GIRLS' PREP GOLF: Gumm wins Lady Bruin Invitational

The Lady Bruin Invitational has been around for a decade, but the tournament witnessed a couple things which hadn’t been accomplished the first nine years.

Jill Pickett

North Hardin's Lydia Gumm watches her tee shot as she plays Saturday in the Lady Bruin Invitational at Lindsey Golf Course on Fort Knox.

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Jill Pickett

Elizabethtown's Lauren Hartlage tries to use a little body-English to help her ball towards the hole Saturday during the Lady Bruin Invitational at Lindsey Golf Course on Fort Knox.

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Jill Pickett

Central Hardin's Grace Flanagan chips onto the green Saturday during the Lady Bruin Invitational at Lindsey Golf Course on Fort Knox.

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North Hardin senior Lydia Gumm fired a 1-under-par 72 on Saturday at Lindsey Golf Course on Fort Knox to win the tournament for a record fourth time. Caldwell County graduate Emma Talley won the event three times.

“Any win’s a good one, but it’s definitely a little sweeter when it’s close to home,” said Gumm, who picked up her second win of the season and has finished second in two other tournaments. “It’s a good feeling anytime when you win close to home and this is one of those.”

Gumm wasn’t the only one to have a record-setting day. Louisville Sacred Heart, the defending state champion, posted a team score of 312 – one shot better than the tournament record – for a 23-stroke victory over Shelby County. North Canton (Ohio) Hoover and Glasgow tied for third at 341.

Elizabethtown finished seventh with a team score of 358. Freshman Lauren Hartlage led the team with an 80 followed by freshman Rebecca Black’s 84. Senior Ashley Hartlage had a 92, seventh-grader Sarah Hinton a 102 and senior Mary-Chapin Snow a 103.

“We played OK,” Elizabethtown coach Kim Hartlage said. “We weren’t actually pleased with our round. We had a goal of 340-345. The course was set up long and tough. The girls played well, but they weren’t on their game. We didn’t score when we had the opportunities. Each kid felt like they could knock off three to four shots. But we have something to build on.”

Central Hardin had a rough day outside of senior Amanda Smith’s 80. Sophomore Erin Perkins had a 96 followed by sophomore Madalaine Benedetti’s 120, freshmen Grace Flanagan’s 124 and junior Kelsea Hobbs’ 141.

“We had an up-and-down day,” Central Hardin coach Chris Adams said. “Amanda had her best round since the region (tournament) two years ago. I think we all got a little tired. The course was long and tough today. We still have work to do. We’re seeing improvements and we still have five weeks before region.”

This was a good tune-up for the 3rd Region Tournament since it is also at Lindsey. Not that she needed it, but Gumm showed again she is still the class of the region.

“It’s a big confidence booster since region is going to be here,” Gumm said. “The course is in great shape. It played tough and it probably will at region. I’m sure I’ll be out here a few more times before region, but it was good to play well here.”

Gumm bounced back from a disappointing 76 in the Pulaski County Invitational. She said she spent the week working on her short game. It showed as she made four birdies.

“I definitely did better than last week,” Gumm said. “I hit a lot of greens and gave myself birdie opportunities. I didn’t make many putts and that happens. But my short game was better. I was struggling with my driver at first, but I started hitting it better as my round went on. I felt like I played well.”

Sacred Heart sophomore Maddie Hamilton carded a 73 to finish second and Shelby County sophomore Madison Thomas was third with a 75. Glasgow junior Taylor Phelps had a 76 for fourth followed by Sacred Heart’s Meredith Moir’s 77.

Chuck Jonescan be reached at (270) 505-1759 or cjones@thenewsenterprise.com.

SATURDAY’S SCOREBOARD
GIRLS
LADY BRUIN INVITATIONAL
FORT KNOX — Results from Saturday’s Lady Bruin Invitational at the par-73 Lindsey Golf Course:
7. Elizabethtown (358)
Lauren Hartlage    41-39—80
Rebecca Black    40-44—84
Ashley Hartlage    44-48—92
Sarah Hinton    49-53—102
Mary-Chapin Snow    51-52—103
15. Central Hardin (420)
Amanda Smith    39-41—80
Erin Perkins    42-54—96
Madalaine Benedetti    57-63—120
Grace Flanagan    69-72—124
Kelsea Hobbs    69-72—141
North Hardin (NTS)
Lydia Gumm    36-36—72
Sara Crutcher    47-51—98
Michaila Barron    56-60—116
OTHER INDIVIDUALS
Sarah Beth Hundley (E)    51-53—104
Jordan Beger (CH)    65-64—129
UP NEXT: Central Hardin, Elizabethtown and North Hardin play in the Hardin County Cup on Monday at Elizabethtown Country Club.
BOYS
GRAYSON COUNTY INVITATIONAL
FALLS OF ROUGH — Results from Saturday’s Grayson County Invitational at the par-72 Lafayette Golf Course:
2. North Hardin (343)
  2. Ryan Daniels    72
Brooks Bennett    82
NeShaun Gordon    87
Jonathan Willis    102
Bradley Berry    109
Central Hardin (347)
Dustin Hicks    83
Michael Reed    84
Zach Sorenson    89
Dylan Goodman    91
Kyle Souleyrette    97
Jody Robinson    104
John Hardin (364)
  5. Mike Vick    74
Reid Gonsalves    87
Josh Chancey    91
Sawyer Brown    112
Sheldon Tooley    WD
LaRue County (434)
Cameron Dawson    89
Jesse Hornback    105
Chad Savage    130
Cameron Lasley    110
Jacob Gentry    136
MADISON CENTRAL INVITATIONAL
RICHMOND — Results from Saturday’s Madison Central Invitational at the par-72 Gibson Bay Golf Course:
7. Elizabethtown (309)
  9. Kyle Jury    73
23. Ryan Harris    76
34. Ian Black    78
57. Ben Banks    82
80. Heath Hinton    88