By RICHIE HALL
WESTFIELD – A 1-2 individual finish helped the Westfield girls golf team to its first sectional championship in three years.
The No. 1-ranked Shamrocks cruised to victory at the Guerin Catholic sectional, which took place Monday at Pebble Brook in Westfield. The Rocks scored 294, had three players finish in the top six and easily qualified for the Lafayette Jefferson regional, which is set for Saturday at Battle Ground Golf Course.
It was the Rocks’ first sectional title since 2021 and the seventh overall for the Westfield program.
“We don’t take them for granted,” said Shamrocks coach Josh Bryant.
Noblesville claimed its third consecutive sectional title at Harbour Trees on Monday, scoring 308. The Millers had three golfers finish in the top five. (Photo provided)
The top three teams advance to the regional. Tenth-ranked Carmel, the two-time defending state champion, totaled 323 to finish second as a team, while host Guerin Catholic claimed the third advancing spot with a score of 343.
Westfield junior Kelsey Haverluck put together a solid score of two under par 68 to earn medalist honors (she was one under on both the front and back nine), while senior Addi Kooi carded 71 for second place individually. Sophomore Kate Brown scored 76, tying her for fifth place.
“All of us on the team work really hard, and we try to have really good team chemistry on and off the course,” said Haverluck. “And I think it’s paid off in the end.”
Brown, junior Lilley Ku (79) and sophomore Sophie Raines (83) were all playing in their first sectional for the Shamrocks.
“The word ‘sectional’ means something different, and when it’s your first one, you have to get settled in,” said Bryant. “And I really thought all three of them, they did great.”
Senior Sophie Mock led Carmel, finishing in third place with a 72. Sophomore Maddie Headlee also tied for fifth place with a 76.
Ali Scott continued her solid play with a 75, good for fourth place individually. Sydney Delagrange added an 82.
University finished with a team score of 416 but will have a player going on to Battle Ground. Graclyn Cates scored an 88, which was good enough to claim one of three spots for an individual not on an advancing team. The other two individuals advancing are Brebeuf Jesuit’s Annie Baxter (79) and Cardinal Ritter’s Peyton Roddy (96).
AT PEBBLE BROOK
Team scores: Westfield 294, Carmel 323, Guerin Catholic 343, Brebeuf Jesuit 394, University 416, Cardinal Ritter 463, Speedway 472, Lebanon inc., Pike inc.
Medalist: Kelsey Haverluck (Westfield) 35-33=68.
Other Westfield scores: Addi Kooi 40-31=71, Kate Brown 41-35=76, Lilley Ku 41-38=79, Sophie Raines 45-38=83.
Carmel scores: Sophie Mock 35-37=72, Maddie Headlee 41-35=76, Reese Roudebush 43-43=86, Allie Thompson 45-44=89, Georgia Murnan 48-43=91.
Guerin Catholic scores: Ali Scott 40-35=75, Sydney Delagrange 40-42=82, Sarah Rigg 44-44=88, Gracie Navarro 51-47=98, Avery Wall 55-44=99.
University scores: Graclyn Cates 50-38=88, Quincy Russell 53-53=106, Sophia Stratman 55-55=110, Audrey Griffiths 60-52=112, Maryn Stephenson 58-60=118.
Carmel’s Sophie Mock placed third individually at Pebble Brook and helped the Greyhounds finish second and advance to Saturday’s regional. (Mike Navarro)
Up at Harbour Trees, sectional host Noblesville claimed its third consecutive title Monday.
The second-ranked Millers put together an incredibly consistent day that added up to a team score of 308. Fifth-ranked Hamilton Southeastern also played solid, taking the runner-up spot by totaling 318. Lapel finished third with 378; all three schools are headed to Edgewood on Saturday to compete in the Lapel regional.
Noblesville had three golfers place in the top five, led by meet medalist Josie Kelley. She scored 74 in her round, which included an eagle and two birdies, then won a playoff to claim first place.
Olivia Fowler scored 75 for third place, draining three birdies. Olivia Anderson’s fifth-place round of 79 contained one birdie. Karis Shields and Presley White also had one birdie respective rounds.
“I thought they played fine,” said Millers coach Justin Werkley. The coach said the course “played difficult today. It was soft, so it played a little longer than normal, which is always a little bit challenging. They played great. They really played well on the back nine.”
Noblesville won its 20th sectional title in program history, which ties the Millers for 10th place on the all-time sectional championship list.
Southeastern had two players reach the top five. Janelle Garcia totaled 74 and finished second in the medalist playoff, making four birdies along the way. Sophie Roberts scored 78 and had two birdies, placing her fourth. Laci Hart also made one birdie in her round.
AT HARBOUR TREES
Team scores: Noblesville 308, Hamilton Southeastern 318, Lapel 378, Fishers 386, Pendleton Heights 394, Tipton 396, Hamilton Heights 415, Frankton 425, Alexandria Monroe 435, Anderson 466, Elwood 493.
Medalist: Josie Kelley (Noblesville) 39-35=74, won in playoff
Other Noblesville scores: Olivia Fowler 36-39=75, Olivia Anderson 38-41=79, Karis Shields 42-38=80, Presley White 43-39=82.
Southeastern scores: Janelle Garcia 36-38=74, Sophie Roberts 38-40=78, Laci Hart 41-42=83, Karolina Franssen 42-41=83, Maya Cieply 46-45=91.
Fishers scores: Sophie Rush 47-46=93, Natalie Vinton 51-45=96, Lola Kivett 50-48=98, Elliette Webster 51-48=99.
Heights scores: Taylor Morrison 43-49=92, Presley Cherry 44-51=95, Tanner Penwell 56-53=109, Fiona McDonald 65-54=119, Samantha Powers 59-60=119.