Westfield sets multiple new records in victory
By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com
CARMEL – Saying that the Westfield boys golf team ran away with the team state championship on Wednesday doesn’t do it justice.
The Shamrocks put together an incredible, almost incomprehensible run at the 36-hole tournament, following a great first day with an even better performance on the second day. As a result, Westfield finally reached the top after three consecutive years as runner-up.
Westfield senior Will Harvey won the
Mental Attitude Award, which was presented at the conclusion of the meet. Harvey is pictured with his parents Eric and Jennifer Harvey. (Richie Hall)
The Rocks set multiple records while winning the state meet, which took place at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel. Westfield finished with a team score of 568, eight under par, establishing a new record for a 36-hole score at state.
Westfield bettered Center Grove’s old mark of 573, which the Trojans set at Prairie View in 2017. In addition, the Shamrocks’ second-day score of 280 set a new low mark for an 18-hole performance at state. That record was also held by Center Grove’s 2017 team, which carded 281.
Anything else? How about margin of victory. Westfield outpaced runner-up Homestead by 30 strokes; the Spartans totaled 598. That’s another new record, breaking Noblesville’s long-standing mark of 27 strokes. The Millers beat Pike 599-626 to win the 1998 team championship at Prestwick Country Club.
“I think it really starts with off the course,” said Shamrocks senior Will Harvey. The Purdue commit also contributed to Westfield history. He won individual medalist honors with a two-day score of 135, nine under par. That ties the individual low score record; Harvey now shares it with Brownstown Central’s Chris Baker, who carded 135 to win the 2003 state tournament at The Legends of Indiana.
Harvey also won the Mental Attitude Award, which gave Westfield a rare feat as a school that won the team and individual titles plus Mental Attitude. It’s only the seventh time in IHSAA history a team has swept all three honors.
“This team’s so close,” said Harvey. “We hang out, we go eat meals after practice, we practice all the time together. And I think it’s special when you have a team that’s as close as we do and has been together for as many years as we have.”
Westfield had two more golfers finish in the top 10. Senior Jake Cesare, an Indiana commit, placed fifth with a two-day total of 140, four under par. Cesare finished tied for individual runner-up last year, giving him two top-five finishes at state and placed in the top 10 all four years of his high school career.
Jake’s younger brother, junior Ryan Cesare, was part of a three-way tie for eighth place. He scored an even par 144. That gave the Rocks three top-10 individuals, the first time that’s happened since Center Grove placed three in the top six in 2017.
Westfield won its fourth state championship in boys golf. The Shamrocks’ first three titles came in 2013, 2015 and 2016, with a runner-up finish in 2014. This means Westfield has now had four consecutive top-two finishes twice: the Rocks were runners-up in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Harvey won the first individual title for the Westfield boys. He joins two Shamrocks girls in the winner circle: Jocelyn Bruch won in 2018 and Samantha Brown was the 2023 champion. Brown, who just finished her freshman year at Purdue, was there to cheer Westfield on, along with Addi Kooi, a three-time top-five finisher.
Several amazing golfers have gone through the Shamrocks’ boys and girls teams, and head coach Josh Bryant – who finally got his first team state title – mentioned the support received from alumni, former players and many others.
“I’m just so proud of how much effort so many adults put into it, and so grateful for not only the state champions we’ve had, but every person that has put their effort towards what we’ve done,” said Bryant. “I can’t wait to take a Westfield family golf picture and I think there’ll be 100 people in it.”
Reporter photos by Julie Brown