By RICHIE HALL
There’s quite a bit to look forward to in the 2023 season for the three Hamilton County girls golf teams that finished in the top eight in the state finals in 2022.
Defending state champion Carmel has four of their starting five back as the Greyhounds attempt to defend their title. Westfield has one of the top players in the state and several other good golfers returning from a team that placed seventh in the state last year. And Noblesville has five girls back from the Millers’ eighth-place state team.
Carmel got most of the attention last year as the season moved into the post-season, and deservedly so. The ‘Hounds put together a long tournament win streak, easily won sectional and regional titles, then came back from three strokes down after the first round to win state by 14 strokes.
Three of the Greyhounds’ four returning players were named to the All-State team last year. Senior Claire Swathwood tied for sixth place, junior Sophie Mock tied for 10th and senior Michaela Headlee finished just outside the top 10, but earned All-State honors due to her consistent performances in the regular season.
College commitments
The fourth returner is senior Kamryn Williams, who announced on Friday that she has committed to play at Indiana Wesleyan University. The other two returning seniors have made commitments as well: Headlee has signed with Purdue University and Swathwood has committed to the University of Memphis.
Carmel coach Kelly Kluesner said that the four returners “have worked hard on their games all summer and will take on big leadership roles within our program” during the fall. Meanwhile, Kluesner said six to seven freshmen will try out for the team, in addition to the junior varsity players who are back for another season. Because of this, the Greyhounds expect to see changes in their fifth and sixth spots over the first few weeks.
“I’m really excited about this season and just watching how this team develops,” said Kluesner. The coach said she believes in Carmel’s returning four “and their ability to mentor our younger players and build our team chemistry.”
Westfield will likewise have an experienced group, with three seniors expected to play varsity. That includes Samantha Brown, a Purdue commit, three-time All-State player and the Reporter’s girls golf Player of the Year for the past two seasons. Brown is coming off a great summer, winning both the Girls State Junior championship and the Indiana PGA Junior championship.
Also back is junior Addi Kooi, who made All-State last year and was the highest individual county finisher at state, placing fourth. Shamrocks coach Josh Bryant said Kooi “has had a great summer of tournament golf on the Golf Week and AJGA circuit.”
Westfield has three more returning varsity letter-winners coming back: Senior Sam Lemieux and sophomores Kelsey Haverluck and Lilley Ku. Bryant said that the ‘Rocks have “a solid core of returning players” from last year’s top-10 state team, and that Brown, Kooi and Haverluck had much success during the off-season.
New faces
Newcomers on this year’s team are junior Sadie Edwards and sophomore Sami Hanavan. Rounding out the roster are senior Sophie Thompson, junior Anna McKeown and sophomore Taylor Nokes.
“We have some new faces that are eager to step in and play after very full schedules this summer,” said Bryant. He noted that Westfield’s coaching staff is excited to watch the 2023 edition of the Shamrocks “come together and compete week after week” in many of the state’s strongest events.
Noblesville will have some still-young faces on the team, but they will be experienced players.
“We have a strong and experienced group returning from last year led by senior Jordan Adam and sophomore Josie Kelley,” said Millers coach Justin Werkley.
Other state players returning are junior Karis Shields and Olivia Anderson and sophomore Olivia Fowler. Kendall Cooper is another senior on the Noblesville team, with sophomores Peyton Kauzlick, Savannah Munson and Presley White also returning. Two freshmen, Kate Murphy and Ramsey Baltz, could see varsity playing time.
“We are excited to get the season underway and hope to have a great season with a fun and talented group of players,” said Werkley.