16-straight! Bulldogs dominate county championship

Batesville girls golf won its 16th-straight Ripley County Championship on Monday. The Lady Bulldogs swept all six spots on the All-County Team.

In a world where championship streaks are mesmerizing to the everyday sports fan, Batesville girls golf continued its own impressive streak on Monday night, cruising to a 16th-straight Ripley County Championship at North Branch Golf Course.

The state-ranked No. 9 Lady Bulldogs were a winner in a county match that was originally scheduled for Tuesday. All four county squads fielded complete teams.

Batesville fired a winning nine-hole team score of 161, 75 strokes better than runner-up Jac-Cen-Del at 236. South Ripley was nearby in third with a 239 and Milan rounded out the county meet after coming in with a 255. In addition to a dominant evening, the Lady Bulldogs also claimed every spot on the All-County Team and boasted the top three finishers on the individual leaderboard.

For a second-straight year, Batesville senior Ava South was the individual county champion, firing an even-par 35 at North Branch. Freshman Stella Maple in her first county meet was second at 40 and in third place was Alexis Gallagher with a 41. Rounding out top scorers for the Lady Bulldogs and joining that trio on tha All-County Team were Zoey Ahern and Grace Saner at 45 and 49 respectively.

Claire Heilers and Cheyenne Cullen led Jac-Cen-Del with a 57 apiece and Nautia Williams finished at 58. A 64 from Maddie Bunnell rounded out the Lady Eagles. South Ripley’s scoring round was led by Kelly Lohrum’s 55 and Callie Comer was second for the team after a 59. Kayleigh Beardon’s 62 and Aubrey Henry’s 63 rounded out scoring for the Lady Raiders while the non-scoring round saw Jocelyn Meador shoot a 66.

All four Milan golfers qualified for the scoring round, led by Lilly Potter’s 59. Grace Bedel took a 61, Kaitlynn Hicks carded a 65 and Mya Horton finished at 70.

Batesville is at Greensburg today and goes to Connersville on Saturday for the Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference Golf Championship. Jac-Cen-Del goes to The Links today at Rising Sun, Milan plays North Decatur in a dual match this evening and South Ripley now prepares for the Ohio River Valley Conference Championship on Saturday.