High school golf: Highland girls repeat as sectional champions

STOW — The Highland girls golf team is already in postseason form. Led by junior Isabella Goyette, the Hornets repeated as Fox Den Division I Sectional champions Thursday by shooting a 301. Goyette fired a 5-under-par 66 to repeat as medalist to lead Highland back to the Brookledge District on Thursday. "We are all super excited," Goyette said. "I'm really proud of us as a team and feel like we have a bond that's really special. My teammates have all worked so hard, and I couldn't be prouder of them." Freshman Elizabeth Coleman (77), junior Paige McKendry (78) and sophomore Avery Albright (80) rounded out the scoring. For McKendry, seeing the team shoot two of its three lowest rounds of the season in the past two events — the Hornets also shot 298 at Brookledge in the fourth Suburban League Tournament last week — is proof of the strides that they have made. "From the start of the season until now, it's incredible how much more confident everyone is," McKendry said. "Everybody has improved from the start of the season, and I think that's just going to continue to play through the end of the season." Led by junior Jaycee Kabasky's 96, Wadsworth saw its season end after shooting a 411 to place 11th out of 15 teams. Nordonia, Hudson and North Royalton also advanced. The Knights edged Hudson on the fifth-player tiebreaker after both teams shot 314 and the Bears followed with a 358. Individually, Shaker Heights' Emily Lamb (79), Walsh Jesuit's Annie Stencel (80), Firestone's Alexandria Vardon (83) and Eastlake North's Lauren Ianetta (86) also advanced. Ianetta topped Walsh Jesuit's Annie Cors in a tiebreaker for the final spot. One year after setting the Medina County record at Fox Den with an 8-under 63, Goyette started off on fire again with three birdies on the first four holes of the back nine to settle in. "(The fast start) definitely helped calm my nerves," Goyette said. "It got the process moving and gives me confidence to play well. It also keeps me uplifted and happy, and that's one of the most important things." The reigning two-time Gazette MVP peaked after the turn with an eagle on the 389-yard, par-5 sixth hole. She hit her drive just left of the fairway. From roughly 140 yards out, Goyette stuck an uphill 8-iron just right of the back right pin and made her putt from the edge of the fringe. Goyette won the tournament by eight strokes over Nordonia's Julia Gulla in what was the ace's seventh round in the 60s this season and 12th in the past two falls. The seven rounds tie Jessica Porvasnik's 2011 season for most rounds in the 60s in a season in county history. "It was really fun out there," Goyette said. "I found it really relaxing and didn't put too much pressure on myself. We've played here so much, but I never get sick of it. It's such a fun course, and I love how pretty it is this time of year." Coleman joined Goyette in striking an eagle — the first of her career — on the 396-yard 14th when her drive down the middle left 155 yards to the pin. From there, a 6-hybrid set up a 10-foot putt. "When I was over the ball, I debated whether or not I played enough break, but told myself I played enough break," Coleman said of her eagle putt. "As I watched it go in, I was so excited." The moment capped a day Coleman has been waiting for after watching the team as a middle schooler. "I was getting excited towards the end, because I realized I was playing in this tournament," Coleman said. "I've watched them play in it for the past two years and was just like, 'Huh, I'm here.' That's pretty awesome." McKendry picked up her lone birdie of the round on No. 14 when she pitched onto the green from 75 yards, but then needed to sink a downhill 25-foot putt the broke to the left. Her putting was a strength all day, only needing 29 putts. "The course was in the best shape I've ever seen it, and the greens were rolling so nice," McKendry said. "This weather is also just my favorite with it being just a little chilly or cooler. Everything was easier, and my putting really kept me together." Albright had 10 pars, including the last four holes, on her way to matching her lowest round of the season. "I don't really get nerves that much, but at the end of the round I started to get nervous," Albright said. "It was a fine round and I had a lot of fun." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Results at par-71 Fox Den G.C. Team standings (Top 4 qualify for Brookledge District): 1. Highland 301, 2. Nordonia 314, 3. Hudson 314, 4. North Royalton 358, 5. Walsh Jesuit 360, 6. Streetsboro 365, 7. Revere 373, 8. Brecksville 383, 9. Mayfield 394, 10. Firestone 408, 11. Wadsworth 411, 12. Shaker Heights 419, 13. Tallmadge 425, 14. Eastlake North 438, 15. Twinsburg 462. Individual qualifiers: Emily Lamb (SH) 79, Annie Stencel (WJ) 80, Alexandria Vardon (F) 83, Lauren Iannetta 86. Highland (301): Isabella Goyette 66, Elizabeth Coleman 77, Paige McKendry 78, Avery Albright 80, Kavya Chada 82. Wadsworth (411): Jaycee Kabasky 96, Chloe Cliffel 99, Emma Williams 105, Sydney Daily 111, Elle Baughman 113.