Girls golf: Grassel, Chesterton advance at state finals

Updated: October 1, 2011 4:40PM

FRANKLIN — Chesterton junior Kelly Grassel and her teammates are in prime position to make more than a little noise in the final round of the IHSAA girls golf state tournament today.

Grassel shot a 75 at The Legends Golf Club, a par-72 course. She is two strokes behind leader Brooke Beegle of Hamilton Southeastern. The Trojans are tied for fourth place of the team standings with a 335, 19 strokes behind leading Hamilton Southeastern.

It’s the first time in school history Chesterton has advanced to the second day of the state finals. The Trojans were two strokes from advancing to the second day of the state finals last season.

“They played great in tough conditions,” said Chesterton coach Dale Hewitt. “I’m really proud of them. Kelly is going to be going for a state title and we’re going to see how high we can get, which will be the best finish in Chesterton history.”

Chesterton junior Marissa Kroeger shot an 82, senior Stephanie Drake shot an 87, junior Nicole Dutz carded a 91 and senior Ashley Ford had a 99.

The Trojans will begin to tee off today’s final round at 9 a.m. Central.

Grassel bogeyed two of the first three holes, but collected three birdies to finish the front nine 1-under-par.

“She had her usual consistent game,” Hewitt said. “She doesn’t get herself in trouble.”

If any part of Grassel’s round was disappointing, it would be the final hole, where she three-putted on the way to a triple-bogey.

“I didn’t finish very well, but I had a pretty good day,” said Grassel, who finished third at last year’s state finals.

Thankful for the trip: LaPorte’s Ariana Mendez-Sota enjoyed her trip to the state finals as an individual, just days after thinking she had been disqualified for allegedly receiving advice from her coach during regional play, prohibited by a new IHSAA rule created this season.

Mendez-Sota was informed on Monday that she would be allowed to participate on a call to the principal’s office.

“I was kind of scared when he called me to the office,” Mendez-Sota said. “Then he said, ‘Do you know where you’re going?’ Then I got really scared, but he told me I was going to the state finals.”

Mendez-Sota shot an 87 and had seven pars.

“At the beginning I was kind of nervous so I didn’t eat anything,” said Mendez-Sota. “It was a wonderful day and I had so much fun. I’m glad I’m here.”

Unlike other individuals in the tournament, Mendez-Sota was matched with a group of golfers from advancing teams, forming the day’s only foursome.

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