ARLINGTON — Lady Lex made history Monday at Sycamore Springs Golf Course.
All five golfers broke 100 and Lexington finished as runner-up in the team competition at the Division II district tournament, earning one of three automatic berths to next week’s state tournament in Columbus.
Huron won with a team total of 354. Lexington (364) was second and Edison (370) was third. Those three teams finished in the same order at last week’s sectional tournament at Valley View in Galion.
Lexington will be making its first ever appearance at the state tournament, slated for Oct. 10 to 11 at The Ohio State University’s Gray Course. Theresa-Ann Jedra, a sophomore on the Indiana University women’s team, qualified individually in 2012 and finished fourth.
“It was a very loud ride home from the golf course, but that’s OK,” Lexington coach Michael Kathrein said. “The girls are glad to be going to state, but on the ride home they were talking about going down there and doing well. They are approaching it like a business trip.”
Abby Sazdanoff led Lexington with an 83. Abby Conover shot a 90 and Natasha Mack carded a 93. Courtney Thompson was Lexington’s final scorer with a 98. Savannah Cinadr had a 99.
“Our number three golfer gave us a big boost,” Kathrein said. “Everyone else shot right around their averages, but Natasha was quite a bit below her average.”
Shelby’s Alexis Jones will join the Lex team in Columbus. The sophomore, who tied for 14th at last year’s state tournament, shot a 78 to earn one of three individual bids. Defending state champ Makayla Dull of Kansas Lakota shot a 77. North Baltimore’s Rachel Peters (80) earned the third and final automatic berth.
Huron’s Kylie Greulich was the overall medalist with a 74.
“Alexis played well,” Shelby coach Brad Ruminski said. “She still left a few shots out there, but all-in-all it was a solid round.”
Monday’s performance speaks volumes to the level of competition in Richland County, Ruminski said.
“There are a lot of talented young golfers in the area,” he said. “These girls compete against each other and push each other. It’s good to see them succeed at this level.”
