By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Technically, golf is still a “fall” sport, even though the season officially started with the first IHSAA authorized practice session on Friday, even though the season could end potentially in the sectional before the calendar officially flips to fall in mid-September.
The heat is on, in more ways than one, for Bedford North Lawrence. The feels-like temperature index will hit triple-digits on the course, and the feels-like expectation gauge will jump a few degrees when the Stars start their trek through the 2023 campaign.
With four returning veterans from last year’s journey to the state finals, BNL is poised for a record-setting encore run. When the preseason poll is released, expect the Stars to be listed among the elite. When the postseason arrives, expect BNL to be favored for an 11th consecutive sectional championship and a serious contender for a return ticket to the state finals at Prairie View. After all, the Stars expect that of themselves.
“I like having that expectation of putting up good numbers and playing good golf,” coach Kori Johnston said. “If you have high expectations, you have something to shoot for. We’re definitely eyeing down the state finals again, that’s our big goal. I think we have a solid chance at making it again.“
The reasons for optimism are solid. The Stars finished 15th in the state last year, and the returning foursome have the talent and experience necessary to contend again. With seniors Chloe McFaddin and Kenley Craig leading the way, with sophomore Kinleigh Root and junior Ellie Horton showing off-season improvement, BNL has the foundation for success. And the Stars also have the hunger.
“It’s very motivational, especially to the four of us that made it to State last year,” McFaddin said. “I feel like we have that in the back of our minds, and we hope to get there again. It was a great experience.”
Golf doesn’t automatically reward past performance. On any given day, it’s the most “what have you done lately” sport. The scorecard determines everything.
“To guarantee it, we need two scores consistently in the 70s,” Johnston said. “Through the summer, we’ve had at least three doing that. If we can get a couple of low 80s in there, it should solidify that.
“This year, more than even the last two years, we’re going to have a lot of movement in our roster. We had a lot of girls put in work over the summer, they’ve improved a ton, and we had some girls get one-on-one lessons. So that No.5 spot will be up for grabs.”
That’s the question right now: who steps into the void left by graduated senior Nora Howat? So far, with the season opener set for July 31, that honor goes to freshman Sammie Nusbaum. But that could change as BNL faces tougher competition and courses.
The Stars will compete in the prestigious State Preview at Prairie View (Aug. 5) and the Hall of Fame Classic at The Legends (Aug. 26), in addition to the usual invitationals and Hoosier Hills Conference tournament prior to the sectional at Otis Park on Sept. 16. That’s when they’ll shoot for 11 in a row (that state record is 15, currently held by Penn).
“Some of the longer courses are more difficult, and the competition is a lot higher,” McFaddin said. “We just need to work.”
“I think this team can break some records, we have the ability,” Craig said. “I don’t feel as much pressure as I have in the past, because we’ve done it. We know we can do it. So just go out with a bang. I feel confident we can do it again.”
BNL will compete in the Bloomington South Invitational on Monday.
