COLUMBUS -- In the wake of a third-place finish at the Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference golf meet in Scottsbluff, Columbus coach Anne Robertson is finding comfort in the fact that her team won’t have to travel far for districts.
The Discoverers host the Class A-1 district tournament 9 a.m. Tuesday at Elks Country Club.
CHS, who won the A-1 meet last season, will be joined by Bellevue East, Lincoln Southeast, Omaha Burke, Omaha Central, Omaha Marian, Omaha North and Papillion-La Vista. The top 10 individuals and top three teams qualify for State.
Robertson said she hopes the familiar surroundings results in improved scores and a successful title defense.
“We’re excited to be hosting the meet and playing against Omaha Marian,” Robertson said “We still have some consistency questions, and we know Marian is a solid team, but any given day, anything can happen.”
Marian’s top five is averaging scores between 80 to 91, but haven’t played the Elks yet this season.
Columbus will counter with a top five comprised of Telegram Super Senior Sara Thurley, Morgan Smejkal, Amanda Ballweg, Paige Theilen and Shayla Rudy.
Thurley and Smejkal finished fourth and 10th respectively at the GNAC meet, and along with Ballweg are all veterans to district competition.
“We feel that our experience and playing at home are big strengths,” Robertson said.
Meanwhile, in Class C, the Scotus Central Catholic golf team will enter its district meet fresh off a win at the Oakland-Craig Invitational Saturday.
The C-2 meet is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday at Jackrabbit Run Golf Course in Grand Island. Boone Central, Central City, Doniphan Trumbull, Fullerton, Grand Island Central Catholic, Hastings St. Cecilia, Heartland, Heartland Lutheran, Humphrey St. Francis, St. Paul, Superior and Wood River are also scheduled to compete.
SCC coach Tanya Niedbalski said the win at Oakland-Craig will serve as a confidence booster heading into Tuesday.
“I was pleased with the way we played Saturday, but there are still some things we have to improve on,” Niedbalski said. “Chipping was the common suspect for all the girls and hopefully that gets better.
“No one is going to hand us a trip to state. It’s one that has to be earned, so we’ll have to focus on putting it all together.”
The Shamrocks’ top five is made up of Jacy Gasper, Nicole Gasper, Liz Zabawa, Schalise Vancura and Jenna Roh.
Humphrey St. Francis will be paced by Telegram Super Senior Danielle Kuchar, who has earned a top medal in five meets this season.
Sophomore Brooke Bolin of Boone Central will be looking to return to state after qualifying last season as a freshman.
Like Bolin, Fullerton sophomore Shelby Wetovick will also be looking for a return to state after qualifying as a freshman.
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