Nick Gonnella
The Greensburg Daily News has named junior Tara Lecher as the North Decatur Female Athlete of the Fall.
Leading the North girls golf team as its No. 1 golfer, Lecher teed off the season in top form Aug. 3. She shot an 85, a season’s best in an 18-hole match, on Bear Chase at the Shelbyville Invitational.
Lecher felt right at home at North Branch Golf Course, her team’s roaming grounds. She wasted little time displaying her talent. She earned medalist honors in back-to-back home matches, both on the Bridge course. She first shot a 42 against Batesville Aug. 11, then carded a 39 against Indian Creek Aug. 13.
Lecher brought her game with her on the road, also. She was the medalist with a 42 on Aug. 24 at Brook Hill in Franklin County, a 44 against Cambridge City Sept. 8 at Winding Branch, and a 47 against Oldenburg on Sept. 10 at Hillcrest. In North’s final regular-season road golf match, she shot a 47 for medalist honors against Rushville on Sept. 14 at Antler Pointe.
Lecher placed fifth at the Charger Invitational on the Meadow-Bridge course Sept. 12. Her best performance was a 35 on the 9-hole Meadow course against South Decatur on Sept. 15. It represented the first time in her high school career that she shot under par (1-under).
Lecher’s consistency was the biggest reason the regional qualifier never saw a drop-off in performance as the postseason approached.
In fact, her teammates’ individual scores also improved. Teammate Abby Stewart missed the regional cut by just nine strokes in the Greensburg sectional, despite shooting a much better score on the back nine.
North golf coach Dan Borns watched Lecher lead a team that consisted of just one senior, Amanda Lawlis. The depth of the squad helped keep the underclassmen and reserve golfers fresh.
At the top, though, Lecher led the team on every golf course and helped North compile a solid team record of 12-6 with one tie.
“She had the low individual score for our team in every event we played this season,” said Borns. “This sort of consistency is something that you don't always find in a golfer her age. I know that she is driven to improve upon this season next year as a senior.”
Lecher’s 9-hole scoring average in 2009 was 44.38. She earned medalist honors in nine of the dozen 9-hole courses she navigated.
She shot a 45 in the county meet at the Greensburg Country Club Aug. 27, but improved on the same course in the 18-hole sectional tournament. There she shot an 89 to qualify for the regional. Lecher was the top individual golfer on a team that did not advance to the regional. In her first regional appearance at Smock, she shot a 94.
Borns said Lecher has had a positive impact on the team as she took on the leadership role.
“Tara is well-liked by her teammates and tries to help them improve their games as well,” said Borns. “This part of her personality, and her ability to lead by example, are major reasons why she has already been named captain of this team for the coming season.”
