Independence opened the 2017 season with three consecutive tournament victories heading into Tuesday’s Padua Bruin Invitational at Pine Hills Golf Course.
The Blue Devils saw their winning streak come to an end but senior Sophia Trombetta, a Michigan commitment, won medalist honors and the rest of the squad continued to play well.
“Every tournament in which we participate has a purpose,” said Independence coach Karl Schuld. “I love playing at Pine Hills because it is a course that requires precision shots. It also has very fast greens. It is a difficult test and I believe it is a perfect place for our girls to golf. Combine that with great competition from schools like Hathaway Brown, Medina, Solon and Magnificat and it allows us to see where we are right now. Early in the season, girls are still working on their games and it is hard to be consistent from day to day. After competing in these first four tournaments, I believe we have a better idea of where we stand and what we need to work on.”
Hathaway Brown won the tournament with 330 strokes while Independence finished with 341. Medina was third with 432.
Trombetta, who set a new league record with a 64 in winning the Chagrin Valley Conference preseason tournament on Monday, stayed hot with a 69 to win her fourth straight tournament title in the first week of the season.
“Sophia was amazing again,” Schuld said. “Four tournaments, four wins. Her confidence is at an all-time high. There was a stretch that started with an eagle and a birdie where she just shifted to a different gear.”
Lyndsay Blum carded an 84 for the Blue Devils and Maddie Harper tied a career-low with an 85.
“Lyndsay continues to play great golf. Today she had a couple of double (bogeys), but otherwise she had a clean round,” Schuld said. “Maddie Harper was on top of her game today. She was a little down after yesterday, but came back and tied her career low. That is a testament to her resolve.”
Maddie Harper shot an 85 and Madeline Mindzora finished with a 103 to close out Independence’s scoring. Allie Ksiazka finished with a 115.
The Blue Devils return to action on Monday at the Mentor Invitational.
“If all the girls play their best on the same day, which will happen, this team is capable of putting up some real low numbers,” Schuld said. “We now have a couple of days to regroup, take a deep breath and work on the things that are holding us back.”
