By RICHIE HALL
The 2024 Indiana high school girls golf season begins on Monday, and Noblesville will be ready to go.
The Millers begin play right away, traveling to Bloomington Country to compete in the Bloomington South Invitational. Noblesville will begin the season as the No. 1-ranked team in Indiana, according to the Indiana High School Golf Coaches Association’s pre-season poll that came out on Friday.
“I don’t know that we had any expectation,” said Noblesville coach Justin Werkley. “I certainly know that we’re talented, and at the end of the day, we’re going to have to go out and play good golf. We’re excited to get the season underway, that’s for sure.”
The high ranking is likely based on two things. First, the Millers finished fourth in the state last year at the 2023 state finals. Second, Noblesville has four golfers from that podium team returning to the fairways this season.
One of those golfers is junior Josie Kelley. She tied for 10th as an individual at last year’s state meet, earning a medal and All-State honors. Kelley has had a nice summer, winning the Girls 16 division at the Buffy & Alice Mayerstein Age Group Championship at French Lick Resort on July 1 and 2.
The other three returners are seniors Karis Shields and Olivia Anderson, and junior Olivia Fowler. All three had consistent scores at state last season. The Millers also won their own sectional last year at Harbour Trees and will host the sectional at that course again in September.
In addition to the returning state players, four more Noblesville golfers are expected to make an impact. They are juniors Presley White, Peyton Kauzlick and Savannah Munson and sophomore Kate Murphy.
“I am excited to see what this group can accomplish this year,” said Werkley. “We have a great nucleus of returning players along with a deep and talented group of players who will be ready to step in and contribute. It should be a really fun season.”
The Millers have one other tournament during opening week: the State Preview meet, which takes place at Prairie View in Carmel, the site of the IHSAA state finals.