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Chesterton’s Kelly Grassel tallied a record score to repeat as individual champion while top-ranked Yorktown led from start to finish to claim the team title during the 40th Annual IHSAA Girls Golf State Finals at The Legends Golf Club in Franklin.

Grassel put up a 69 during Friday’s opening round, one better than East Noble’s Katie Sharp and both players trimmed a single stroke off those scores on Saturday as Grassel (69-68) turned in a 36-hole state finals record 137. The previous low of 139 had been held by Martinsville’s Leigh Anne Hardin (71-68) since 1999. Sharp putted out at (70-69) 139 to finish as the state runner-up for the second time in three years.

After struggling to an 80 at last week’s regional tournament, the Chesterton senior put it all together this weekend sinking eight birdies, including five on Saturday. Sharp carded nine birdies herself but suffered a pair of double bogeys each day that ended up costing her.

Yorktown (319-306-625), coached by Brian Hill, held a two-stroke lead over No. 5 Carmel after Friday’s opening round and pounded out a 14-stroke advantage over the Greyhounds (321-318-639) by the time it was over to win the team championship. It was the second girls golf championship for the school located near Muncie and first since 1976, and fifth in any sport. The title comes just 11 months after the Tigers volleyball team won the 3A state championship.

All five Yorktown players finished among the top 40 led by senior Kennedy Windlan (76-76-152) who tied for 13th overall and sophomore Rachel Johnson (79-74-153) who ended 16th.  Senior Tara Clark tied for 26th (82-76-158); senior Ashley Sexton ended tied for 36th (84-80-164) and; sophomore Morgan Clark tied for 43rd (82-84-166).

Valparaiso’s Harley Dubsky (74-69-143) placed third among all individuals while Castle senior Kayla Katterhenry (73-71-144) and Western’s Allison Lindley (73-71-144) tied for fourth.

Rounding out the top five teams were Noblesville (328-323-651) which placed third, Penn was fourth (324-329-653) and Evansville North (333-329-662) and Valparaiso (334-328-662) each tied for fifth.

The 40th Annual IHSAA Girls Golf State Finals
Sept. 28-29, 2012
The Legends Golf Club, Franklin

Team Standings

1.    Yorktown | 319-306-625
2.    Carmel | 321-318-639
3.    Noblesville | 328-323-651
4.    Penn | 324-329-653
T5.    Evansville North | 333-329-662
T5.    Valparaiso | 334-328-662
7.    Chesterton | 340-329-669
T8.    Zionsville | 342-330-672
T8.    Lafayette Jefferson | 334-338-672
10.    Jasper | 341-338-679
11.    Castle | 339-342-681
12.    Hamilton Southeastern | 347-337-684
13.    Marion | 348-339-687
14.    Rochester | 358-352-710
15.    Greenwood | 364-367-731

Top 10 Individual Standings

1.    Kelly Grassel, 12, Chesterton | 69-68-137* 36-hole record
2.    Katie Sharp, 12, East Noble | 70-69-139
3.    Harley Dubsky, 11, Valparaiso | 74-69-143
T4.    Allison Lindley, 12, Western | 73-71-144
T4.    Kayla Katterhenry, 12, Castle | 73-71-144
T6.    Amanda Detmer, 10, Madison | 72-73-145
T6.    Erin Ingram, 12, Richmond | 74-71-145
8.    Morgan Nadaline, 11, Anderson | 71-76-147
9.    Abbey Gleixner, 11, Roncalli | 74-75-149
10.    Kari Bellville, 11, Penn | 74-76-150

Chesterton’s Kelly Grassel named Mental Attitude Award winner
At the conclusion of the state finals, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance presented a $1,000 scholarship to Kelly Grassel of Chesterton High School as the winner of the Mental Attitude Award.

Grassel carries a 3.98 GPA, is an active member of the Student Council and serves as a representative on both the school’s athletics board as well as that of the Duneland Athletic Conference.

She is the daughter of Rick and Mary Grassel of Chesterton and has accepted a scholarship to play golf at Michigan State University. She is undecided on her studies.

Each year the IHSAA Executive Committee selects a senior player who was nominated by her principal and coach and was determined to have best demonstrated mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.