Royals rise to third, Rocks finish fourth
By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com
CARMEL – For the first time in almost 20 years, the Noblesville girls golf team is taking a trophy home from the state meet.
While it’s not the big trophy, the Millers still had plenty to be happy about following their performance at the 2024 state meet, which took place last Friday and Saturday at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel. Noblesville finished a close second to a young Zionsville team; the Eagles won with a two-day score of 627 while the Millers totaled 632.
It’s the fourth state runner-up finish for Noblesville, which also placed second in 1999, 2000 and 2005. The Millers won back-to-back state championships in 1986 and 1987.
“They played their hearts out,” said Noblesville coach Justin Werkley. “It certainly wasn’t our best day, but they played the best they could and they gave it their all and that’s all you could ever ask of them. Zionsville played great. All credit to them. They’re a very deserving champion. They played some great golf today.”
Noblesville was led by junior Josie Kelley, who won both a team and individual medal by placing sixth out of the 108 golfers at state. Kelley carded 75s both days for a total score of 150. She had seven birdies over the 36-hole tournament.
Junior Olivia Fowler scored 159 for the tournament, totaling four birdies. Both Kelley and Fowler were named to the All-State team after the meet; All-State honors are given to those who place in the top 10 at state or for points earned throughout the high school season at tournaments.
Hamilton Southeastern placed third at state, its first podium finish since 2014. (Richie Hall)
Senior Olivia Anderson and junior Presley White both made two birdies for the event while senior Karis Shields had one. Anderson and Shields also received Academic All-State honors.
It was another sensational meet for the Hoosier Crossroads Conference, as all four podium teams came from the HCC. Hamilton Southeastern placed third with 652, just ahead of fourth-place Westfield’s 653.
Two Southeastern golfers finished with scores of 158: junior Janelle Garcia and sophomore Sophie Roberts. Garcia made five birdies at state while Roberts had three. Laci Hart and Maya Cieply both drained three birdies as well.
It was the first time the Royals reached the podium since they finished third in 2014, making it a memorable season for first-year Royals head coach Peter Salvadori.
“To see these girls work this hard and to achieve that was something special,” said Salvadori. He remembered back to the beginning of the season, when the team had set “reach top five at state” as one of its goals.
“I love it, but why don’t we aim for top four? Because that’s where they start giving medals,” said Salvadori. And Southeastern did just that.
“What started as kind of a pipe dream to turn into a reality is amazing,” said Salvadori.
The Shamrocks continued their own amazing state run, reaching the podium for the seventh time since 2015. Westfield had two golfers finish in the top 10, thus receiving All-State honors. Senior Addi Kooi tied for third place with a score of 148, making five birdies over the weekend. Junior Kelsey Haverluck tied for ninth by scoring 152, also making five birdies.
Kooi finishing third made her the highest-placing golfer from Hamilton County. Zionsville freshman Taylor Snively won the individual championship with a score of even par 144, while Castle senior Ashley Kirkland was the runner-up with 146; she also won the Mental Attitude Award.
Westfield finished a close fourth, earning their seventh podium finish over the past 10 years. (Richie Hall)
Sophie Raines and Lilley Ku both had one birdie during the state meet.
“We had three girls playing for the first time this year and it’s always hard to do,” said Shamrocks coach Josh Bryant. “I couldn’t be happier with the girls this season and they played hard today.”
Carmel, the two-time defending state champion, placed eighth as a team with a 691. Senior Sophie Mock led the Greyhounds with a score of 155. Mock had four birdies and an unforgettable hole in one, acing the 12th hole on the first day of the tournament.
Maddie Headlee totaled four birdies for the event. Freshman Georgia Murnan had two birdies and Allie Thompson had one.
“I think we had a great season,” said Greyhounds coach Kelly Kluesner. “The girls learned a lot, being led by Sophie and being helped out by Maddie. Just developing course management and learning a lot about high school golf. For them to advance out of regionals was a huge goal of ours and just experience this tournament and be a part of it, we were super happy.”
Team scores: Zionsville 315-312=627, Noblesville 310-322=632, Hamilton Southeastern 327-325=652, Westfield 326-327=653, Franklin Community 328-336=664, Center Grove 341-333=674, Batesville 332-349=681, Carmel 344-347=691, Castle 353-342=695, South Bend St. Joseph 347-355=702, Homestead 365-344=709, Northridge 365-349=714, Rochester 356-358=714, DeKalb 365-361=726, Lake Central 373-360=733, New Palestine 378-358=736, Bedford North Lawrence 368-368=736, Evansville Memorial 412-413=825.
Top 10 individuals: 1. Taylor Snively (Zionsville) 72-72=144, 2. Ashley Kirkland (Castle) 77-69=146, T3. Paige Giovenco (Floyd Central) 72-76=148; Addi Kooi (Westfield) 72-76=148, 5. Ava South (Batesville) 74-75=149, 6. Josie Kelley (Noblesville) 75-75=150, T7. Rowan Pies (East Central) 74-77=151; Abbey Peterson (Warsaw) 74-77=151, T9. Taylor Larkins (Fort Wayne Carroll) 81-71=152, Addison Meadows (Southmont) 76-76=152; Kelsey Haverluck (Westfield) 76-76=152.
Other Noblesville scores: Olivia Fowler 81-78=159, Karis Shields 78-83=161, Presley White 76-89=165, Olivia Anderson 89-86=175.
Southeastern scores: Sophie Roberts 80-78=158, Janelle Garcia 80-78=158, Laci Hart 83-83=166, Maya Cieply 84-86=170, Karolina Franssen 92-97=189.
Other Westfield scores: Sophie Raines 90-84=174, Kate Brown 90-91=181, Lilley Ku 88-93=181.
Carmel scores: Sophie Mock 76-79=155, Maddie Headlee 80-81=161, Allie Thompson 91-95=186, Reese Roudebush 97-96=193, Georgia Murnan 103-92=195.
Reporter photos by Julie Brown
Photos by Mike Navarro