Carmel, Guerin Catholic & Westfield show they’re tough by winning early events
By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – The Carmel girls golf began its 2023 season by playing the way the Greyhounds did for most of the 2022 season: As champions.
Carmel, winner of an IHSAA state title last year, began this season with back-to-back tournament victories to start the week. On Monday, the ‘Hounds triumphed at the Bloomington South Invitational at the Bloomington Country Club, then came back on Tuesday to win at the Hamilton Southeastern Invitational at Stony Creek Golf Club in Noblesville.
“The girls are just doing an amazing job of just playing the golf course,” said Carmel coach Kelly Kluesner. “Taking each shot for what it is and just managing their expectations.” The coach said that is the team’s game plan “and what we stick with. Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it’s hard, but they’re doing a great job of it so far.”
At Bloomington South, pre-season No. 1-ranked Carmel held off No. 2 Center Grove by five strokes, 303-308. The Greyhounds were led by medalist Claire Swathwood’s 70, while Michaela Headlee scored a 71.
Both players are seniors, and they were the leaders again at Stony Creek for the Carmel Blue team. Swathwood put together an impressive four-under par 66, while Headlee also went under par, with a two-under 68.
“What a wonderful way for them both to start their senior season,” said Kluesner. “They’re leaders, players doing a great job trying to accomplish some individual goals, and obviously they have a team goal as well.”
With four players returning from last year’s state champion team, Swathwood said the Greyhounds have their fair share of experience, but she also said that this year’s Carmel club is a “fun team this year.”
“A lot of younger faces coming in, filling in our JV team, and it’s been really fun with them so far,” said Swathwood. “Definitely feels good to have another fun team. We can just go out there relaxed, just having a good time with each other.
Senior Kamryn Williams helped out with a 76, placing her fifth individually, while freshman Maddie Headlee added a 79 and was part of a three-way tie for seventh. Swathwood and the other seniors are making sure the new Carmel players are feeling like part of the team.
“We have a big group chat and we’re just making them feel comfortable and teaching them what Carmel golf’s about,” said Swathwood. “It’s simple things and just having fun. It’s nothing too crazy, but just teaching them what we know. Eventually we’re going to be graduating and passing it along to them, so we want to make sure they’re comfortable replacing our roles.”
Carmel junior varsity coach Taylor Pietruch (left) walks with Ananya Yemme. (Richie Hall)
Solid nucleus
Host Hamilton Southeastern is ranked No. 10 in the first list, and the Royals played solid, with their Blue team finishing in second place by scoring 310. Sophomore Janelle Garcia was third individually with a 72, while Ella Bui took fourth with a 73.
“With those two coming back, I think it’s a solid nucleus that we can build around,” said HSE coach Steve Guenin. We had a lot of girls play out here, so there’s going to be a lot of competition to see who’s going to fill in those other spots.”
Southeastern played three separate teams at the event (Blue, White and Gray), and also had four girls compete as individuals. The Royals had three more players place in the top 10: Sophie Roberts and Karolina Franssen’s 79 got them into the seventh-place tie, and Laci Hart scored an 81 to finish 10th.
Westfield’s Addison Crosby (left) and Hamilton
Southeastern’s Anna McNairy share a laugh. (Richie Hall)
“I love the opportunity to see all the girls play out here,” said Guenin. “We had a great day for it. We had good competition, a nice bunch of girls that came out. Very much enjoyed it. Stony Creek does a great job of hosting this every year.”
Westfield, ranked fourth in the state, had two teams in the field. The Shamrocks’ 1 team placed third with a 333. Ellison Daggy scored an 82, while Sophie Thompson added an 83. Sophie Raines led the Westfield 2 team with an 83 as well.
Fishers played a Red and Gray team; Ava Wellbaum was the top Tigers golfer with a 92. Taylor Morrison led Hamilton Heights with an 86 and Annie Murphy led Guerin Catholic with a 105.
