By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
After placing second in the Region 7 girls golf tournament five of the last six years, Notre Dame won the championship trophy on Tuesday by a 28-stroke margin to claim the title for the first time since 2019.
Notre Dame topped the team standings with a 353 total. The Pandas’ scoring golfers were senior Maria Penaranda (76), junior Caroline Bohman (92) and freshmen Abigail Gibson (92) and Diana Jiradamkerng (93).
Conner placed second with a 381 total. The Cougars’ team leader was junior Sophia Seals (78), followed by juniors Bella White (94) and Evie Maurits (100) and eighth-graders Eva Fey and Cam Broering (109).
The individual medalist was St. Henry eighth-grader Reese Anthony with a one-over 72. Ryle senior Elizabeth Dickson placed second (74).
The last eighth-grader who won the 7th Region girls tournament was five-time champion Reagan Ramage of Cooper in 2020.
At the Region 7 boys tournament Tuesday at Boone Links, Covington Catholic won a playoff with Ryle to take the title after both teams finished 18 holes with a 310 total.
There was also a close battle for medalist honors with CovCath junior Matt Noe’s one-over 73 winning by one stroke over Ryle freshman Hayden Li.
The other scoring golfers for CovCath were senior Joe Mangine (78), sophomore Colin White (79) and senior Marcus Diiulio (80).
Ryle’s team total included senior Chandler James (75), junior Thomas Leone (80) and freshman Luke Roscoe (81).
The boys and girls winner and runner-up teams advance to the Regions 5-8 sectional tournament to be played next week at Kenton County Golf Course.
The 10 individual qualifiers for the boys sectional tournament are Jack Woolwine, Lucas Powers and Oliver Niehues of Dixie Heights, Jarett Turner of Cooper, Adam Gutman and Jacob Gore of Walton-Verona, Cole Burris and Nolan Stone of Simon Kenton, Parker Isaacs of St. Henry and Kayden Sautter of Beechwood.
The girls sectional qualifiers are Anthony and Ari Burton of St. Henry, Dickson, Aubrey Hayes and Lacey Wilson of Ryle, Jayden Ramler of Boone County, Kendall Williams and Annabelle Woltenberg of Cooper, Addison VonHandorf of Walton-Verona and Georgia Albrinck of Dixie Heights.
Highlands boys team wins Region 8 golf tournament
With four golfers among the top six scorers, Highlands won the Region 8 boys golf tournament by posting a 322 team total on Monday at Pendleton Country Club.
Bracken County sophomore Kasen Bertram was medalist with an even-par 75 and Newport Central Catholic senior Evan Himmelsbach placed second with a 77. The next four scorers were Highlands teammates James Kuhn (80), Devin Massie (80), Bryson Vail (81) and Conner Barlow (81).
Highlands and region runner-up NewCath advance to the sectional round of the state playoffs for Regions 5-8. That tournament will be played next week at Kenton County Golf Course.
The top four scorers for NewCath were Himmelsbach (77), Keegan Collopy (87), Ben Fassler (88) and Alex Bacon (89). The individual qualifiers for the sectional tournament include Colin Parks and Derek Bezold of Brossart and Bryson Guidugli of Campbell County.
Owen County and Gallatin County posted the top team scores in the 8th Region girls tournament on Tuesday at Henry County Country Club. The individual qualifiers for next week’s sectional tournament include Ella Pompilio of Campbell County and Highlands teammates Kameron Lanich and Lauren Utz.