By RICHIE HALL
INDIANAPOLIS – It was just like old times for Samantha Brown Wednesday.
The Westfield graduate and 2023 IHSAA state champion finished second at the Indiana Women’s Amateur tournament, which took place at Broadmoor Country Club in Indianapolis. Brown, who just finished her freshman season at Purdue University, scored a three-day, 54-hole total of 213, putting her three under par for the tournament.
Fort Wayne’s Madi Dibagia was the tournament champion, going under par all three rounds to finish with a nine under 207. Brown went under par on the first day with a two-under 70, scored 74 in the second round, and completed the event with a third-day score of 69, three under par.
“Day one and day three, I played solid,” said Brown. “Yesterday, I struggled quite a bit.”
Brown made five birdies during the third round, giving her a total of 11 for the event. She said that she played in less tournaments this summer as opposed to last summer, since her first year of college golf turned out to be busy.
“Last year, I went in and I wasn’t super fresh, and my goal this year was to not play in as much in the summer so I could go in and be fresh for the college season,” said Brown.
Brown’s decision to reduce her summer schedule proves that she gained experience during her first year of collegiate golf, and now she is ready for her sophomore season.
“I think I learned so much last year, just with all the adversity that I faced, at least in my golf game,” said Brown. “I think it was good to face that the first year, because I was able to work through it, even though it took a while. I’m really looking forward to the college season. I think it’s going to be a lot better year for me and the team.”
Brown was one of several Hamilton County players to finish in the top 10. That included two players on opposite sides of the age spectrum: Maya Fujisawa Keuling and Jocelyn Bruch.
Fujisawa Keuling is an incoming freshman at Carmel, but she was holding her own against the top women. Fujisawa Kueling tied for seventh place with 218, going two under par for the third round with a score of 70. She made five birdies on Wednesday and 10 for the tournament.
Bruch, the 2018 state champion for Westfield, just finished a successful career at Purdue and is now heading to the professional ranks. She also tied for seventh at the Indiana Amateur with 218, including a one under 71 for her second and third rounds. Bruch totaled five birdies for the event and played a bogey-free second round.
Three local golfers tied for ninth place with scores of 219. Claire Swathwood, a Carmel graduate now playing at Memphis University, totaled eight birdies at the event. Incoming Noblesville senior Josie Kelley finished with six birdies. Carmel’s Gabriella Gilrowski, who played two years at Guerin Catholic and had college success at Georgetown and Tulane universities, made 11 birdies for the tournament.
Complete results for local golfers now follow.
- Samantha Brown, Westfield 70-74-69=213, T7. Maya Fujisawa Keuling, Carmel 76-72-70=218; Jocelyn Bruch, Carmel 76-71-71=218, T9. Claire Swathwood, Carmel 70-75-74=219; Josie Kelley, Noblesville 71-74-74=219; Gabriella Gilrowski, Carmel 77-67-75=219, 13. Michaela Headlee, Carmel 74-72-74=220, 14. Becky Williams, Zionsville 76-72-73=221, 17. Janelle Garcia, Fishers 72-74-77=223, T18. Yanah Rolston, Fortville 74-72-78=224, T21. Kelsey Haverluck, Westfield 77-74-75=226, 26. Macy Beeson, Noblesville 74-75-80=229, T32. Addi Kooi, Westfield 82-77-75=234; Lauren Tibbets, Carmel 79-77-78=234; Jordan Adam, Noblesville 79-77-78=234; Olivia Fowler, Noblesville 81-72-81=234, T38. Christina Pfefferkorn, Carmel 79-81-75=235, 41. Kamryn Williams, Carmel 81-81-74=236, T43. Marissa Spreitzer, Fishers 75-80-83=238, T45. Sophie Roberts, Fishers 83-77-80=240, 58. Abigail Bladen, Carmel 81-84-81=236.