95girlsgolf

While the 1995 Salem Lady Wildcats golf team was not large in numbers with seven players, they still rank as the most successful team in school history at the time of their 2010 Hall of Fame induction.

Six of the team’s seven members were returnees from the 1994 squad that finished 11th at the state meet. The only newcomer was freshman Candice Vogt.

Coach Mary Riley’s squad compiled an amazing 77-8 record, which included two wins over eventual state champ Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin.

In fact, those were the only two blemishes Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin had the entire season.

After a regular season that included championships at the Olney and Benton Invitationals, Salem won its own regional championship by a 32-stroke margin over runner-up Massac County, 354-386.

Melissa Cantrell and Gretchen Clark tied for the individual championship with identical rounds of 84. Cantrell then defeated Clark in a one-hole playoff to claim the individual title.

Salem also got top ten finishes from Carrie Eller and Janelle Hopkins, who finished tied for tenth with rounds of 93. Spring Riley’s 12th place mark of 93 and Randa Vogt’s 13th mark of 95 rounded out the scoring.

The Lady Wildcats were denied a second straight sectional championship, as they were derailed at the Decatur Eisenhower Sectional by the host school 329-351.

The second place finish was still good enough to earn another trip to state.

Cantrell had a sixth place individual finish at the sectional with a 79 to lead the Lady Wildcats.

Clark followed with an 86, Eller with a 92 and Randa Vogt with a 94 to complete the team scoring.

Riley and Hopkins also competed and had scores of 97 and 99 respectively, Salem improved its team score by 24 strokes and its team finish by four spots at the state meet, as it ended the season with a seventh place finish.

Once again the Lady Wildcats got off to a bit of a slow start at the state meet, as they stood in tenth place after day one.

Salem had the fifth best team score on day two, which enabled them to move up three positions.

Eller led the Lady Wildcats at state with a 46th place mark and a score of 177.

Clark was 46th with a 187, Cantrell was 52nd at 189 and Hopkins was the final counter in 89th place to 203.

Randa Vogt and Riley also competed and had respective rounds of 205 and 214.