Martinsville's Payne, Indian Creek's Emenhiser earn IHSAA regional golf berths
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The leaves are just starting to turn into new hues, and with it, girls golf teams around the state are gathering for the IHSAA tournament.
For Martinsville and Indian Creek, it meant taking a trip to Bloomington's Cascades Golf Course for sectionals to decide its postseason fate. While neither team advanced, they didn't leave disappointed, with each sending a golfer, Martinsville's Brianna Payne and Indian Creek's Hannah Emenhiser, to the regional round.
As a unit, the Artesians placed sixth, scoring a 407. The Braves finished one spot ahead, going for fifth with a score of 405. Columbus North was crowned sectional champ, shooting a 339, while Columbus East placed second at 358 and Bloomington North third at 381.
Payne goes 4-for-4
It wasn't a perfect day for Martinsville's Payne. She'd be the first to tell you that. The senior recorded a triple bogey on both the front and back nine. But in Payne's case, a "little off" still meant scoring an 81 to qualify for her fourth consecutive trip to regionals. All things considered; the day actually went quite well.
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"Today was kind of a weird 18," Payne said. "I had two triples and I still managed to pull off an 81. So that's something, I guess. Last weekend at our invite here, I got a 77 which was a personal best. So, it was kind of difficult trying to beat a score that was my personal best, but it was still pretty good."
Martinsville coach Tim Dearlove was impressed with the way Payne persevered through the difficult stretches. Particularly, she struggled on her drives, but consistently made up for it on the back end.
"She really played well today," Dearlove said. "She didn't hit the ball great today, but she found ways to score. She really toughed it out. Made a lot of puts, hit shots when she needed to. She never gave up, never quit, and that's golf. You're going to have days like that."
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The team's second-best finisher was Aslyn Haywood, who shot a 94. Fallyn Conway followed behind with a 110, Savannah Beck scored a 122 and Kinsley Canova a 124. Senior Molly Hixson was held out due to a wrist injury.
The Artesians are a young team, with Payne and Hixson the only two upperclassmen. That said, the season, and sectional round, was one of growth.
"I think the nerves probably got to them a little bit today," Dearlove said. "That's okay, that's a growing experience for them. This is a different kind of tournament, there's a lot more pressure come sectional time. But I thought we had a lot of improvement."
"We're going to be young again next year, no seniors, two juniors," he said. "It's good these girls are getting some experience now. When they're juniors and seniors, they're not going to have the nerves they had today."
Emenhiser takes it down to the wire
As scores started to roll in, those who were finished for the day were able to piece together a picture of what next week's regional will look like. Emenhiser, though, was forced to patiently wait on all scores to fall in place.
The senior scored an 86, which was good enough to advance as an individual. The thing is, she wasn't the only one to shoot an 86. Edinburgh's Izzy Richardson and Owen Valley's Jenna Harris did, too. The three were sent into a playoff for the final regional spot.
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With all the pressure packed, Emenhiser showed nothing but poise. Despite the large crowd that gathered around the green, or the fact one slip up could end her season, she only had two things on her mind as she was taking her final swings.
"Just take my putter straight back and straight through, and don't second guess myself," Emenhiser said.
For that reason, she came out on top, chipping her first shot just short of the green, sending her next near the hole and finishing it off with a par on a Par 3.
"I think I did pretty well today," Emenhiser said. "There were some puts and chips that I missed throughout that could have made a difference, but I still ended up going to regionals, so I'm really excited."
Indian Creek's Reese Tunell finished with a 105, Shelby Roach a 106, Bailey Dowty a 108 and Christole Baugh a 117.
Looking ahead
Payne and Emenhiser will compete at a familiar course for regionals Saturday as they travel to Franklin's The Legends Golf Club. Golfers tee off start starting at 8:30 a.m.
Contact reporter Devin Voss at dvoss@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @DevinVoss23.
This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Martinsville's Payne, Indian Creek's Emenhiser earn regional golf nods
