By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – The first week is the busiest for girls golf teams in Indiana.
Since the season starts before most schools return to classes, teams take advantage of that open time to play in 18-hole tournaments. Guerin Catholic is one of those schools, including its own Invitational, which took place Wednesday at Pebble Brook in Noblesville.
The Golden Eagles hosted five other teams, including tournament winner Cathedral, which placed first with a 343. Guerin Catholic was a close second, scoring a 347.
“We got beat, but that’s the best we’ve shot this year so far,” said GC coach Mark Mathews. “So I can’t be unhappy about that.”
Ali Scott and Sydney Delagrange both scored 82 for the Golden Eagles, which tied them for second place individually. Sarah Rigg added a 90, Gracie Navarro carded a 93 and Avery Wall scored a 103.
Guerin Catholic wraps up its busy week today with the Hamilton County meet, which begins at 2:30 p.m. at Harbour Trees.
Gracie Navarro chats after finishing her round. (Richie Hall)
“It’s a tough week,” said Mathews. “It’s a brutal week. Four in a row for us.” The coach said that other schools do the same thing, putting together a busy opening week.
Three days, three wins
Carmel and Westfield also begin their seasons with a fast pace, as both teams played for a third consecutive day by competing in the Tipton Invitational Wednesday at the Tipton Municipal Golf Course.
For the No. 1-ranked Greyhounds, another day meant another victory. Carmel cruised to its third consecutive championship, scoring a 301. The No. 4-ranked Shamrocks were a strong second, totaling 321.
All five Greyhounds players finished in the 70s. Michaela Headlee and Claire Swathwood were part of a three-way tie for third place, as both carded 73s. Sophie Mock, playing in her first high school tournament of the year, was next with a 77. Kamryn Williams scored 78 and Maddie Headlee totaled a 79.
Addi Kooi led Westfield with a one-under par 70, good for second place. Southmont’s Addison Meadows went four under to win medalist honors, finishing with a 67. Other Shamrocks scores were Sophie Raines 80, Lily Murray 85, Sadie Edwards 86 and Ellison Daggy 86.
Westfield also played a “B” team at Tipton, and it finished with a 379. Taylor Nokes scored 92, followed by Ava DeCraene 93, Kate Brown 95, Isabelle Snyder 99 and Maggie Thompson 100.
Hamilton Heights scored a 456. Taylor Morrison led the Huskies with an 85, followed by Presley Cherry 120, Hadleigh Cherry 123, Alayna Kauffman 128 and Emma Trees 133.
Brown, Modleski make Junior PGA cut
Westfield’s Samantha Brown has been absent from the Shamrocks’ meets this week, but she has a very good reason.
Brown has been competing in the Girls Junior PGA Championship, taking place this week at Hot Springs Country Club in Hot Springs, Ark. After two rounds of play, Brown is tied for 25th with a two-over par 144 and made the cut for today’s third round.
Brown scored a one-over par 72 in both her first and second round of play. She played the first round Tuesday at the Park course, then played on the Arlington course for her Wednesday second round. Brown made four birdies in both of her rounds.
The top 60 and ties advance to the third round. The cut was +5, so Brown moved safely into Thursday’s competition. She will play on Arlington today, teeing off at 8:50 a.m. The top 30 cumulative scores and ties will advance to Friday’s final round.
Meanwhile, recent Guerin Catholic graduate Jacob Modleski also made it to the third round, making the cut in the Boys Division. Modleski is tied for 54th with a three-over 145 after his first two rounds.
Modleski, soon to be at Notre Dame, played on Arlington for the first round, where he scored a one-over 72. He moved to the Park course for the second round and finished at two-over 73. He made three birdies in both rounds.
Modleski will play on the Arlington course for his third round, teeing off at 2:20 p.m.