Lexington girls win Division I sectional golf tournament; Lex's Smith is runner-up
FINDLAY — In a deep field of 13 schools, Lexington won the Division I Sectional Golf Tournament at the Sycamore Springs Golf Course in Findlay on Wednesday by shooting 364 as a team, just holding off second-place Ashland by three strokes.
Lexington coach Michael Kathrein loved his team's mindset on the course throughout the day.
"I liked their attitudes today and they came in with an relaxed attitude, which is very helpful when you're playing golf. It's a little different than playing football. You can't have all that emotion and be amped up," said Kathrein. "You gotta be calm, level-headed and be able to handle the bad holes. I thought we did that well. If we had a bad hole, the next hole they got refocused and we were able to grind out a pretty good day."
The top five schools and individuals not on qualifying teams advanced to the district tournament Tuesday at Stone Ridge Golf Club in Bowling Green. Joining Lexington and Ashland (367) at districts will be third-place Celina (381), fourth-place Findlay (387) and fifth-place Ontario (394).
Lexington was led by Hannah Smith (82), Trynity Wolfe (91), Maddy Hager (88) and Darcie Reinhart (103). Emily Asher's 110 was the drop.
"It's good," said Smith when asked what the sectional team title meant. "For the district tournament, trying to get to state as a team or individually is attainable. I'm excited to try and score my best at districts."
"I'm expecting they're going to do things like they did in the past for districts," said Kathrein. "They place you in the district tournament based on how you placed here, so that means we should be with the winner of the Heather Downs sectional, and they're No. 2. So we should be in a good group and we're hoping to see the ones that are projected to make it out. Should be good competition."
Emma Packard led the Arrows with an 83, followed by Lydia Wells (87), Makaree Chapman (95) and Kyah Huckleberry (102). Elleni Miller's 105 was the drop.
Brooklynn Adkins carded an 83 to lead the Warriors. Anzaya Estep (93), Joslynne Frazier (109) and Delaney Moritz (109) also scored for Ontario. Brooklynn Black's 114 was the drop.
Shawnee's Haylee Wurm was the individual medalist with an 81, just edging Lexington's Smith, who finished as runner-up. Ashland's Packard and Ontario's Adkins tied for third and the Arrows' Wells was fifth.
Wurm, Wapakoneta's Paityn Bowman (93) and Jacqueline Oen (94), Bowling Green's Lily Pollick (99) and Columbian's Kora Scott (100) advanced as individuals.
Even though Smith was runner-up and will advance to next week's district tournament, she wasn't all that satisfied with her play.
"I didn't play as good as last year," she said. "I was just hoping to play my best. I knew our team was going to get out to districts but I think my irons let me down today. My putting was decent and my drives. Nothing really particular stood out."
Asked what area of her game she wants to improve on for districts, Smith said, "Probably my short game. If we can do a lot on the greens, it can make things easier."
jsimpson@gannett.com
Twitter: @JamesSimpsonII
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Hannah Smith leads Lexington to Division I sectional girls golf title
