Scotus fires second straight low round

GRAND ISLAND - After firing a season-best 18-hole score of the year at the Class C state golf meet Monday, the Scotus Central Catholic girls golf team decided to better that performance.

The Shamrocks improved their score by seven shots with a 387 to finish with a two-day total of 781, good enough for a sixth-place finish at Riverside Golf Course in Grand Island Tuesday.

“The girls played very well both days,” SCC coach Tanya Niedbalski said. “They were very consistent and improved both days. That's what we wanted, especially at the state meet with the two best scores of the year. We're very happy with that.”

Valentine edged Battle Creek 735-737 to take the team title. The Badgers trailed by five strokes entering the day, but fired a 357 to help them win. Crofton's Dana Merkel had no let down as she fired an 80 to win the individual medalist with a two-day total of 155, five strokes better than Gothenburg's Katie Keiser, the 2006 state champion.

SCC came away with one state medalist. Freshman Jacy Gasper had an up-and-down day as she fired an 88 for a 175 total score and an 11th-place tie.

After shooting a 42 on the front, she did not make a single par on the back nine that had her finishing with a 46.

Despite not finishing strong, Gasper will gladly take a state medal.

“I was kind of hoping for a top 10 finish, but I just missed it,” Gasper said. “That's OK though. I don't think I was as focused today as I couldn't get the ball into the hole. I'm still happy with a medal.”

Niedbalski knew exactly what the reason was for Gasper to not play as well on the back nine.

“It goes back to the short game, which has been a problem for everybody,” she said. “That is something we'll need to work on in the offseason.

But for a freshman to finish with a medal, that's great. We knew going in that she had the potential to finish with a medal.”

Sara Zywiec, a senior who participated at the state meet for the Shamrocks, finished her career with a 207. But it ended on a hole she'll probably remember for a long time. Standing about 20 feet from the hole, Zywiec chipped the ball, which hit the flag pole and fell in the hole.

“To see her do that on her last stroke of her senior season was great for her,” Niedbalski said. “She was fighting for the No. 5 spot two weeks ago and fought back to get it. She played really good golf the last few weeks.”

Other SCC golfers that participated in the state meet were Liz Zabawa (194), Schalise Vancura (209) and Jenna Roh (213).

With losing only one senior from the state roster, Niedbalski said she feels the sixth-place finish will help Scotus for the future.

“We had our ups and downs during the year,” Niedbalski said. “A couple of players struggled a little bit, but they never gave up and got better. Like I said before, I wanted to get this team down here this year to get them experience and to build on from this. Hopefully, we can carry this over to the summer months and into next season.”

Other golfers from the coverage area that participated in the state meet were Boone Central's Brooke Bolin, Fullerton's Shelby Wetovick and Humphrey St. Francis' Ashley Korth. Bolin finished her season with a 183, while Korth ended her career with a 186. Wetovick ended the two days with a 221.

CLASS C STATE TOURNAMENT

Tuesday's Final Round

at Riverside Golf Course

n TEAM STANDINGS - 1. Valentine 378-357-735; 2. Battle Creek 373-364-737; 3. Gothenburg 386-377-763; 4. Perkins County 390-373-763; 5. Crofton 392-387-769; 6. Scotus Central Catholic 394-387-781; 7. Minden 409-390-799; 8. Kimball 413-389-802; 9. Omaha Browell-Talbot 422-408-830; 10. Kearney Catholic 433-400-833; 11. Hartington Cedar Catholic 439-417-856; 12. Hartington Cedar Catholic 439-417-856; 13. Syracuse 439-425-864; 14. Bridgeport 458-430-888; 15. Norfolk Catholic 455-440-895.

n Individual Top 10 - 1. Dana Merkel, CRO, 75-80-155; 2. Katie Keiser, GOT, 80-80-160; 3. Samantha Nielsen, SUP, 77-86-163; 4. Stephanie Rodgers, SYR, 87-81-168; 5. Kelsey Dredge, VAL, 87-82-169; 6T. Amy Swearer, LL, 86-86-171; 6T. Jordan Schaardt, Humboldt-Table Rock-Steiner/Southeast, 86-85-171; 6T. Kaitie Meyer, PC, 87-84-171; 6T. Sara Wilson, PC, 92-79-171; 10. Paige Barry, BAT, 88-86-174.

n Scotus (781): Jacy Gasper 87-88-175, Liz Zabawa 103-91-194, Sara Zywiec 101-106-207, Schalise Vancura 103-106-209, Jenna Roh 111-102-213.

n Boone Central: Brooke Bolin 94-89-183.

n Humphrey St. Francis: Ashley Korth 95-91-186.

n Fullerton: Shelby Wetovick 106-115-221.