FINDLAY — The Shelby girls are headed to state for a fourth straight year.
Nicole Jones fired a 77 and Julia Gutchall carded an 86 as the Whippets finished fourth at the Division II district tournament at Sycamore Springs Golf Course on Monday.
The Whippets shot a team total of 379 to secure the fourth and final state-qualifying bid. The top four team and top four individuals not on a qualifying team advance to the state tournament at The Ohio State University’s Gray Course on Oct. 11 to 12.
Shelby is the two-time defending Division II state runner-up. The Whippets were third in 2016.
“A lot of these girls have been in this situation before and they don’t feel as much pressure,” first-year Shelby coach Nick Briggs said after the Whippets took second at last week’s Valley View sectional. “These girls are very confident. They know what is expected.”
Jones, the younger sister of former Shelby state champ Alexis Jones, finished sixth individually while Gutchall was 12th. Gillian Stumbo (99) tied for 40th, while Maci Westmeister (117) tied for 78th. Tressie Carroll (140) was 88th.
St. Peter’s Danielle Powell and Colonel Crawford’s Mariah Cotsamire both qualified for the district tournament individually. Powell shot a 90, good for a tie for 16th. Cotsamire carded a 121 to finish in 80th place.
