By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – History repeated itself for the Carmel Greyhounds last weekend at the IHSAA girls golf state finals.
Carmel claimed its second consecutive state championship, finishing the two-day tournament at Prairie View Golf Course in Carmel with a score of 608. The Greyhounds had carded an already solid number of 307 for their first day of competition last Friday, then improved on it the next day with a 301, a six-stroke difference.
Do the math, and Carmel finished the state tournament on top with a 608. That number is the fifth-lowest two-day state score in the tournament’s history. The second-day 301 also ties the fourth-best mark for an 18-hole score at state.
That bit of history is nice, but the repeat is on how the Greyhounds won. Carmel trailed Westfield by one stroke after the first day of competition; the ‘Hounds were in the same position last season. The Shamrocks then had a one-stroke lead after the front nine, but Carmel was able to pull ahead on the back nine, then finish nine strokes ahead of the Shamrocks’ total score of 617.
Again, the Greyhounds did the same thing at last year’s state meet.
“We knew again that the back nine was crucial,” said ‘Hounds senior Claire Swathwood. “And I think it’s just that experience.” Swathwood said that experience isn’t contained to just last year, but also “from all the years that we’ve been in here, just knowing that the final nine holes is the most important.”
Four of the five players on Carmel’s team were part of last year’s state title, so that experience was a key factor in the Greyhounds’ championship defense.
“It’s one shot at a time,” said Carmel coach Kelly Kluesner. “We stay patient. We know that there’s going to be bad swings, there’s going to be bogeys. It’s just how well they can reset and that’s what we work on.”
When Carmel won last year, Kluesner said her team had a simple plan when it came to getting through the tournament: “Fairways, greens, two putts and move on.” It was the same game plan for this year.
“It’s always trying to put yourself in the best position that you can,” said Kluesner. “We can control some things, and then obviously the course presents its challenges to us. We deal with it. Just keep on fighting till the end.”
Senior leaders
It was appropriate that Carmel’s top three scores came from its seniors. Leading the way was Michaela Headlee, who finished in a four-way tie for runner-up honors with a 146. Headlee made three birdies in her second round and totaled eight for the tournament. Headlee was also the individual runner-up as a freshman.
“I didn’t really look at scores,” said Headlee. “I wasn’t really thinking about it, I was trying to focus on one shot at a time the whole way through so I wouldn’t get carried away with the outcome.”
Headlee, who will play at Purdue University next year, agreed that experience was a big factor in the Greyhounds’ state victory.
“We just came back strong today knowing what we needed to do and play solid and steady golf,” said Headlee.
Swathwood finished tied for sixth individually for the second consecutive year. She scored a 149, six strokes better than last year. Swathwood had three birdies on the second day and five for the tournament.
Swathwood, who has committed to the University of Memphis, said the team was talking on the bus before arriving at Prairie View “about leaving our mark on the program and it was time to leave our legacy. Obviously, we left our mark last year, the first state championship, but leaving a legacy of back-to-back, the first time, it just feels really good to be able to get that done.”
Another senior, Kamryn Williams, finished tied for 18th with a 156. Williams made one birdie in each of her rounds; she will play golf next year at Indiana Wesleyan University.
“This team, as a whole, is something special,” said Kluesner. “But you’ve got three seniors that, they give it their all. They always have. This program means a lot to them. Just what they’ve done for this program and how they’ve led this team and all the JV players that are out here watching them and just want to be a part of it. It’s awesome.”
Junior Sophie Mock tied for 22nd with a 157; she had two second-round birdies and three overall. Freshman Maddie Headlee totaled a 177, making one first-round birdie.
“It was great for Maddie to be able to play in her first one, get some experience,” said Kluesner. “Sophie has been a huge part of this team all three years. We’re excited to see her senior leadership, for sure.”
Carmel’s state triumph was its fourth in program history. The Greyhounds won their first trophy back in 1980, then got their second in 2013 with a score of 604, a 36-hole record that still stands to this day.
Also in attendance was Carmel’s Martha Foyer, who made history by becoming one of only two three-time individual champions. Foyer was a winner in 1979-80-81. Kluesner herself played for Carmel, graduating in 1997.
Swathwood said it’s “very cool to be able to look back at the history of this program. There’s been some really good players that have come through here, Kelly being one of them. And again, just to be a part of that and think in a couple years, young people may see me in that same way, it’s very cool to think about.”
Complete golf results appear at this link: https://readthereporter.com/girls-golf-state-results/