It may have been a little slow at first, but things eventually did work out for Hamilton County teams in Friday’s first round of the IHSAA girls golf state finals.
Westfield, the two-time runner-up, is currently in second place after the first round with a score of 316. The Shamrocks will play the lead group with Evansville North and Zionsville (more about that in a minute.) Carmel and Fishers are tied for fifth place with 329s, while Hamilton Southeastern is presently seventh with a 330.
The Eagles wowed everyone with their first-round score of 299, which is a team total 11 over par. Zionsville’s score sets a new 18-hole record for the girls state meet, breaking Carmel’s mark of 300, which was set while the Greyhounds were winning the 2013 state title.
Westfield finished its round early, and was able to take second. Jocelyn Bruch is currently tied for seventh with a three-over par 75, while Cailyn Henderson carded a 78.
“I’m more excited to be in the last group,” said Shamrocks coach Trevor Neu. “We would’ve liked to have shot a better number today, but we just didn’t have everything really clicking for us today.”
Nevertheless, Westfield will play with Zionsville and current third-place holder Evansville North. Tee times for that group are between 10:27 and 11:03 a.m. today off the first tee. That’s where Neu wanted his team, so that it could keep an eye on the Eagles and be ready to make a charge.
Carmel had consistent rounds from everyone, with Erin Evans shooting an 81 and Katie Kuc an 82. The Greyhounds will join Fishers and Columbus North off the first tee between 9:42 and 10:18 a.m. today.
The Tigers got a great round from Morgan Lewis, who is tied for seventh with a 75. Anna DelPrince was next in line with an 83.
“Very happy to be going off the front tee,” said Fishers coach Danny Smith. “That was one of our goals for today was to make sure we finished high enough so that we didn’t have to start on the back nine.”
The Royals will also be starting off the first tee, between 8:57 and 9:33 a.m. Haleigh Gray led HSE with a 78, while Chelsea Morrow and Nicole Dillow both carded 82s.
Guerin Catholic’s Angelica Pfefferkorn, playing as an individual, scored an 84. She will go off the 10th tee at 10:18 a.m.
TEAM SCORES: Zionsville 299, Westfield 316, Evansville North 318, Columbus North 326, Carmel 329, Fishers 329, Hamilton Southeastern 330, Homestead 332, Culver Academies 349, Lafayette Jefferson 353, Evansville Memorial 349, Valparaiso 362, Bishop Dwenger 367, DeKalb 381, Bedford North Lawrence 391.
Westfield golfers: Jocelyn Bruch 75, Cailyn Henderson 78, Adrienne Montalone 80, Margaret Wentz 83, Emma Clary 91.
Carmel golfers: Erin Evans 81, Katie Kuc 82, Nina Hecht 83, Alex Waples 83, Elizabeth Hedrick 90.
Fishers golfers: Morgan Lewis 75, Anna DelPrince 83, Kennedy Brooker 85, Brooke Wilson 86, Grace Brooks 89.
Southeastern golfers: Haleigh Gray 78, Chelsea Morrow 82, Nicole Dillow 82, Dagny Gladwell 88, Julia Eaton 99.
Guerin Catholic golfer: Angelica Pfefferkorn 84.