Lakota West sweeps GMC golf titles

Ward, Hogeback win individual titles for Firebirds.

Photos: GMC golf championship

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By Skip Weaver , Staff Writer Updated 8:28 AM Friday, September 25, 2009

MADISON TWP. — It was a clean sweep for the Lakota West golf program on Thursday, Sept. 24.

The boys and girls each shot team scores of 616 to win their respective Greater Miami Conference titles at Weatherwax Golf Course.

The Firebirds also claimed the individual champions for both with Kari Hogeback finally grabbing the top spot after three consecutive years as the runner-up, and with Korey Ward, who shot a GMC record 7-under-par 137 for 36 holes .

“This is the beginning of the end of the season,” said Ward, the Division I defending state champion. “Everything gets serious from here on out. It was nice for us to win GMC as a team. I think it gives us confidence as we head into sectionals.”

The West boys hadn’t won the league championship since the 2002 season.

It was more about the team for Hogeback as well. She shot a two-day total 144 to edge out Mason’s Emily Wright (146), who was last year’s champion.

“I just tried to come out and do the best I could for the team,” said Hogeback, who left her driver in the bag all day using only her 3-wood off the tees. “I feel pretty good about the way I played today. I wasn’t hitting my driver well on the range and I knew my 3-wood wouldn’t hurt me, but today was more about the team. The team title is most important.”

The West girls last won the GMC title in the 2006 season. Mason, the defending state champs, had won the last two.

“It feels good to bring the GMC title back to Lakota West,” girls coach Tim Lambert said. “It was one of our goals to do this year and the girls worked very hard to reach it. I’m very proud of them.”

Hogeback, Rachel Steiner, Megan Shroder, Taylor Wogenstahl and Ashley Jeffers all were named to the GMC first team for West.

Marshall Stretch joined Ward on the boys’ first team.

“We’re really happy,” said West boys coach Chris Conway, who was named the boys coach of the year. “We’ve been waiting for these two days for a while. Hopefully this is a springboard for us going to sectionals.”

Lakota East (641) was third, Fairfield (644) fifth and Hamilton (692) eighth in the boys’ final standings, while Lakota East (743) was fourth, Fairfield (760) was sixth and Hamilton (1,132) was ninth in the girls’ standings.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852, or sweaver@coxohio.com.

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