Delta wins Delaware County girls golf tournament, Wes-Del freshman wins match medalist
MUNCIE, Ind. — It’s unusual for a freshman to compete at the varsity level, but even more so to shock an entire crowd and perform better than everyone else.
Yet it happened at the Muncie Elks Golf Club on Saturday as Wes-Del freshman Jane Armington shot just 76 strokes in the girls Delaware County girls golf tournament to become match medalist. Delta won as a team with a score of 375.
“It feels really good because they definitely have a lot more experience than I do,” Armington said.
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Armington, who transferred to Wes-Del from Frankton this year, took on some of the best talent that East Central Indiana had to offer.
She was paired with Delta No. 1 Belle Brown, who won the 2021 outing, as well as Yorktown No. 1 and reigning county champion Kayleigh Agugliaro. Agugliaro shot a 77, which was five strokes better than her 2022 outing, but the freshman Armington ultimately defeated her 76-77.
“I was definitely nervous, especially because Agugliaro won last year,” Armington said. “So I was just nervous but I just tried to focus.”
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The battle was competitive throughout the day and ultimately decided on the last hole.
“I actually didn’t know,” Armington said. “I knew at one point I had a lead and then was just kind of on and off, but at the last hole I knew I had to make a par at least.”
The last hole of the day for this group was hole seven, where Armington shot a four and Agugliaro shot a five.
“I just want to win more counties,” Armington said.
Delta head coach Jim Fowler told his girls before the tournament and throughout the day just keep the ball on the main course.
Fowler also knew his girls were more than capable of winning this tournament after coming off a sectional title victory and the program's first state finals appearance.
“This (the tournament) really shows where the girls are right now that they’re playing really well and focused,” Fowler said. “This is really a good way to start the season with a county championship.”
The Eagles had won back-to-back county titles and five in the past eight years before Yorktown got the edge last season by a score of 376-379.
However, the Eagles rode their hot streak from last season into this year as they secured a forty-stroke lead over second-place finisher Wapahani, which totaled a score of 415.
The Eagles had three players land as All-County honors. Brown and Avery Stinson lead the way shooting an 84 and 83, respectively, with Hollis Klinger following behind shooting 99.
“To have a solid one and two start off your scores, it puts you in a really good position,” Fowler said.
Fowler wasn’t the only one who believed this team had what it took to win county, but his players did as well.
“Even after losing a senior, as well as a junior, we still knew that like we had a strong team,” Stinson said. “We can come back and win and losing by three strokes, it’s very painful.”
Stinson said in her mind that she knew the course well and that she could do well. However, she never expected to one-up her fellow teammate Brown, who is a former match medalist winner. Stinson not only beat her fellow teammate Brown, but she came in No. 3 overall out of 24 golfers in the tournament.
“This was huge because we (Delta) won it my freshman and sophomore year,” Brown said. “We had so much confidence for today to finish out my career (in county).”
Brown is a constant contributor and leader for this Eagles team and has seen improvement not only in herself, but her team as well.
“They’ve got the capabilities for sure (to win sectionals),” Fowler said. “Regionals is always tough, but they keep getting better.”
Team results
Champion: Delta (375)
2nd place: Wapahani (415)
3rd place: Daleville (417)
4th place: Wes-Del (430)
5th place: Yorktown (460)
All-County Winners
Jane Armington, Wes-Del (76)
Kayleigh Agugliaro, Yorktown (77)
Avery Stinson, Delta (83)
Addy Gick, Dalevile (83)
Belle Brown, Delta (84)
Kenzie Brannon, Wapahani (88)
Ava Capes, Dalevile (92)
Delaney Dodd, Wapahani (98)
Hollis Klinger, Delta (99)
Gracie Drake, Wes-Del (108)
Radlee-Michael Besser is a freelance sports reporter. Follow him on Twitter @_RadleeMichael.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Delta wins DelCo girls golf tournament, Wes-Del freshman match medalist
