By Jim Irish
Courtesy photo
Carly Sherman has a lock on District 23-5A golf.
The Bastrop High School junior last week captured her third consecutive individual title at the tournament.
Sherman shot nine-over par, 79-74–153 at Delaware Springs Golf Course in Burnet on Wednesday and Thursday.
She finished 23 strokes ahead of Hendrickson’s Alyssa Lee.
And Sherman accomplished the feat despite contracting the flu on an official recruiting visit to Division I University of North Carolina at Asheville. She ran a fever of 102.5, vomited, and suffered body aches.
”It was really bad,” Sherman said. “I was tired before the (district) tournament. I hadn’t practiced more than 15 minutes in the past week and a half.”
Sherman said she struggled on the back nine both days because of the lingering effects of the illness. In the first round, she was two over par on the front nine and five over on the back nine. In the second round, she was two under for the front nine and four over on the back nine.
“My body kinda of gave out on me on the back nine,” she said.
Sherman was so impressed with the visit to UNC at Asheville that she officially committed to the college on March 17. She accepted a full scholarship. The Bulldogs compete in the Big South Conference.
“There’s so much to that place I absolutely loved,” she said. “I love the coach (Ross Cash). I love his mentality. He takes a straightforward approach to things. He tells you that he doesn't want you playing for him unless you want to give 100%.”
Kate Bennett, a friend from the Texas junior golf tour, has signed with UNC at Asheville.
“She introduced me to coach Cash,” Sherman said. “I had never really heard of (the college).”
Sherman had also received interest from Dallas Baptist University, Tennessee State, and UT at Tyler, but she’s locked in to UNC at Asheville.
Bastrop won the district team title for the fourth consecutive year.
Scoring for Bastrop were Cali Lozano, fourth place, 94-97–186; Adriana Gerhart, fifth, 93-94–187; Samantha McFarland, sixth, 93-96–189; and Gabi Lopez, eighth, 101-97–198.
Also competing on Bastrop’s seven-person squad were Emmerson Spurlock and Constance Harper.
Hendrickson and Elgin took second and third in the team standings at 896 and 1014, respectively.
Bastrop girls will compete in the Region III tournament at Margaritaville in Montgomery on April 17-18. Last year, Sherman was first in the medalist division and sixth overall. She qualified for the state tournament, but the team did not advance.
Sherman predicted the strongest teams will be Magnolia, Lake Creek, and Anderson.
Cedar Creek’s Riley Pillar finished seventh overall at 98-97–195 and qualified for the region tournament.
Bastrop’s Bryan Gattis took sixth overall in the boys District 23-5A tournament at 81-83–164 at ShadowGlen Golf Course in Manor and qualified for the region tournament.
Jim Irish is a freelance writer in Bastrop, Texas