By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – There is a famous quote that is well-known to tennis fans from the Rudyard Kipling poem If-: “If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two impostors just the same.”
Westfield golfer (and tennis player) Addi Kooi met with both of those impostors last Saturday while playing in the 2023 State Preview at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel. Kooi got off to a triumphant start, then had to deal with a disastrous hole. But she rebounded on the back nine, and finished with not only individual medalist honors, but also helped the Shamrocks to a team championship.
No. 4-ranked Westfield totaled 312 for the tournament, comfortably ahead of No. 2-ranked Center Grove’s 323. The State Preview meet took place in changeable weather conditions that featured breezes, bright sun and rain, sometimes all at once. But the ‘Rocks prevailed for their second tournament win of the season.
“Obviously you’re always proud when you can win at Prairie View on what was a really good, tough setup today,” said Westfield coach Josh Bryant. “It showed in the scores, between the wind picking up, and then the distance that it plays out here for the preview definitely is a challenge. Our girls played great.”
Kooi started the meet incredible, with four birdies in her first seven holes. She was four under par after eight holes, but scored an eight on the ninth hole, sending her back to even par. But after that, Kooi held firm, draining back-to-back birdies on holes 13 and 14 to move back in front and stay there. Kooi went one under par, totaling a 71.
“I was playing phenomenal the entire day,” said Kooi. “With my putter, I knew I had the game. It was just one missed club. I think that just knowing that, and knowing that I still have my game just pushed me through the entire round and let me believe that I could just finish out as well as I started.”
The State Preview win was the second consecutive victory for Kooi, following a win at last Thursday’s Hamilton County meet. Kooi scored a 70 at county, and that came one day after she carded a 70 at the Tipton Invitational.
“At the beginning of the week, my putter was heating up,” said Kooi. “I feel really confident about it, and my ball striking’s been great all week.”
Big returns
Westfield was also bolstered by the return of two key players. Barely 24 hours after finishing play at the Junior PGA Championship in Hot Springs, Ark., Samantha Brown played her first tournament of the season for the ‘Rocks at Prairie View. She scored a 74, tying her for third place, making one birdie along the way.
“For Sam Brown to come in after seven days of championship golf down in Arkansas, to get around it the way that she did, that was awesome,” said Bryant. “The girls are obviously excited to have her back. Kelsey Haverluck was able to play her second event today. She played awesome.”
“I’m so glad Sam is back and Kelsey recovered from her back injury. They both played great today,” said Kooi.
Haverluck scored an 81, also draining a birdie. Sam Lemieux made a birdie as well, finishing with an 86.
Bryant also had praise for Kooi. “She’s been the rock all week and she’s playing great golf,” he said. “It’s fun to see her continue to do that.”
Top-ranked Carmel saw its long tournament win streak – one that dated back to last season – come to an end at Prairie View. The Greyhounds finished tied for third with No. 6 Zionsville; both teams totaled 326s.
Carmel was led by Claire Swathwood, who tied for seventh place with a 77, and Michaela Headlee, who tied for 10th with a 79. Swathwood made two birdies, including one on the 18th hole, while Headlee had one birdie. Kamryn Williams made one birdie while scoring an 84.
The other two Hamilton County schools in the field finished with the same score: Fifth-ranked Noblesville and No. 10 Hamilton Southeastern tied for sixth place with 337s.
The Royals had two players finish in the top 10. Janelle Garcia’s 76 tied her for sixth place, while Ella Bui tied for 10th place with a 79, making one birdie along the way.
Jordan Adam led the Millers with an 81, including one birdie. Olivia Anderson also made a birdie during her round.
Team scores: Westfield 312, Center Grove 323, Carmel 326, Zionsville 326, Homestead 329, Noblesville 337, Hamilton Southeastern 337, Floyd Central 342, Fort Wayne Carroll 346, Batesville 347, Penn 362, Valparaiso 383, Bedford North Lawrence 385, Castle 417, Delta 436, Gibson Southern 445.
Medalist: Addi Kooi (Westfield) 36-35=71.
Other Westfield scores: Samantha Brown 38-36=74, Kelsey Haverluck 38-43=81, Sam Lemieux 44-42=86, Lilley Ku 47-47=94.
Carmel scores: Claire Swathwood 40-37=77, Michaela Headlee 38-41=79, Kamryn Williams 40-44=84, Maddie Headlee 40-46=86, Sophie Mock 44-42=86.
Noblesville scores: Jordan Adam 41-40=81, Olivia Fowler 39-43=82, Josie Kelley 41-43=84, Olivia Anderson 45-45=90, Karis Shields 48-47=95.
Southeastern scores: Janelle Garcia 37-39=76, Ella Bui 39-40=79, Sophie Roberts 42=48=90, Natalia Nieset 45-47=92, Alaina Summer 49-54=103.