Barren County's Jill Florence tees off at the second hole Tuesday, September 26, 2017, during the girls' Region 4 golf tournament at Glasgow Golf and Country Club. (Bac Totrong/photo@bgdailynews.com)

South Warren girls’ golf coach Eric Holeman said nothing will surprise him when his team takes the course Friday at Bowling Green Country Club for the KHSAA state golf tournament.

After winning the region title by two strokes over Barren County last week, Holeman said he’s ready to throw all expectations out the window at the state tournament.

“They surprised me at the region tournament, so whatever they do at the state tournament won’t shock them anymore,” Holeman said. “I told them I won’t doubt them anymore.”

The Spartans are back in the state tournament as a team for the first time since 2015. Two golfers – sophomore Lauren Holeman and freshman Faith Martin – have state tournament experience. Martin finished 16th at the state tournament as an individual last year and was region runner-up last week, but Eric Holeman said she is more excited about the team goals.

“The thing that girl has surprised me with this year is she has had a team attitude,” Eric Holeman said. “She made the comment that she is more excited about winning the region as a team than she would have been if she won it as an individual. Her team-first attitude is what is helping the younger girls get through this.”

Eric Holeman said the goal is to make the cut and get to Saturday’s second round.

“I always tell them to do the best they can,” Eric Holeman said. “You can’t control what other teams do. All you can do is post the best you can and hope for the best.”

Getting to day two is what region runner-up Barren County did last season. The Trojanettes are looking to build off a 10th-place finish last season.

“They seem pretty calm,” Barren County coach Duane Withrow said. “They were really calm during the region. We’ve worked really hard throughout the whole year to get to this point. I know they are truly excited to play and I am excited for them. It’s a great group of kids. We are anxious to get this going.”

Barren County is led by a trio of seniors – Mikayla Wyatt, Jill Florence and Cortney Withrow – who are making a fourth straight trip to the state tournament. The trio have been a big part of Barren County’s resurgence in girls’ golf, helping build a program that didn’t qualify as a team prior to the recent run.

“(This weekend) is very bittersweet,” Duane Withrow said. “They have meant a lot to this program. They are great kids, good students, and I really and truly think that their best golf is in front of them. They have improved. They have done everything I have asked.”

Withrow said the Trojanettes are looking to improve on last year’s finish but conceded that defending champion Sacred Heart is the overwhelming favorite.

“I know Sacred Heart is top notch and ranked No. 1 in the state,” Withrow said. “They are probably the odds-on favorite to win it. I really don’t think we are that caliber of a team, but we can have a good finish and if we play well, I think we can finish in the top five. The talent and ability is there. It is just a matter of executing one shot at a time.”

A pair of Greenwood golfers – junior Allison Wheeler and senior Sydney Durrant – will also be part of the field.

Wheeler is coming off an individual region title and is eager to play in the state tournament for the first time.

“I’m so excited,” Wheeler said. “I wish it was with the whole team, but after missing last year I never thought I would come back and win region. I’m full of excitement.”

Wheeler said familiarity with the Bowling Green Country Club should help, as well as having Durrant – who finished tied for 41st as an individual at state last season – will help her this weekend.

“Knowing the course gives me a lot of confidence, but I’m nervous because I have never played at state,” Wheeler said. “During Thursday’s practice round I plan to learn everything, so I will be fine. (I’ll play with Durrant) during the practice round, so I am sure she will help me out a lot. I feel a lot more comfortable with her there.”{&end}