After claiming the team title at the 2017 Laurel Invitational at Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood on Monday, Independence’s girls’ golf team has now won five of the seven tournaments in which it has competed in this season.
The Blue Devils avenged one of their earlier setbacks by edging Hathaway Brown for the team title at Laurel, 363-366. Hathaway Brown beat out Independence earlier this season at the Padua Invitational.
“First off, Canterbury is an extremely difficult course,” said Independence coach Karl Schuld. “They have it set up for the DAP tour championship next weekend, so the rough was a little thick. All the scores were elevated across the board. I talked to the Hathaway Brown coach and he said that was their worst score all season. We were pretty pleased.”
Seniors Sophia Trombetta and Lyndsay Blum finished first and second, respectively, in leading the Blue Devils past the Blazers.
Trombetta, who has won medalist honors in every event this season, fired a 76 to win the tournament.
“I felt really good to start off the round,” Trombetta said. “I made a lot of very solid shots, but it’s just so hard to make birdies out there. On the back nine, I struggled, and I couldn’t stay as composed as I was on the front. A couple of poor decisions hurt me, but I had some good saves on the last few holes. A birdie on the 18th was a really nice way to finish, and it helped me save a solid score.”
Blum carded an 80.
“There were a couple holes where she just overshot the greens,” Schuld said. “Once you get above the hole on a course like this you’re going to pay for it. I was very proud of her for coming back and scoring well.”
Maddie Harper finished with a 100 and Madeline Mindzora came in with a 107.
“Last year, in our state run, their scores were higher than that when we were here,” Schuld said. “They were hitting quality shots today in a very difficult situation. The course is tough and it chewed up most of the girls who were here.”
The Blue Devils played with a renewed energy after finishing second at the Blue Devil Classic they hosted at Shawnee Hills last weekend. Independence, who finished second in the Division II state tournament last fall, came in behind Shelby, who finished third at state last year.
“Last Saturday’s event helped us refocus,” Schuld said. “The girls went out Sunday on their own and worked things out. We have to get back to having fun. When we have fun we golf well. We kind of lost sight of that for a minute because our expectations are so high. Last year, we didn’t really have expectations, so once we get back to that we’ll do OK. I think we’re headed in the right direction.”
The Blue Devils travel to Orange on Tuesday then play at St. Vincent-St. Mary on Thursday.