Hamilton Heights’ Taylor Morrison looks through the Range Finder, while Lola Kivett gets her club ready. (Richie Hall)
AT STONY CREEK
Team scores: Carmel Blue 289, Hamilton Southeastern Blue 310, Westfield “1” 333, Hamilton Southeastern White 338, Hamilton Southeastern Gray 342, Westfield “2” 371, Fishers Red 377, Mount Vernon 393, Carmel Gold 410, Lawrence Central 427 Fishers Gray 429, Hamilton Heights 463, Guerin Catholic 463.
Medalist: Claire Swathwood 66.
Other Carmel Blue scores: Michaela Headlee 68, Kamryn Williams 76, Maddie Headlee 79, Gabby Saber 92.
Southeastern Blue scores: Janelle Garcia 72, Ella Bui 73, Laci Hart 81, Alaina Sumner 84, Brooke Willard 94.
Westfield 1 scores: Ellison Daggy 82, Sophie Thompson 83, Lily Murray 84, Addison Crosby 84, Maggie Thompson 116.
Southeastern White scores: Sophie Roberts 79, Paige O’Hara 84, Maya Cieply 85, Isabella Stanley 90, Bryce Brindley 106.
Southeastern Gray scores: Karolina Franssen 79, Natalia Nieset 82, Anna McNairy 82, Emily Vandall 89, Mila Parthun 92.
Westfield 2 scores: Sophie Raines 83, Kate Brown 91, Ava DeCraene 96, Taylor Nokes 101, Addison Ross 114.
Fishers Red scores: Ava Wellbaum 92, Kate Jansen 94, Elli Webster 95, Lola Kivett 96, Maren Spencer 98.
Carmel Gold scores: Kate Harding 93, Reese Roudebush 101, Ananya Yemme 107, Allie Thompson 109, Maren Sander 115.
Fishers Gray scores: Sophia Rush 102, Ayanna Bodake 109, Scarlet Rodriguez 109, Natalie Vinton 114, Jillian MacLaughlin 122.
Heights scores: Taylor Morrison 86, Tanner Penwell 120, Camryn Runner 124, Alayna Kauffman 133, Sammie Powers 135.
Guerin Catholic scores: Annie Murphy 105, Mallory Aigotti 113, Ava Klinker 114, Maya Thomas 131, Cora O’Connor 146.
Southeastern individuals: Taylor Wetzel 91, Sydney Gregory 98, Emerson Johnson 99, Keira Bassett 100.
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Westfield’s varsity group traveled to Battleground Golf Club on Tuesday for the Lafayette Jefferson Booster Invitational.
The Shamrocks came home as champions, scoring a 328 for first place. Addi Kooi was the meet medalist, scoring a 73 then making a birdie on the third playoff hole to win. Kelsey Haverluck’s 79 placed her third, while Sam Lemieux added an 80 for fifth place. Lilley Ku’s 89 and Anna McKeown’s 92 rounded out the Westfield scoring.
Guerin Catholic also sent a team to Lafayette, totaling a 377. Ali Scott led the Golden Eagles with an 87, followed by Sydney Delagrange 92, Sarah Rigg 96, Avery Wall 102 and Gracie Navarro 103.
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On Monday, Guerin Catholic won its season opener, triumphing at the Cathedral Invitational at Maple Creek Golf Club.
The Golden Eagles scored a 371. Scott led the way with an 89, followed by Delagrange with a 92, Rigg 94, Navarro 96 and Wall 105.
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Westfield and Noblesville joined Carmel Monday by playing in the Bloomington South Invitational. The No. 5-ranked Millers scored a 318 for third place, while the Shamrocks scored a 331.
Jordan Adam and Josie Kelley both scored 76s for Noblesville, followed by Karis Shields 82, Olivia Fowler 84 and Olivia Anderson 88. Kooi was Westfield’s low woman with a 78, followed by Ku 83, McKeown 84, Lemieux 86 and Sophie Thompson 92.
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Noblesville’s Varsity 2 team placed fifth out of 15 teams at Monday’s Homestead Invitational at Chestnut Hills Golf Club.
Two sophomores led the Millers: Peyton Kauzlick carded a 78 to place ninth individually, while Savannah Munson scored an 82.