By Don Eskins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Springfield Catholic, a state champion for the past three years and a team that lost four of its starters in 2021, has evidently chosen to reload rather than rebuild in 2022.
The ‘Fighting Irish’ carded a glittering 337 on Thursday, Sept. 1, to capture the Seymour Invitational. The tournament took place at Whispering Oaks Golf Course in Marshfield.
Catholic’s Lyla Louderbaugh, a member of those three state championship teams and the Irish’s lone returnee from last year, fired a four under par 66 to lead the Irish to the win. Her 66 was also good enough to earn her top medalist honors. The Catholic senior posted a 31 on the front nine with a 35 on the back.
“I feel like I played well today through the first 17 holes but I let No. 18 get away from me,” she said. “Overall though I feel pretty good about how I played.”
New Catholic coach Jeff Tebbenkamp said, although the Irish do have pretty much a new group this year, they are a very capable group of young ladies.
“Lyla is back and she’s such a big part of this year’s team. She’s experienced and pretty much serves as my assistant,” said the Irish coach. “But we do have some new faces on our roster this year.”
“Our number two girl, Grace Tidemann, is only a freshman. From her first day of practice I could tell she was going to be a special talent. We also expect to see some big things from our number three girl, Sara Han, also a freshman,” he said. “Right now our fourth and fifth spots are still open and we’re seeing a lot of competition for those two spots from our kids.”
“We’re all excited and looking forward to what’s ahead for us this year,” said Tebbenkamp. “I think we have a very competitive team.”
Rounding out the Irish’s scoring was: Grace Tiedemann 39-34-73, Sarah Han 43-46-89, Audrey Moore 56-53-109 and Chloe Calvert 65-64-129.
Runner-up this year was New Covenant Academy who fired a round of 384 with the Clever Blue Jays grabbing third place with a 391. Leading Academy’s effort was Savannah Thessing with a 72. Out in front for the Blue Jays was Avery Whitlinger with a 91.
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New Covenant Academy’s Thessing, who has been Class 1A’s individual champion for the past two years, carded a 72 to lead the Lady Warriors.
“I had an up and down day today. I’d go from a double bogey to an eagle, from an out of bounds to a birdie, I just tried to keep myself calm and focused. But it is what it is,” said Thessing.
The NCA junior almost recorded one of golf’s marvels on the par 3 eighteenth, a hole in one.
“It was close, I missed it by only six inches,” she said. “But it was fun and it reminded me of just how much I love this game.”
Also scoring for NCA were: Juliana Jones 46-46-92, Halle Adams 52-56-108 and Kassi Adams 58-54-112. Max Duffy DNF.
Rounding out the third place Clever Blue Jays card, along with leading scorer Avery Whitlinger were: Maddie Kime 45-50-95, Sophia Fields 53-46-99, Josette McLaughlin 53-53-106 and Laura Wilson 60-61-121.
Marshfield Results:
Team
1. Springfield Catholic- 337
2. NCA- 384
3. Clever- 391
4. Greenwood- 421
5. Sparta- 430
6. Lebanon- 454
7. Buffalo- 466
8. Logan-Rogersville- 498
Medalists
1. Lyla Louderbaugh- 31-35- 66- Catholic
2. Savannah Thessing- 38-34-72- NCA
3. Grace Tiedemann- 39-34-73- Catholic
4. Sarah Han- 43-46-89- Catholic
5. Avery Whitlinger- 47-44-91- Clever
6. Juliana Jones- 46-46-92- NCA
7. Maddie Kime- 45-50-95- Clever
8. Matlee Andrews- 54-42-96- Buffalo
9. Megan Brown- 48-49-97- Sparta
10. Sophia Fields- 53-46-99- Clever
