McCoy, Kisic, Driscoll, Dodds and Robison all have solid rounds at Beechwood Golf Club in LaPorte one week before playing sectional round at Valparaiso Country Club

Tom Keegan
Onwardtrojans.com
It can’t be found anywhere in the Royal and Ancient and USGA rules of golf. Instead, it’s one of golf’s unwritten rules, typically one learned the hard way.
In this case, the pupil was Caitlyn Robison, the No. 5 golfer for Chesterton.
If the unwritten rule were to be written, it would go something like: “When having a good round, particularly one headed for a specific milestone, do not, repeat: do not, under any circumstances add up your total score is to see what is needed for the remaining hole or holes to reach that score.”
As with so many of golf’s strong suggestions, it’s far easier said than done.
Playing Friday in the Pat Ford Invitational, Robison used her hybrid club to keep the ball in play, was making consistent contact with it and stayed on pace to break into double digits.
She had one hole remaining and knew exactly what she needed to score on the-par 4 fifth to break 100. She needed a 7, and a strong case could be made that she would have carded a 7 or better if she had not added up her score. So, naturally, because she added up her total score, she scored an 8. Her focus drifted from the process to the result, always a dangerous detour.
“I shot 100,” Robison said. “It was OK. I messed up the last hole because I got nervous.”
And she was nervous because she knew what was at stake. A chance to break 100. Robison shot a 99 earlier this season at Legacy Hills, a few miles to the north of Beechwood, but a 100 at Beechwood is better than a 99 at the easier Legacy Hills.
The distance between a score that ends with a zero and one stroke better can be the second-longest distance in golf. The longest is that walk between the driving range and the first tee box. A 99 sounds so much better than 100. An 89 beats a 90 by a mile, and a 79 is far more gratifying than an 80.
“I do it every time,” Robison said of adding up her score as she goes along. “But I’m happy with how I did, other than that last hole.”
Robison had reason to be happy with her day. Her game is rounding into shape just as the postseason is arriving, and the better the No. 5 player does, the less pressure others in the lineup feel when they are not having their best days.
Robison made pars on No. 10, a par 4, and par-3 holes 15 and 18.
No. 18 was playing 139 yards, and the ball was rolling hard, leaving many golfers behind the green with their shots off the tee. Still, Robison took out her trusty hybrid, gripped down on it a little, didn’t take it all the way back, and executed the No. 1 unwritten rule of golf: Thou shalt always accelerate through the ball, on any shot with any club, putter included.
The beautiful shot rolled onto the green to leave her a long putt. Two putts later, she had her par.
The Trojans play in the Valparaiso sectional at Valparaiso Country Club, an extremely tight layout, next Friday. Hitting straight tee shots will go a long way toward determining scores. Robison has played the course multiple times and is looking forward to playing it again for the very reason that some golfers fear the course, because it demands accurate tee shots.
“The hybrid was my most solid club,” she said. “It’s my most consistent club. I think it will work out pretty well. I’m excited to play there.”
Bolstered by the confidence that came from hitting the ball so well at Beechwood, it’s possible Robison will zero in on a milestone again. And this time, she might wait until her round is over to add up her score.
“I need to stop doing that,” she said. “I just like to peek a little. But it’s OK. Playing got me out of school and I’m fine with that.”
Robison peeks just enough to add up the numbers.
Other than that, she appears to be heading into the postseason in a positive frame of mind, the only way to play golf. If, as expected, the Trojans advance out of the sectionals, they will advance to a competitive regional at Sandy Pines.
“I’m excited. I haven’t played in sectionals or regionals before,” Robison said. “It should be fun because I’m used to those courses. Sandy Pines is one of my favorites.”
All five players had solid rounds at the Pat Ford and Chesterton scored a 361, finishing seventh among 22 schools. All eight DAC schools participated, and only Lake Central (334) and Crown Point (340) finished ahead of Chesterton. Others: Valparaiso (383), LaPorte (389), Portage (461), Michigan City (523), Merrillville (542).
Led by medalist Alex Reschly, who shot a 73, Northridge won the tournament with a 322. Lake Central was second.
High school golf team scores are calculated by adding the four top scores, and the highest does not count toward the team total.
Not as common as one might think because consistency is so elusive in the sport, Chesterton’s scores came in the same order as the slot out of which the five players play.
No. 1 Kristin McCoy, 1-under par after her first six holes, shot an 84, followed by Taylor Kisic (90), Genevieve Driscoll (93), Liz Dodds (94) and Robinson (100). Not a single bad round.
It was a nice tune-up on a course that is a good one to play before taking on the challenge of Valparaiso CC.
“Playing Beechwood ahead of time is always nice,” Trojans Coach Pat Ward said. “Tight course, have to be patient, doesn’t allow you to hit the drivers, some holes do but most of the time, 6-iron is going to reward you on this course, 6-iron or a hybrid. Occasionally, we’ll take a chance, but most of the time we’re playing it safe, playing it into the fairway and onto the green.”
From safe to safer the Trojans go.
“Valpo, we never take the driver out,” Ward said. “Well, there is one or hole, maybe two you can, but that’s it.”