D-T's Lemek disappointed but leads

Danielle Lemek left the first round of the Class C state tournament disappointed with her round.

She also left Indianhead Golf Club with a four-stroke lead.

That says a lot about the expectations of the Doniphan-Trumbull freshman standout, who shot a 76.

"It was not really what I wanted today," Lemek said. "The first nine holes were OK, but then I stunk it up."

Lemek opened with a 36 on the front nine but then fell to a 40 on the back.

"My driver kind of cost me a couple of times," she said.

Doniphan-Trumbull coach Chris Seberger knew Lemek felt she could have done better.

"You can't complain with a 76 on a day like this," she said. "But she definitely left some shots out there. She had a few mental mistakes towards the end."

Syarcuse's Steph Rodgers, who placed fourth last year, is the closest golfer to Lemek. Only Lincoln Lutheran's Amy Swearer (84), Boone Central's Brooke Bolin (85) and Molly Zavadil of Crofton (86) also remain within 10 strokes of the leader entering Tuesday's final round.

Seberger said Lemek shouldn't feel any pressure.

"She's not the one who has got to force things," she said. "She just needs to play smart. They have to chase her and try to make birdies.

"I think she'll have a great day. She left some shots on the back nine today."

Despite being disappointed in her day, Lemek still finds herself exactly where she wanted to be – in the lead.

"I feel confident," she said. "I know I made a couple of mistakes. I'll take charge tomorrow and play my game. Whatever comes of it, that's what happens."

The team race sets up to be a bigger race than the one for individual gold. Five teams enter the second round within 14 strokes of the lead.

Kearney Catholic holds a 387-394 lead over Crofton. Minden (396), Columbus Scotus (398) and Grand Island Central Catholic (401) are all within striking distance.

McKenzie Marshall led the Stars with a 90.

Remaining in the hunt was exactly what GICC coach Dee Hanssen was hoping for out of the first day.

"The girls did really well," she said. "Each of them felt she can take a few more strokes off for tomorrow. We had a few out of bounds today. I'm proud of how we played today."

Maegan Kellogg bounced back from a slow start to lead the Crusaders with a 96, which is tied for 17th place.

Kellogg started her day on the back nine and found herself 7-over par after only two holes. But she bounced back to post a 47 on the back.

Kylee Flaherty (98), Mikayla Northup (102) and Michaela Ostdiek (105) gave the Crusaders another balanced day.

"They know they can depend on each other and that takes the stress off," Hanssen said. "We try to treat this like any other golf day. We knew if we improve a few things tomorrow, we can have a chance for a championship or to place."

Doniphan-Trumbull, a first-year program, sits seventh with a 433.

"We had a good day," Seberger said. "I was really worried this morning because we were so nervous. Overall we did a good job."

Broken Bow (456) is 11th. Among area individuals, St. Paul's Shelby Stone is tied for 12th with a 91 and Gibbon's Allison Krueger is 15th with a 94.


E-mail Dale Miller