The REPORTER
Seven Hamilton County men’s golfers competed in the match play event Indiana Golf Association Match Play Championship, which took place July 15 to 18 at Purdue University’s Ackerman-Allen Course,
Carmel’s Clay Stirsman got the furthest of the group, reaching the semifinals of the 32-man tournament. Stirsman won his first-round match 6 & 5 over Greenwood’s Brady Schier, then reached the quarterfinals by beating Yorktown’s Carson Orr 3 & 1. Stirsman defeated Tipton’s Maverick Conaway 5 & 4 in the quarters to advance to the semifinals, where he fell to New Castle’s Derek Tabor 2 & 1.
Westfield’s Alec Cesare won a marathon first-round match, beating Bloomington’s Jacob Paine in 1 Up in 20 holes. Cesare then defeated Lafayette’s Brooks Leftwich in the second round to reach the quarterfinals, where he lost to Indianapolis’ Weston Ogden 1 Up.
Carmel’s Joseph Armfield won a first-round match 5 & 3 over Indianapolis’ Matt Spicuzza before falling to Tipton’s Griffin Hare 6 & 5 in the second round. Four other county players lost in the first round: Noblesville’s Jackson Wright fell to Leftwich 4 & 3; Carmel’s Owen Sander dropped a 2 & 1 match to Ogden; Noblesville’s Barnes lost to Hare 6 & 4 and Westfield’s Matthew Shull was edged out by Orr 1 Up in 20 holes.
STROKE PLAY RESULTS
1. Alec Cesare, Westfield 67, T4. Joseph Armfield, Carmel 70; Matthew Shull, Westfield 70, T7. Owen Sander, Carmel 72, T13. William Barnes, Noblesville 73; Jackson Wright, Noblesville 73, T20. Clay Stirsman, Carmel 75.
Did not qualify: Lane Zedrick, Fishers 76, Patrick Michael, Carmel 76, Billy McCullough, Carmel 79, Christian Hein, Carmel 79, Drew Michael, Carmel 81, Pat Herrod, Fishers 81, Greg Chalas, Carmel 85, Zach Klipsch, Fishers 85, Jackson Deets, Carmel 85.
The women also conducted their Indiana Women’s Golf Association Match Play Championship July 16 to 18 at the Ackerman-Allen Course.
Four Carmel players qualified for the 16-woman match play event. Michaela Headlee won her first-round match 2 Up over Greensburg’s Sidney Parmer, then fell in the quarterfinals 7 & 6 to Indianapolis’ Julia Potter-Bobb.
In other matches, Abigail Bladen lost to Madison’s Keara Eder 3 & 2, Sophie McGinnis fell 6 & 5 to Potter-Bobb and Eleanor Schuitema lost to Batesville’s Emma Weiler 2 Up.
STROKE PLAY RESULTS
T2. Eleanor Schuitema, Carmel 72, 9. Abigail Bladen, Carmel 75, T10. Sophie McGinnis, Carmel 76; Michaela Headlee, Carmel 76.
Did not qualify: Kendra Bishop 77, Sydney Longstreth 79, Brette Hanavan, Westfield 80, Lauren Stewart, Fishers 82, Lacie Logan, Atlanta 82, Jordan Adam, Noblesville 82.