By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
In two days, there’s already been an 11-under par score (Westfield) a new school record (Fishers) and three teams shooting below 300 in the same tournament (Carmel and those other two schools).
Welcome to the 2017 girls golf season in Hamilton County, everybody.
Westfield begins the season as the No. 2 ranked team in the state, behind two-time defending state champion Evansville North. But the Shamrocks easily bested the Huskies Monday to win the Bloomington South Invitational, which took place at the Bloomington Country Club.
On Tuesday, Westfield made it 2-for-2 by winning the Hamilton Southeastern Invitational at Stony Creek Golf Club. Playing in the event for the first time, the Shamrocks’ Green team scored a 282 and landed four players in the individual top 10.
“Good competition that we played against both days,” said Westfield coach Trevor Neu. “Kids came out and played really well yesterday. Jocelyn had an amazing day yesterday.”
Jocelyn Bruch, a Shamrock sophomore, reached the realm of other-worldly in her round at Bloomington. Bruch carded an 11-under par 62, easily a school record as well as a women’s course record at Bloomington Country Club.
Bruch made four birdies on the front nine, five more on the back nine, and finished her round with an eagle.
“Before I shot 62, 68 was my career low,” said Bruch. “My ball striking was really good. I was hitting in the fairway, I was hitting greens and my putter was on fire. I was making a lot of putts.”
Westfield won the event with a 296, nicely ahead of Columbus North’s 312 and Evansville North’s 313. Carmel placed fourth with a 314. Freshman Katie Kuc led the Greyhounds with a 76.
At Stony Creek, senior Cailyn Henderson led the way for the Shamrocks with a one-under par 68, earning her medalist honors. Adrienne Montalone tied for second with a 70, while Bruch and Margaret Wentz were part of a five-way tie for sixth with 72s.
Fishers, which is ranked sixth in the inaugural Coaches Association poll, placed second with a team score of 290. The Tigers are senior-dominated this year, with six 12th-graders. Three of them placed in the top 10 at Stony Creek: Morgan Lewis tied with Montalone for second with her 70, while Kennedy Brooker and Anna DelPrince both had 72s to be part of the sixth-place tie.
“They played really well,” said Fishers coach Danny Smith. “It’s a new school record again. Last year we had a school record 297 out here. We ended up crushing that this year. I really feel good about the way that they played today.”
Carmel, ranked No. 7, was not far behind with a 294. Kuc and junior Nina Hecht tied with each other for fourth place, with each shooting 71s.
Hamilton Southeastern had three teams at its own event. The Royals’ Blue team shot a 310 to finish fourth; junior Chelsea Morrow led the Blue team with a 74.
Morrow is one of several players with varsity experience back for the 10th-ranked HSE this season. Southeastern played three teams, with senior Dagny Gladwell carding a 75 as part of the HSE White team.
Hamilton Heights carded a team score of 448 at Stony Creek. Ellie Arrowood led the Huskies with an 86.
On Monday, Heights opened its season at the Plainfield Invitational at Deer Creek Golf Club. The Huskies shot 453. Kate Biggs led the way with a 99.
Also on Monday, Guerin Catholic began its season with a victory at the Lawrence Central Invitational, which took place at Old Oakland Golf Club.
The Golden Eagles carded a 359 for the championship. Gabby Gilrowski was the individual medalist by shooting 77, with Mckayla Tallman second with an 81.
Westfield went 2-for-2 in its first tournaments of the season this week. The No. 2-ranked Shamrocks won the Bloomington Invitational on Monday, then triumphed at the Hamilton Southeastern Invitational on Tuesday.
(Richie Hall)
Westfield’s Jocelyn Bruch set a new school and women’s course record at the Bloomington Country Club with her 11-under par 62 on Monday at the Bloomington South Invitational. (Photo submitted)
AT STONY CREEK
Westfield Green 282, Fishers Red 290, Carmel Blue 294, Hamilton Southeastern Blue 310, Hamilton Southeastern White 338, Carmel Gold 338, Westfield White 340, Mooresville 343, Fishers White 352, Brebeuf Jesuit 388, Lapel 398, Roncalli 408, Hamilton Heights 448, Hamilton Southeastern Gray 454.
Medalist: Cailyn Henderson (Westfield Green) 33-35=68.
Other Westfield Green scores: Adrienne Montalone 36-34=70, Jocelyn Bruch 38-34=72, Margaret Wentz 36-36=72, Natalie Shupe 38-38=76.
Fishers Red scores: Morgan Lewis 36-34=70, Kennedy Brooker 36-36=72, Anna DelPrince 38-34=72, Brooke Wilson 40-36=76, Grace Brooks 45-42=87.
Carmel Blue scores: Nina Hecht 36=35=71, Katie Kuc 37-34=71, Erin Evans 38-35=73, Alex Waples 42-37=79.
Southeastern Blue scores: Chelsea Morrow 39-35=74, Julia Eaton 39-38=77, Haleigh Gray 42-36=78, Phyllis Cha 40-41=81, Nicole Dillow 44-40=84.
Southeastern White scores: Dagny Gladwell 41-34=75, Maggie Watson 42-41=83, Payton Schechter 47-42=89, Mara Wilson 47-43=90, Stephanie McClung 46-52=98.
Carmel Gold scores: Libby McGuire 43-38=81, Ella Woods 40-43=83, Lucy Grey 43-40=83, Sydney Longstreeth 43-40=83, Ainsley Wright 49-40=89.
Westfield White scores: Emma Clary 39-41=80, Megan Barker 42-41=83, Grace Snyder 42-42=84, Cate Jensen 48-45=93, Khloe Miller 50-50=100.
Fishers White scores: Caitlyn Kim 38-38=76, Kaitlyn Brunnemer 43-41=84, Mary McGuire 48-41=89, Halle VanSkyock 52-51=103.
Heights scores: Ellie Arrowood 45-41=86, Alyx Harley 47-49=96, Kate Biggs 53-46=99, Mallori Clark 70-72=142.
Southeastern Gray scores: Ashley Marchinko 50-45=95, Kaley McHaffie 55-58=113, Gabbie Willard 63-59=122, Katy Pippenger 62-62=124, Shealee Johnson 65-63=128.
AT BLOOMINGTON COUNTRY CLUB
Team scores: Westfield 296, Columbus North 312, Evansville North 313, Carmel 314, Martinsville 355, Jasper 362, Center Grove 375, Vincennes Rivet 377, Mooresville 384, Columbus East 387, Gibson Southern 400, Floyd Central 401, Seymour 403, Franklin Community 403, Bloomington South 413, Madison 418, Bloomington North inc.
Medalist: Jocelyn Bruch (Westfield) 62.
Other Westfield scores: Cailyn Henderson 77, Adrienne Montalone 78, Margaret Wentz 79, Emma Clary 84.
Carmel scores: Katie Kuc 76, Nina Hecht 79, Alex Waples 79, Elizabeth Hedrick 80, Erin Evans 81.
Westfield individuals: Natalie Shupe 82, Grace Snyder 91.
AT DEER CREEK, PLAINFIELD
Heights scores: Kate Biggs 48-51=99, Ellie Arrowood 58-51=109, Alyx Harley 60-56=116, Mallori Clark 67-62=129, Rebekah Steffen 71-64=135.
AT OLD OAKLAND
Guerin Catholic scores: Gabby Gilrowski 77, Mckayla Tallman 81, Carly Hammons 94, Jenna Rust 107, Anna Greene 117.