The Carmel girls golf team won its second consecutive tournament on Thursday, cruising to victory at the Crooked Stick Invitational.
The No. 3-ranked Greyhounds had a strong score of 156 at the nine-hole event, comfortably ahead of runner-up Zionsville’s 183. University, playing its first tournament of the year, placed third with 187, followed by Cathedral with a 210.
Two players shared medalist honors. Carmel freshman Michaela Headlee and University junior Becky Williams each carded an even-par 36. It was a good way to start the year for Williams, a two-time regional qualifier and a state qualifier her freshman season.
Williams admitted to some first-tournament nerves, “so to play well definitely helps going forward,” she said.
“On a course like this, even-par on nine is pretty good,” said Williams.
Headlee had seven pars, one birdie and one bogey in her round, leading the way for the ‘Hounds. Katie Kuc was next with a 38, followed by Sydney Longstreth 39, Ava Hedrick 43 and Claire Swathwood 44.
“Crooked Stick is the longest course we have played so far and presented some challenges we hadn’t seen this week,” said Carmel coach Kelly Kluesner. “We will work on when to play safe and when to be aggressive as we prepare for the rest of our season.”
After Williams, other Trailblazers scores were Abby Bladen 47, Kelsey DuBois 48, Molly Bickle 56 and Ria Narayanan 62.
Hamilton Heights finished eighth out of 15 teams at the West Lafayette Girls Golf Invitational, which took place Thursday at the Purdue Ackerman-Allen Course.
The Huskies scored a 378; Western was the meet champion with a 341. Sydni Zebrauskas led Heights with an 82, followed by Rebekah Steffen 95, Lola Wilson 100, Anna Rickey 101 and Kaylee Rhoton 111.
Team scores: Western 341, Lake Central 346, Tipton 354, Harrison 361, Lafayette Jefferson 362, Logansport 368, Northwestern 370, Hamilton Heights 378, Terre Haute North 392, West Lafayette 401, McCutcheon 407, Twin Lakes 438, Benton Central 460, Rensselaer Central 467, Frankfort inc.
Medalist: Quigley (Tipton) 77.
In a junior varsity match, Carmel beat Noblesville 170-176 at Harbour Trees.
The Greyhounds’ Ava Nguyen was the meet medalist with a 40. Other Carmel scores were Caroline Enzor 42, Maya Berglund 44, Averie Reiter 44, Sophie Cassidy 45, Kamryn Williams 47, Sarah Fernando 51, Karolena Zhou 51 and Gabby Saber 56.
The Millers were playing in their first match of the season. Erin Burt led NHS with a 41, followed by Sophi Stutz 42, Jordan Adam 45 and Audrey Ratcliffe 48.
Noblesville’s varsity will play in its first tournament of the year Saturday, at the State Preview meet at Prairie View.
University’s Becky Williams was a co-medalist with an even-par 36. (Richie Hall)