By Skip Weaver
Contributing writer
LEBANON – Senior Olivia Nichols finished in a three-way tie for runner up which helped lead Edgewood to third place in the team standings at the Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division girls golf championship on Tuesday at Shaker Run Golf Club.
Nichols carded a 98 and earned all-league first team honors for her effort. She also was given the SWBL Golf Excellence & Integrity Award voted on by the league’s coaches.
“I am very proud of Olivia,” EHS girls coach Tim Pressler said. “We struggled this past weekend in our practice round and worked like crazy this morning to get it back and get her confidence up. She did really well.
“Olivia got hot on the last few holes which is exactly what she needed to do to be able to make a move in this tournament,” he continued. “She said she felt like she was getting stronger at the end and she passed two girls doing that which is great.”
Edgewood shot 453 as a team just two strokes behind runner-up Talawanda (451). Bellbrook (421) was the team champion for the fifth consecutive year, according to information on the league website. Ross was fourth with a 469. Franklin had a couple of individuals compete, but did not have enough for a team score.
The top four individuals count toward the team score. In addition to Nichols, senior Kaydence Brown shot 109 and finished in eighth place, junior Carleigh Shoemaker placed 14th with a 122 and freshman Emma Blevins had a 124 to place 15th overall. Brown and Shoemaker each earned second team honors in the league and Blevins was named honorable mention. Also competing in the tournament for Edgewood were freshman Eliza White (137) in 22nd place and sophomore Bennett Smith (138) in 23rd place.
“To me it is a tournament we could have won,” Pressler said. “We had beaten every team there so we felt like we had a shot if we played well, and we did play well, but not well enough.”
Pressler said the Cougars had beaten Bellbrook in an early season tournament as well as beating Talawanda, Ross and Franklin in dual matches.
“That’s what I was going off of,” Pressler said. “We knew Bellbrook was going to be tough, but I told the girls we beat this team and we can do it again, but they were just better today. We played well and I’m very proud of the girls.”
The season is nearing the end, however. The girls have a couple matches left this week and then compete in the Division I sectional tournament on Monday at Echo Hills Golf Course in Piqua.
“I like our draw for the tournament,” Pressler said. “The girls have the capability of playing well enough so if they have their heads on right they will be good and I am excited about that.
“We might surprise some people,” he continued. “I know they have it in them. They are all hard workers. It would be sweet to get someone to district.”
