There was some history at Harbour Trees on Thursday, as the home golf club of the Noblesville Millers hosted the Hamilton County girls golf meet.
It was historic because for the first time, the girls meet was an 18-hole event, after several years as a nine-hole tournament. Noblesville coach Justin Werkley said that an 18-hole girls county meet had been in the works for several years, and finally happened on Thursday.
The team champion was a familiar one: Westfield triumphed with a team score of 295, marking its third tournament win in the past four days. Meanwhile, the individual medalist award became a co-medalist award, as Hamilton Southeastern’s Yanah Ralston and University’s Becky Williams shared first place.
Both golfers finished with rounds of one under par 70, so a playoff was initiated to break the tie. But after getting the same score on two holes, Ralston and Williams decided that was enough, and became co-champions.
“I played pretty good,” said Ralston. “I only had two bogeys,” in addition to a handful of birdies. “I played pretty decent,” she said.
“I played okay,” said Williams. “I definitely left a lot out there in the first 18, but I started with a double bogey, so to come back after that, I’m happy with how I played.”
The No. 2-ranked Shamrocks, of course, have to be very happy with how they’re playing. In its first four tournaments, Westfield’s team score has been below 300 three times, and the fourth time was right at 300.
“They’re all playing really great,” said Shamrocks Trevor Neu. “I feel like they’re playing for each other, which is what we want, ultimately. We want to go out there and battle and not give anything away, knowing that when we shoot good scores, our team score’s going to be solid, if we’re not giving too many strokes away.”
Sam Brown tied for third individually with an even-par 71, one of four Shamrocks that placed in the top 10. Sophie McGinnis and Brette Hanavan both scored 74s, tying them for fifth place. Allie Hildebrand’s 76 was good enough to tie her for 10th place.
After four tournaments in four days, Westfield will take a break today, then head to Prairie View Saturday afternoon for the State Preview Meet. It’s been busy, but Neu likes it that way.
“It’s really good for us to have this,” said Neu. “We only get two days to practice and this is a really important week for us just to figure out who we are, where we stand up against everybody else in the state. Our county is probably the best county in the state for golf. It’s important for us to have this week and have multiple tournaments this week.”
Carmel, ranked No. 3 in the state, was the team runner-up with a total of 300. Ava Hedrick tied for third with her even-par 71, making birdies on three of her last four holes.
Michaela Headlee and Kamryn Williams both carded 76s to tie for 10th place. Headlee finished with five birdies, while Williams (in her first ever varsity tournament) played her last few holes one under par, including a long putt for a par save. Claire Swathwood scored a 77, making several birdies and par saves.
“The girls played great at a course that has handed us short game challenges and some big numbers in the past,” said Carmel coach Kelly Kluesner. “I’m so proud of how well they all focused on their goals, bounced back from bogeys and some missed putts and finished strong.”
Sixth-ranked Southeastern scored a 307 to place third as a team. After Ralston’s co-medalist effort, Cora Zink helped out the Royals with a 77. No. 8-ranked Noblesville finished fourth with a 320; Caroline Whallon scored a 75 to tie for seventh place.
University finished fifth as a team with a 324; Sydni Zebrauskas finished solid behind Williams with a 79. Guerin Catholic took sixth by scoring 353; Christina Pfefferkorn’s 75 tied her for seventh place.
Fishers’ Lilly McVay also carded a 75 to land in the seventh-place tie. The Tigers scored 366 as a team. Hamilton Heights scored a 403; Ashlyn Tharp and Kaylee Rhoton led the Huskies with 98s.
Team scores: Westfield 295, Carmel 300, Hamilton Southeastern 307, Noblesville 320, University 324, Guerin Catholic 353, Fishers 366, Hamilton Heights 403.
Meet co-medalists: Yanah Ralston (HSE) 70; Becky Williams (U) 70.
Westfield scores: Sam Brown 71, Sophie McGinnis 74, Brette Hanavan 74, Allie Hildebrand 76, Allie McKeown 78, Addi Kooi 85.
Carmel scores: Ava Hedrick 71, Michaela Headlee 76, Kamryn Williams 76, Claire Swathwood 77, Ava Nguyen 80, Sophie Mock 87.
Other Southeastern scores: Cora Zink 77, Marissa Spreitzer 80, Ella Bui 80, Lauren Stewart 81, Annabelle Willard 92.
Noblesville scores: Caroline Whallon 75, Jordan Adam 80, Sophi Stutz 80, Olivia Anderson 85, Bergan Zebrauskas 91, Erin Burt 102.
Other University scores: Sydni Zebrauskas 79, Abby Bladen 86, Kelsey DuBois 89, Ria Narayanan 98, Vivian Suh 104.
Guerin Catholic scores: Christina Pfefferkorn 75, Izzy Pinion 88, Audrey Kunce 93, Jenny Zerla 97, Sarah Rigg 98, Grace Cates 111.
Fishers scores: Lilly McVay 75, Sarah Majeski 92, Olivia Holding 99, Kristi Lilek 100, Marissa Moore 109, Kate Jansen 112.
Heights scores: Ashlyn Tharp 98, Kaylee Rhoton 98, Lola Wilson 102, Anna Rickey 105, Carley Koors 122.