EUREKA • With her ball sitting just off the green, Lindsey Eisenreich had a decision to make.
Putt it or chip it?
"I was originally gonna putt it, but there was a ball mark in my way, so I didn't want to putt over that," the Rockwood Summit senior golfer said. "I decided to go with my sand wedge and it worked to my favor because I holed it. I was super excited."
That eagle on the par-5 17th hole propelled Eisenreich to a 3-under-par 33 on the front nine and sent her on her way to a stellar 1-under 71 round Wednesday at the Class 2 Sectional 1 tournament at Aberdeen Golf Club.
Eisenreich was the class of the sectional field, winning by 10 strokes. She now moves to the Missouri Class 2 state tournament, which is scheduled for Oct. 16-17 at the Sedalia Country Club. She finished in a tie for fifth last year at state.
"She's pretty darn good," Summit coach Corey Choate said. "I think she was 5-under-par through 11 holes, and she was actually kind of frustrated with the way she finished."
Eisenreich shot a 33 on the back nine (everyone started on the 10th hole) to begin her day.
"I was striking the ball well, and I made two really good putts," she said.
Eisenreich, a Missouri State recruit, was mildly flustered to shoot 38 on the front nine.
"I missed a few short putts, and I had a few mistakes on short par-3s," she said.
As has been the case more often than not, Eisenreich's long game was the start of most of the good things in her round.
"Off the tee, I was pretty much in the fairway all day, and then I only missed a few greens," she said. "That was helpful."
Buoyed by five scores in the 80s, Ursuline won the team title by 12 strokes over West Plains, although both teams qualified for the state tournament. The Bears' score of 334 matched their total at last week's district tournament.
"Last week was just kind of a dream round for the girls," Ursuline coach Bridget Gilbert said. "And this week they come out and shoot the same exact score. So, obviously I'm just thrilled they could do it."
Ursuline was led by Abbey Manley's 81. Also carding scores in the 80s for the Bears were: Maggie VanCleave (83), Amanda Baebler (83), Jessica Ferguson (87) and Katlin Kalish (89).
Nerinx Hall (358), Summit (359), Cor Jesu (365) and Lafayette (373) rounded out the sectional field at Aberdeen.
In addition to the Ursuline and West Plains squads, the top 12 individuals not on a qualifying team also earned berths in the state tournament field.
Eisenreich headed the individual qualifiers. The other qualifers include: Colleen Garvey, Nerinx Hall, 84; Taylor Vick, Waynesville, 85; Michelle Lewis, Nerinx Hall, 87; Angela Moro, Cor Jesu, 87; Paige Moles, Marshfield; 87; Paige Gallagher, Farmington, 87; Rachel Dean, Cor Jesu, 88; Abby Teague, Cor Jesu, 89; Melanie Book, Cor Jesu, 89; Claire Norfleet, Lafayette, 89; Mackenzie Griffin, Camdenton, 89; and Pavin Jackson, Lebanon, 89.
