Thursday, September 20, 2012
Photo
Canfield’s Christina Cooper tees off during the girls All-American Conference girls golf championship Wednesday at Tamer Win Golf & Country Club in Bazetta Township. Cooper’s round of 85 led the Cardinals to the American Division title and also earned her second place overall.
Cooper’s 85 leads Canfield girls
to AAC American Division title
By BRANDON JUDEH
BAZETTA
Some see autumn as a time for football, while others see it as their final opportunity to hit the greens for some last-minute work on their short game before the harsh Ohio winter.
The Canfield girls golf team seized their opportunity by winning the All-American Conference American Division tournament championship with a score of 347 on Wednesday at Tamer Win Golf & Country Club.
Christina Cooper led the Cardinals with a round of 85, which was good enough for second place overall.
Poland’s Melinda Hannon took the American Division medalist title with an 83.
The tournament originally was scheduled on Tuesday, but day-long rain forced a postponement.
“The greens were slow, but the course was dry and had overall good conditions,” Canfield coach Diane McCall said.
Cooper played her best on the tough back nine of Tamer Win, shooting a 2-over on the par 39 after she shot a 44 on the front.
Kerra Loomis and Olivia DeMartino also chipped in to Canfield’s success by each shooting an 86.
“Our girls played how they are capable of playing and had much success,” McCall said. “I’m impressed with my girls, they have all taken a step forward.”
Perhaps most importantly, McCall says, is that her girls are, “Outstanding people and a lot of fun to be around.”
Coming in second was Poland with a 377, followed closely by Howland (380), Fitch (410) and Niles (521).
Hubbard (382) won the National Division, followed by Lakeview (385), Struthers (454) and Jefferson (512).
With the sectional tournament only two weeks away McCall feels this was a tuneup for her team, especially since that event also will be held at Tamer Win.
“This was good practice for us leading up to the sectional tournament,” she said. “The girls are very comfortable with this course, despite the challenges the back nine creates.”
McCall added that the large trees often create a problem on the last nine holes.
“If you hit a ball too far or into the trees, it can spell trouble,” she said.
McCall’s teams have won 11 league championships, eight sectional titles, made 14 district appearances in her 16 seasons. She also has coached three teams to the state tournament.
All the success keeps her hungry for more.
“The goal remains the same and that is to get out of districts and go as far as we can,” McCall said. “But we also know that we have to stay focused on the present and make sure that we do not look too far ahead.”
Lakeview’s Gina DePasquale finished with an 85 for National Division medalist honors, while Austintown Fitch’s Rachel Williamson shot an 86.
Also finishing near the top were; Poland’s Rachel Sines (86), Lakeview’s Kaylee Neumeister (86), Hubbard’s Anna Mangan (89), Howland’s Haleigh Guerrero (91) and Struthers’ Rachel Marchese (93)..