) — Kristi Cardwell 76, Kern 92, Jenkins 94, Imlay 99, Broomfield 125.

Franklin (372) — Vandivier 78, Picklesimer 98, Smith 113, Wenning 89, Picklesimer 107.

Terre Haute North (392) — Rachel Welker 79, Abby Colwell 94, Emily Adams 113, Rachel Helt 115, Jesi Kaperak 106.

Gibson Southern (437) — Holzmeyer 95, Staggs 100, Reynolds 124, Kelley 118, Miller 127.

Evansville Bosse (447) — Merriss 94, E.Stigleman 104, Dean 130, S.Stigleman 119.

Lawrence North (468) — Byers 108, Geiger 114, Evans 130, Vega 124, Rutherford 122.

        

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