GIRLS' PREP GOLF: North's Gumm claims individual title (9/30)

By CHUCK JONES cjones@thenewsenterprise.com FORT KNOX — To borrow a line from the movie “Tin Cup,” sometimes par is good enough. That’s the philosophy North Hardin’s Lydia Gumm used Monday during the Girls’ 3rd Region Golf Tournament at Lindsey Golf Course on post. “Out here today, I thought par would be a good round,” Gumm said. “There’s a lot of trouble you can get into if you’re not careful.” After a birdie to start her round, Gumm navigated the course and its difficult pin placements, making 14 pars on the final 17 holes to finish up with three-over par 75 to win the region tournament for the second time in three years. “I had a birdie on the first hole and I was thinking it was going to be a good day,” Gumm said. “But I did not hit many fairways. I think I only hit six. The pin placements were tough. And when you’re not hitting fairways, it makes it even tougher.” Gumm, a J.T. Alton eighth-grader, earned a spot in next week’s Leachman Buick GMC/KHSAA Girls’ State Golf Tournament at Bowling Green Country Club. It marks the sixth consecutive year Gumm has qualified for State. Gumm has had her fair share of success at Bowling Green Country Club. Earlier this season, Gumm won the Bowling Green Invitational in a playoff. In the last two state tournaments, she has finished 11th and second, respectively. “I love that course,” Gumm said. “I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully, I can play a little better.” The top four individuals not on the top two teams qualify for the state tournament. Marion County’s Olivia Carrico, who had an 82, and Presentation’s Chrisanna Roberts, who had a 93, both made the state field. A pair of Nelson County players – Morgan Stine and Kim Kasama – tied with a 96 and Stine won a one-hole playoff for the final spot. Coming into the tournament, Gumm was the clear-cut favorite and she showed why from the start. But after her birdie on the first hole, she had a bogey on No. 3 and a double bogey on No. 5. “I’d been hitting fairways all season,” Gumm said. “I don’t know what was going on. I need to fix my swing before State.” Despite the two bad holes, Gumm led by five strokes at the turn and her consistent play on the back nine carried her to victory. She made par on eight of the nine holes with her only bobble coming on the par-3 15th, where she had a bogey. “My putting was the best part of my game today,” Gumm said. “I made some good shots with my irons. My short game helped me a lot. The pin placements were tough, but my putting was good. I wasn’t hitting many fairways, but my short game helped me out today.” Gumm’s win adds to what has already been a remarkable season. In 10 tournaments, she has won eight times and finished second in the other two. Through Sept. 13, Gumm led the All-State point standings. “It’s been really fun; it’s been my best year by far,” Gumm said. “This feels a lot better than it did last year (when I finished second at region).” Chuck Jones can be reached at 505-1759

Neal Cardin

North Hardin's Lydia Gumm hits her second shot from the rough on the fifth hole at Lindsey Golf Course while playing in the Third Region Tournament on Monday. Gumm took the singles crown in the event at Fort Knox.

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