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Carmel girls, Westfield's Brown win golf titles
CARMEL – Don’t bother telling Carmel -- its players and coaches, that is – what the scores are while they’re on the course.
Coach Kelly Kluesner’s team is simply going to push ahead.
So, a one-shot deficit after round one and still facing that same deficit heading to the back nine in round two proved no matter.
“We really don’t check the scores much,” Kluesner said. “We really didn’t know where we were until it was clear we were pulling away toward the end.”
Likely because of that mindset, Carmel claimed its second-straight state championship at Prairie View Golf Club. The Greyhounds finished with a 608 score, nine shots better than runner-up Westfield. Homestead (622) and Noblesville (635) rounded out the top four.
For Carmel, the title is the fourth in program history, winning previously in 2013 and 1980. The 608 score is also the fifth-best in state finals history.
“Winning two in a row is a dream,” Kluesner said, "but actually accomplishing it is very hard. Our motto today was ‘one-shot-at-a-time.’ We just wanted to stay patient, eliminate big number and, fortunately, we were able to pull away.”
Westfield had a one-shot lead (306-307) after the first round, but Carmel served notice immediately in round two by surging to a three-shot lead after three holes.
The Shamrocks, however, recovered and headed to the back nine with that one-shot lead.
From there, however, Carmel dominated.
Led by seniors Michaela Headlee (146), Claire Swathwood (149) and Kamryn Williams (156), the Greyhounds came in with a 6-over, 150, while Westfield shot a 10-over, 160. Sophie Mock rounded out the Carmel score with a 157.
“We’ve battled Carmel all year,” Westfield coach Josh Bryant said, “and they played fantastic over the back nine. There is no heartache for us over that.”
Part of the reason Westfield won’t go home with any heartache is because of the performances of senior Samantha Brown and junior Addi Kooi.
Brown claimed the individual title by shooting a 2-over, 142, while Kooi tied Headlee and two others for second at 146.
Brown finished the 36 holes with four birdies and 30 pars – shooting only two bogeys during the entire tournament. Her first bogey came on the 11th hole in round two.
“I had never had a bogey-free round until (round one) and I just tried to keep it going,” said Brown, who also won the Mental Attitude Award.
“Everything came together (in round one) and I was able to get myself out of trouble and handle every situation I was in.”
Also tying for second were Castle’s Ashley Kirkland and Batesville sophomore Ava South. Swathwood and Floyd Central’s Paige Giovenco each finished at 5-over, followed by Culver Academy’s Lynne Zhang and Homestead’s Scarlett Senk, each at 6-over.
Samantha Brown earns Mental Attitude Award
During the awards ceremony, Samantha Brown of Westfield High School was named as the recipient of the Mental Attitude Award by the IHSAA Executive Committee.
The award is annually presented to a senior, nominated by her principal and coach, who best demonstrates excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability during her four years of high school.
Brown maintains a 3.9 GPA and during her high school career, she has been involved with National Honor Society, Student Council, Girls on the Run and the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
She is the daughter of Zane and Carrie Brown of Westfield, IN and will attend Purdue University to study Business Management while playing golf for the Boilermakers.
Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance presented a $1,000 scholarship to the general scholarship fund at Westfield High School in the name of Samantha Brown.
