EDINBORO ― Mercyhurst Prep’s girls golfers made the fewest strokes during the same Region 2 mega-match in which Cathedral Prep made school history.
Mercyhurst, which opened its season with a second-place performance last week at State College’s Happy Valley Invitational, won Wednesday’s nine-team competition at Culbertson Hills Golf Resort. The Lakers, led by senior Izzy Barbero’s nine-hole score of 1-over par 37, saw their top three players combine for a team score of 125.
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Katie Caryl, a junior, followed Barbero with a 43. Lia Macek, another senior, shot 45.
Caryl was the most notable Laker at the start of their new season. She advanced to the girls final of July’s EDGA Junior Match Play Championship and also competed in this past weekend’s EDWGA Stroke Play Championship.
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That Barbero shot Wednesday’s low score left Caryl enthused about what the team could achieve.
“We think we have a pretty good chance this year (to win) our region,” Caryl said. “I’m proud of the girls, and especially of Izzy. It’s really important that we all contribute and keep this going.”
Lena Fuss (50) and Lauren Keffer (66) also started for Mercyhurst.
Fairview, led by 43s from Cora Hirz and Izzy Benz, was six behind the Lakers at 131. Cathedral Prep followed at 139.
The Ramblers also competed in last week’s tournament at State College, which will host October’s PIAA team and individual golf championships.
Wednesday marked the first local appearance by one of the Ramblers’ new female athletic programs.
The Catholic Diocese of Erie closed Villa Maria, its all-girls school in Millcreek Township, at the end of the 2021-22 academic year. Its returning students now attend Prep’s West Eighth Street campus.
Prep is near the end of major renovations to its now-coed campus, which had been all-boys since 1921.
The change will take time before its girls’ teams are no longer referred to by their former school’s name.
One spectator during Wednesday’s action referred to Prep’s golfers as “Villa” before he corrected himself. Lindsay Armanini and her teammates were also listed as representing Prep/Villa on a bulletin board where Wednesday’s results were posted.
“It’s different for all of us to be representing a new school, but we’re all excited to start some new traditions,” Armanini said. “We love being the first team to do what we’re doing.”
AnnaMarie Zinram, who beat Caryl in their last two EDGA Junior Match Play finals, led the Ramblers with a 5-over 41. Rounds of 49 for Armanini and CeCe Morgan also counted towards their third-place team score.
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper @timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNcopper.
Girls golf
Region 2 mega-match
at Culbertson Hills Golf Resort, Edinboro
Mercyhurst Prep (125): Izzy Barbero 37, Katie Caryl 43, Lia Macek 45, Lena Fuss 50, Lauren Keffer 66
Fairview (131): Cora Hirz 43, Izzy Benz 43, Meredith Thompson 45, Abby Benz 51, Ava Garcia Lucini 78
Cathedral Prep (139): AnnaMarie Zinram 41, Lindsey Armanini 49, CeCe Morgan 49, Claire Williams 52, Vanessa Melle 58
North East (149): Anna Swan 42, Tatianna Llera 51, Emily Boboshko 56, Arianna Llera 60, Angelene Gorniak 85
Harbor Creek (170): Leah Corey 54, Jordyn Seidler 56, Lilly Kwiatkowski 60, Carley Estok 63, Georgia Weber 64
Seneca (174): Olivia Stainbrook 52, Megan Konkol 60, Helen Genest 62, Olivia Jefferson 63, Lauren Konkol 66
Fort LeBoeuf (175): Natalie Dushole 46, Alaina Dushole 61, Kylie Taylor 68, Anjalena Bucci 76
General McLane (180): Jane Howard 51, Sophia Boutte 52, Estella Menc 77
Union City (204): Shelly Ward 57, Reiley Lineman 60, Ara Tomcho 87