Snow moves on

MUNCIE — Maddy Snow has consistently improved her performance at the sectional.

As a freshman in the No. 3 position, she shot a 115 for the fourth Patriot score.

The following year, Snow shaved off six strokes to provide the second score for her team.

As a junior, Snow’s 91 matched the final regional-qualifying score from the previous year, but fell three golfers short of moving on.

Finally as a senior, Snow will make the trip to Anderson.

Jay County High School senior Maddy Snow put up the second best score from a golfer not on an advancing team Saturday at the IHSAA Sectional 17 girls golf tournament hosted by Muncie Central at Crestview Golf Course.

“I’m very, very, very excited,” Snow said. “I couldn’t be more proud of myself and I’m so so thankful for my coaches. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

The top three golfers that aren’t on teams that qualify for the regional tournament (the top three teams move on) get to compete in the regional meet as individuals on Sept. 28 at Edgewood Golf Course. Winchester’s Alyssa Cole took the top spot with a 6-over-par 78, while Monroe Central’s Charlee Morris just made the cut with an 89.

Snow’s career-best 18-hole score of 87 strokes led Jay County to a sixth-place finish out of eight teams with enough golfers to score at the sectional. The Patriots finished with 389 strokes, falling 38 short of third-place Yorktown for the final regional berth. Wapahani took home the title with a 341, while Delta trailed by six.

While Jay County didn’t make the regional cut, all four golfers shot season best 18-hole rounds to shave 59 strokes off of the team’s best round.

“Last night we came and practiced here and the girls shot really well,” said JCHS coach Carissa Allred. “They knew that coming into today that they could shoot one of their best scores ever. We were all hoping maybe, possibly, we could qualify as a team, but them shooting their 18-hole best is an accomplishment for my girls.”

Snow’s round didn’t start off very hot. After parring the 264-yard, par-4 first hole, the senior took a pair of double-bogeys on holes No. 2 and 3. A par on the fourth started to correct the mistakes, but the fifth hole got her back on her feet.

Snow’s drive on the 320-yard, par-3 left her just five yards to the right of the green. Her chip put her within 10 feet of the cup and the ensuing putt fell in for birdie.

“That hole I had a really, really great drive and chipped on,” Snow said. “It wasn’t close and just a ‘gimme’ putt, but I putted it in for a birdie. That was what really got me going today. … It brought my head back where I needed it to be.”

Snow finished off the front nine with another birdie on the 236-yard, par-4 eighth, two bogeys and a triple-bogey for a 43. On the back nine, she made four pars three bogeys and only had a rough time on the 14th hole.

JCHS freshman Bailey Towell finished just five strokes behind Snow for a 91. The freshman had a strong front nine with three pars and four bogeys, but ended it on a sour note as a ball in the creek on the ninth hole resulted in a double-par for a total of 45.

She didn’t get going right away on the back half either with a double-bogey, but a solid drive, iron shot left short, solid chip and short putt gave secured par for Towell on the 325-yard, par-4 11th hole. The freshman added two more pars and two bogeys for a 46 on the back nine.

“I’d say the whole last week it has been clicking (for Towell),” Allred said. “We moved her stance position, which has improved her driving. Today she went like 8-for-8 with a one-putt with 10 feet out. I mean, she was killing putting today which is a huge win for her.”

Erin Aker had a tough time on the front nine, taking 56 strokes, but three pars and three bogeys after the turn cut eight strokes off the score for a total of 104.

While Brooklynn Bright’s 2023 performance of 102 was her career best, the sophomore set a season best at 107 strokes with three pars.

“One thing I’m going to take away from today is I’m really going to miss Maddy, but I do get to see what she’s going to do at the regional,” Allred said. “I feel like today shows them if they start early on, then next season we will pick up from this score and only be better by next sectional. …

“I still have the shakes, that's how excited I am right now. This being my first season, getting these girls shooting 89 strokes better this 18-hole match than the first one and making sure Maddy got out is a huge accomplishment for the coaching staff.”