Highlands eighth-grader Kam Lanich started playing golf two years ago.
Campbell County freshman Ella Pompilio sought her second consecutive girls Region 8 state berth.
Lanich and Pompilio got what they wanted Tuesday at Eagle Creek Country Club in Crittenden – they advanced to Monday’s state First Round tournament at Pendleton Hills Country Club in Butler.
Lanich earned her spot with a 27-over-par 99.
“Oh yeah, I was pretty surprised,” she said. “It means that I’ve been working hard, and I need to … keep working.”
Pompilio carded a 101. At first, she doubted her score would be good enough.
“I was kind of all over the place (Tuesday),” she said. “It wasn’t consistent at all.”
Campbell County coach Kara Gabis said Pompilio’s ball striking has improved; she calls it “tightening up” her game.
“I mean, I tell all my girls if we can get good contact first, we can fix direction, and I think Ella consistently hits and strikes the ball really well,” Gabis said. “She also hits darts with her lob wedge into a green; she’s pretty consistent to be able to get that really close to the pin.”
Weather woes
Highlands finished fifth at 434, Bishop Brossart was ninth at 484, and Campbell County was 10th at 523.
Gabis said what maybe everyone else thought – Monday’s thunderstorms didn’t help.
“The course conditions … are a little tough because we’ve been playing in dry conditions,” Gabis said. “And then it poured rain (Monday), so everything’s a little wet, a little damp, balls sliding off the clubs a little bit, and greens are a little tough to read.”
Gabis had scheduled a practice Monday at AJ Jolly Golf Course, which she had to cancel because of the storms.
“We didn’t get the chance to get out and either get on the course or short-game work,” Gabis said. “So the girls had to practice on their own over the weekend, practice on their own (Monday) night. So yeah, not a lot of opportunity leading up to regions.”
Owen County wins team trophy
The Rebels easily won the team title with a 28-over par 316, and senior Andie Baumann (who verbally committed to Northern Kentucky University) was medalist with a 1-under-par 71. Gallatin County was second at 383.
A quick glance at the results was all you needed to determine how Owen County dominated the day – senior Lucy Dunavent was third with an 81, senior Ava Klipps was fourth with an 81, sophomore Lexie Chappell placed fifth at 83, and junior Lucy Hardesty was sixth at 84.
Baumann turned in Tuesday’s lone under-par round, and she was one of only 14 who avoided triple-figure scoring. The wet greens didn’t bother her because she knew what to expect.
“Well, I played here Sunday, and it was pouring down rain when I played here,” she said. “And also, I played in a match on Monday, and the greens were hard. So (Tuesday), they did hold, and I was able to hit my distances.”
Grant County senior Sarah Smith was second with a 4-over 76.
Girls Region 8 tournament
At par-72 Eagle Creek Country Club, Crittenden
The top two teams and next 10 individuals advance to state First Round Sept. 29 at Pendleton Hills Country Club in Butler.
Team scores
1. Owen County 316
2. Gallatin County 383
3. Henry County 404
4. Pendleton County 409
5. Highlands 434
6. Grant County 438
7. (tie) Bourbon County and Harrison County 458
9. Bishop Brossart 484
10. Campbell County 523
Individual results
#=Medalist
SQ =State Qualifier
#Andie Baumann, Owen Co. 35-36 71
SQ Sarah Smith, Grant Co. 39-37 76
Lucy Dunavent, Owen Co. 44-37 81
Ava Klipps, Owen Co. 39-42 81
Lexie Chappell, Owen Co. 41-42 83
Lucy Hardesty, Owen Co. 45-39 84
SQ Taylor Bruener, Pendleton Co. 43-41 84
Lydia Young, Gallatin Co. 49-42 91
Grace Davis, Gallatin Co. 47-46-93
SQ Braelynn Burgan, Grant Co. 48-47 95
SQ Kinly Cooper, Pendleton Co. 49-48 97
SQ Lexie Chesser, Henry Co. 48-49 97
Brynlee Terrell, Gallatin Co. 51-48 99
SQ Kam Lanich, Highlands 51-48 99
Raegan Morris, Gallatin Co. 54-46 100
SQ Malin Way, Henry Co. 50-50 100
SQ Ella Pompilio, Campbell Co. 49-52 101
SQ Alaina Troxell, Henry Co. 52-50 102
SQ Laci Tackett, Pendleton Co. 49-53 102
Kendal Holbrook, Trimble Co. 51-52 103
Rebecca Wilkerson, Henry Co. 52-53 105
Sarah Combs, Harrison Co. 58-48 106
Lauren Utz, Highlands 58-50 108
Lucy Phirman, Bishop Brossart 54-55 109
Maylee Wallenhorst, Highlands 57-52 109
Clarissa Collins, Grant Co. 61-49 110
Annie Aldridge, Harrison Co. 55-57 112
Hadleigh Webb, Harrison Co. 59-54 113
Kate Thompson, Gallatin Co. 56-58-114
Allie Gindele, Bishop Brossart 58-58 116
Penelope Kolb, Highlands 59-39 118
Avery McManis, Henry Co. 60-66 126
Meghan Pitts, Bishop Brossart 62-64 126
Makenzie Dunhoft, Campbell Co. 62-64 126
Anna Pugh, Pendleton Co. 63-63 126
Genevieve Howard, NewCath 58-69 127
Lily Jones, Pendleton Co. 64-68 132
Anna Broering, Bishop Brossart 65-68 133
Lexi Hatfield, Highlands 71-62 133
Brenna Thomas, Campbell Co. 67-79 146
Olivia Evers, Campbell Co. 76-74 150
Regan Kenner, Grant Co. 89-68 157
Loralei Warnick, Campbell Co. 86-96 182
Madeline Williams, Harrison Co. WD
Gabby Aldridge, Harrison Co. DQ