By Rob Kiser, Piqua Daily Call
September 24, 2009 -WEBSTER
After seven league matches and an 18-hole tournament Thursday at Stillwater Valley Golf Course, there was little separating Covington and Miami East girls golf teams in the CCC standings.

In fact, just one stroke.

That was the difference as Covington claimed the CCC tournament and overall league total with a 406 total, one better than the Lady Vikings, who had entered the tournament tied with Covington for the top spot.

“I am really proud of the way the girls bounced back from Tuesday (a loss to Ansonia),” Covington coach Ron Schultz said. “This is the hardest working group of girls I have coached and they earned it. They would go out to the driving range on the weekend and work on their games on their own and it paid off.”

It marked the highest finish in the CCC for the Miami East girls, who have four seniors.

“It was close,” Miami East coach Tom Meyer said. “Losing four seniors, next year is going to be a rebuilding year for us. We were hoping to shoot a little lower today, but this will definitely be motivation for the sectional tournament.

Schultz was just as happy for lone senior Sarah Westfall as his team’s performance.

Westfall had hoped to earn Player of the Year honors in the CCC this season. While that was out of reach, she made her point by taking medalist honors with 92.

“I am so happy for Sarah (Westfall),” Schultz said. “She wanted to be Player of the Year and with the scoring system this year, it just didn’t work out. But, she had a great day today.”

Westfall, wearing her trademark pink golf spikes, left the course with a smile.

“I was hoping to be medalist,” she said. “It feels good for the team to win and be medalist. I think it (Tuesday’s loss) probably did help us get refocused.”

The rest of the Lady Buccs did exactly what they needed. Junior Chloe Shell had a 98, freshman Cassie Ingle, who had hardly played golf before this season, came through with a 106 and Nicole Henson had a 110. Jamie Crowell and Myranda Kelly rounded out the Bucc golfers with 119 and 127.

Westfall, Shell, Hanson and Ingle received All-CCC honors.

“Chloe (Shell) came in under 100, which was important,” Schultz said. “Even though she had a 110, I think that is Nicole’s best 18-hole score. Cassie (Ingle) plays some of her golf here (at Stillwater Valley), so that may have helped her.”

Heather Macy led Miami East with a 96.

Other Lady Viking scores were Carmen Macy 101, Sarah Meyer 104, Allison Kindall 106, Maren Nevius 107, Sydney Gibson 110. All six girls received All-CCC honors.

“Our one and two girls struggled,” Meyer said. “Our number three girl came through for us today. I think this is definitely going to help us with sectionals (next week at the same course). The girls have been through it and know what to expect.”

The Lady Buccs and Vikings, who both entered the tournament with 6-1 records in the league, matching each other stroke-for-stroke.

Team Scores: Covington 406, Miami East 407, Ansonia 420, National Trail 432, Franklin Monroe 485, Mississinawa Valley 499, Tri-Village 513, Arcanum 567.