By RICHIE HALL
The weather could not have been better for the first day of IHSAA girls golf practices on Friday.
Teams across the county took advantage of the conditions to conduct their practices and tryouts. Hamilton County looks like it will have another strong season, with four local teams rated in the top six of the Indiana High School Golf Association’s preseason rankings (see box at end of story).
Here’s a look at those teams:
Noblesville’s Presley White (left) and Josie Kelley are back for their senior seasons. (Richie Hall)
NOBLESVILLE
The Millers were state runners-up last year and come into this year as pre-season No. 2, just below defending state champion Zionsville.
Noblesville has plenty of talent back, including two seniors that were named All-State last year, Josie Kelley and Olivia Fowler. Kelley placed sixth individually at state, while Fowler tied for 20th. Another returning senior is Presley White, who tied for 34th at state.
Millers coach Justin Werkley said his team has a “lot of experience coming back.” Joining the above three are senior Peyton Kauzlick, junior Kate Murphy, sophomore Lauren Turpin and freshman Myra Sealey.
Noblesville played and won the Indiana-Kentucky North/South Invitational earlier this week. Kelley finished as individual runner-up, with Fowler fourth, White ninth and Kauzlick 16th.
“We’re really excited to get out there and compete like we always do,” said Werkley. “It’s always fun to get the season underway and see how everybody plays.”
Carmel golfers Kate Harding (left) and Ishin Fujita (center) talk with assistant coach Taylor Pietruch during tryouts for the Greyhounds golf team Friday at Prairie View. (Richie Hall)
CARMEL
The Greyhounds are pre-season No. 3 and have quite a bit of young talent ready to make their entrance on to the stage.
Two very good freshmen, Maya Fujisawa-Keuling and Karis Reid, will make an immediate impact for Carmel. In addition, four Greyhounds that played on Carmel’s state team last season all return: Juniors Maddie Headlee, Reese Roudebush and Allie Thompson, plus sophomore Georgia Murnan.
Another sophomore to watch is Mallorie Monaco. Kate Harding is the Greyhounds’ lone senior.
“We’ll have quite a bit of depth this year,” said Carmel coach Kelly Kluesner.
Hamilton Southeastern junior Sophie Roberts was part of the Royals’ state team last season. (Richie Hall)
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN
The Royals are ranked fifth in the pre-season poll after reaching the podium last year with a third-place finish.
Three of those state players are back, led by senior All-State honoree Janelle Garcia. Juniors Maya Cieply and Sophie Roberts were on the state team as well.
Southeastern will be senior-heavy, with Keira Bassett, Anna McNairy and Sydney Gregory on the roster. Juniors Bella Stanley and Paige O’Hara will figure into the varsity line-up. Other golfers to watch include junior Taylor Wetzel and freshman Ella Black.
“All of the seniors are fantastic, but it’s good to see the juniors step into that role as well,” said HSE coach Peter Salvadori.
WESTFIELD
The Shamrocks are the pre-season No. 6 team, and also reached the podium last season by placing fourth.
A key returner is senior Kelsey Haverluck, who placed 10th individual at state last year and earned All-State honors. Three other state players are back as well: senior Lilley Ku, plus juniors Kate Brown and Sophie Raines.
Junior Harper Bryant will be part of the varsity team this season. Two freshmen will make their Westfield varsity debut: Laila Abriani and Farrah Camp.
GUERIN CATHOLIC
The Golden Eagles are tied for 19th in the preseason rankings and return two players that were part of Guerin Catholic’s fifth-place regional team last season.
Those seniors are Ali Scott and Sydney Delagrange, both of whom are capable of low scores. Senior Ava Klinker and junior London Payne are also players to watch, along with sophomores Lina Johansen and Reagan Kaercher and freshman Kenzie Zorger.
“We have some very talented golfers that are returning,” said GC coach Mark Mathews. The coach said there are 25 players in the Golden Eagles’ program this year.
Fishers sophomore Kendall Manion was on the Tigers’ sectional team last season. (Richie Hall)
FISHERS
The Tigers came close to advancing out of the Noblesville sectional last season, placing fourth, but eight strokes behind third-place Lapel.
Fishers has two players returning for last year, senior Sophia Rush and sophomore Kendall Manion. Jazlin Guerrero is the other senior on the Tigers’ team, joined by junior Elli Webster, sophomores Aleah Miller and Fiona Doyle, and freshmen Olivia Banks and Elise Miller.
“Our goal is to make it as far as possible in the tournament and improve on last year’s scores,” said Fishers coach Danny Smith.
Hamilton Heights juniors Samantha Powers (left) and Taylor Morrison prepare to tee off during Friday’s first practice. (Richie Hall)
HAMILTON HEIGHTS
New coach Eric Zebrauskas will lead the Huskies this year, and he has four players back from last year’s sectional team.
Juniors Taylor Morrison, Tanner Penwell and Samantha Powers are all back, along with sophomore Fiona McDonald. Morrison was one stroke away from advancing to the regional as an individual last season. Emma Trees is the lone senior. Other Huskies players are junior Alayna Kauffman and sophomores Madeline McKinney and Brooke Bentley.
“We have a different type of mindset,” said Zebrauskas. “My goal has been to get them better without them knowing it.” Zebrauskas also said the team is “striving for a regional berth.”
