By Brad Morris
SportingPumpkin.com
As far as Westfall coach Jonathan Barker was concerned, the postseason started on Thursday on the links of the Pickaway Country Club.
And the Mustangs delivered by retaining the Pickaway County championship by edging host Circleville by one stroke.
“I told the girls that in my book the postseason started tonight, and they stepped up and showed what they were made of,” he said. “I’m especially excited that we got this win for our seniors Emily and Maddie Cook.
“They have been staples in this program for the last four years and we want to send them off with nothing but great memories.”
Westfall finished the nine-hole round with 174, followed by Circleville (175), Teays Valley (181) and Logan Elm (214).
Paige Weiss led the way for the Mustangs with a scorecard of 39. Emily Cook followed with 40, Maddie Cook fired a 44 and Marianna Packer tallied 51.
Also playing for the Mustangs were Alexa Oney (54) and Kathryn Lockhart (59).
“Paige showed steady leadership with her 39,” Barker said. “Sophomore Marianna Packer recovered for a great double bogey where she could have easily lost her cool and put up a big number, but she stayed in the hole and kept grinding.”
Barker complimented Emily Cook for knocking down the clinching shot to claim the county title.
“Only a few of us knew this at the time, but senior Emily Cook had a birdie putt to the win the tournament on her last hole (No. 3) tonight, and she drained it,” he said. “It’s funny because I’ve teased her that she was going to have to make a birdie putt to win one for us.”
The Mustangs improved their record to 20-2 with the county title, with their only two setbacks of the season coming against Division I competition from the Central District.
Westfall is halfway through the inaugural Scioto Valley Conference girls golf season, thanks to five of the eight schools fielding a complete team this season. The Mustangs have won the previous four matches comfortably and lead Southeastern by four points.
Two of the final four SVC matches will be held at the Pickaway Country Club on Sept. 20, with the final conference match slated for two days later at Jaycees Golf Club outside of Chillicothe.
Elaina Seeley paced the Tigers with 40, Isabelle Perini had 44, Izzy Seeley shot 45 and Lexy Sharp turned in a career-best 46. Also playing for the Tigers were Lis Sharp (58) and Claire Barthelmas (65).
Audrey Keplar claimed county medalist honors by firing a 34. She was followed for the Vikings by Adison Abele (42), Brooklyn Lowry (47) and Sarah Laxton (58). Also playing for the Vikings were Ava Ackerman (59) and Sophia Combs (73).
Mallory Stevens led the Braves with 48, McKenna Pack had 51, Addie Lester tallied 56 and Karlie Gray posted a 59.
The Tigers (18-3, 13-1) hold a one match lead over the Vikings in the Mid-State League Buckeye Division standings. League play concludes on Sept. 20 with the postseason tournament at Westchester Golf Club.
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