CARMEL
Their high school golf careers behind them, the only order of business remaining for Sydney Abbott and Breanna Davis was to reflect.
Saturday’s final round of the girls State Finals didn’t produce the top four team finish Center Grove’s seniors envisioned, yet the season was anything but a disappointment.
Placing sixth at state with a two-day score of 348-354—702, the Trojans punctuated a journey in which they captured the Johnson County Tournament, the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference event and the program’s fourth sectional title.
Abbott, her team’s No. 1 player the past two seasons, exited prep competition in style Saturday by carding a 39-39—78 in the wind, rain and cold at Prairie View Golf Club.
“As a team I think we did our best despite the conditions,” said Abbott, who has committed to play women’s golf at Grace College, an NAIA program near Warsaw.
“I think we all see room for improvement, and I hope those people next year really build on that and know what to do when they make it again.”
Evansville North with a score of 651 won the team championship for a second consecutive season, making the Huskies the first repeat titlist since Hamilton Southeastern (2010 and 2011) and the third since 2000 (Penn, 2004 and 2005).
Westfield with a lineup of four sophomores and a junior came in second (677) followed by Chesterton (692), Evansville Memorial (699) and Cathedral (700).
Lake Central sophomore Alexis Miestowski was individual medalist with a 76-69—145, while Bloomington South senior Cherise Otter took home the Mental Attitude Award.
Center Grove began Saturday in second-place – albeit 16 shots behind Evansville North.
Trojans coach Jim Williams hoped his team could maintain such standing, but it wasn’t to be with Westfield and Chesterton, in particular, playing inspired golf the second day.
“Looking back at (Friday) it was great to be in second place. I think I was a little surprised, to be honest with you. I thought if we could come out of this somewhere between fourth and seventh it would be a successful run,” Williams said.
“But then you’re in second place and you start thinking, ‘Hey, maybe we could pull something off here.’ ”
Abbott finished tied for 23rd overall, junior No. 3 player Hannah Wilson tied for 37th (81-92—173) and junior No. 2 Shelby Schier tied for 45th (85-91—176). The Trojans’ fifth player, freshman Lucy Young (96-97—193), also gained valuable experience for the future.
Abbott, Schier and Wilson all started for the 2014 Trojans, a 10th-place finisher at state with a final score of 736.
Davis as Center Grove’s No. 4 golfer this season shot 48-45—93 during second-round competition, a reversal of the 45-48—93 she produced in Friday’s opening round.
“The cold is what bothered us mainly. Playing in the cold is hard because your fingers go numb and it’s hard to hold a club,” Davis said. “But it’s been a fun season getting to bond with these girls and the coaches.”
