By Terry Boehmker
NKy Tribune sports reporter
Ryle golfers got a chance to compare their scorecards when rain showers interrupted the Region 6 girls’ golf tournament on Monday at Eagle Creek Country Club. None of them were doing exceptionally well at that point, but they buckled down after the break and won the team’s first regional championship since 2002.
“Before that rain delay, I thought we were playing very average and I was worried,” said Ryle coach Jeremy Thornton. “They really got it together and got into a groove after that. They started making pars instead of bogeys and we even got a couple of birdie putts to fall.”
The Raiders finished with a 326 team total to win the regional title by five strokes over runner-up Notre Dame (331). Both teams qualified for the state tournament to be played Oct. 5-6 at Bowling Green Country Club.
Notre Dame senior Lauren Bracken was the Region 6 individual medalist with a 2-under 70. She had five birdies and shot 1-under 35 on both the front and back nine of the challenging Eagle Creek layout.
“I really struggle on this course, but I came out here and practiced a lot this week and figured out what I was doing wrong,” Bracken said. “It’s a really hilly course so I practiced different lies and I just got it all together.”
The second-place finisher was Ryle junior Brooklynn Dipaolo with a 78. After shooting 41 on the front nine, she led the Raiders’ late rally with a 1-under 35 on the back nine.
“The rain delay helped us,” Dipaolo said. “It was good to calm our nerves and talk to each other. We turned it around on the back nine.”
Dipaolo’s younger sister, Olivia, placed third with a 79. Ryle’s other scoring golfers were freshman Caitlyn Richardson (82) and senior Madison Kleckner (87). They all played on last year’s regional runner-up team that finished a whopping 17 strokes behind Notre Dame.
“This year, I thought we were the favorites, but I never want to underestimate anybody until you see them play,” coach Thornton said. “I was probably more nervous for this regional because of what we accomplished all year. But they came through for me. How they got it done is a total tribute to them.”
Going into the state tournament as a regional champion will be a new experience for the Ryle golf team. The goal is to make the first-round cut and possibly finish among the top 10 teams.
“We’ve got to go down there and play well,” Thornton said. “It’s a long course and we don’t have the longest hitters, so we need things like putts to fall and chips to get close when we get down there. But the girls have met every goal we’ve set so far and I would bet they’ll find a way to meet this one too.”
None of the Northern Kentucky teams that competed in the Region 8 girls’ golf tournament on Monday qualified for the state tournament. Brossart freshman Abby Cook did earn a berth as an individual state qualifier with a round of 93 at Kenton County. The Region 7 and Region 8 boys’ golf tournaments will be played on Tuesday.
REGION 6 TEAM SCORES
Ryle 326, Notre Dame Academy 331, Owen County 351, Villa Madonna 352, St. Henry 366, Grant County 379, Beechwood 380, Cooper 395, Highlands 419, Dixie Heights 432, Simon Kenton 451, Newport Central Catholic 452, Walton-Verona 478, Gallatin County 482, Carroll County 530.
STATE QUALIFYING TEAMS
(Top four scores count toward team total)
RYLE — Brooklynn DiPaolo 78, Olivia DiPaolo 78, Caitlyn Richardson 82, Madison Kleckner 87, Kayla Behne 95.
NOTRE DAME — Lauren Bracken (NDA) 70, Natalie Snyder 81, Abby Bricking 90, Katelyn gbers 90, Annie Gronotte 100.
INDIVIDUAL STATE QUALIFIERS
Madison Smith (Cooper) 80, Jenna Doumont (Villa Madonna) 80, Lydia Merrifield (Owen County) 80, Brooke Huff (Trimble County) 85.