Lucy Young had put together a decent enough golf season in 2016, ranking second among Center Grove’s players with an 85.8 scoring average as a sophomore.
As the only returnee in the Trojans’ lineup this year, Young knew she was going to have to be better. So the junior worked tirelessly in the offseason to improve — and improve she did.
Knocking more than six strokes off of her average, Young was medalist by a wide margin at the county and sectional championships, and she is the Daily Journal’s Player of the Year in girls golf.
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“She’s the epitome of hard work and what the benefits of hard work will do for you,” Center Grove coach Jim Williams said.
When the season began in early August, the inexperienced Trojans were struggling to find a groove. But by the time the Johnson County tournament rolled around, Young was in the zone, firing a 72 to help Center Grove cruise to an easy win.
The rest of the team followed her lead, rolling to victory in the sectional at Hickory Stick behind Young’s 71. Only one other player in the field even broke 80.
“Those days, I really wanted to play well,” Young said of county and sectional. “I just wanted to stay focused and stay relaxed.”
Overall, Young finished the year with a 79.48 average, tops among county players.
Williams said that Young is “not the most vocal person” but said that the team saw her work ethic and took a cue from it.
“Once the kids saw how good we could be,” Williams said, “they followed Lucy’s lead. It didn’t take them long to get on board with her.”
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18-hole average: 79.48
Johnson County tournament medalist;72
Center Grove Sectional medalist;71
Led Center Grove to county and sectional team titles
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The 2017 All-Johnson County team for girls golf:
Avery Auton, Franklin senior: An honorable mention Academic All-State pick. … Finished with a 91.1 average per 18 holes in the No. 1 spot, helping the Grizzly Cubs to the regional.
Taylor Drake, Franklin junior: Chosen to the All-Mid-State Conference team. … Ranked second for the regional qualifier Grizzly Cubs with an 18-hole scoring average of 90.6.
Meg Fosnot, Center Grove freshman: Averaged 88.78 strokes per 18 holes as the No. 2 player for the county and sectional champion Trojans. … Placed third at the county tournament with an 83.
Bri Harwell, Whiteland junior: Led the Warriors in scoring with a 40.9 average for nine holes. … Was runner-up in the county tournament as well as at the Center Grove Sectional, where she shot a season-best 77 to advance to the regional round.
Vanessa McManaway, Edinburgh senior: The Lancers’ No. 1 player averaged 45.3 strokes per nine holes in leading Edinburgh to Mid-Hoosier Conference title. … Tied for fourth individually at Johnson County tournament.
Liv Parramore, Franklin freshman: Led the Grizzly Cubs in scoring average (88.1 per 18 holes) and had the team’s low totals in the sectional and regional tournaments with rounds of 84 and 85, respectively.
Lauren Parsley, Indian Creek junior: The top scorer for the Braves, leading them to a regional berth. … Shot a 78 to earn medalist honors at Western Indiana Conference tournament.
Maecee Terhune, Greenwood sophomore: Led the Woodmen in scoring with an 18-hole average of 87.8. … Tied for fourth at county tournament. … Fired a season-low 81 at the sectional to help the Woodmen earn a regional berth.
Lucy Young, Center Grove junior: Averaged 79.48 per 18 holes as the driving force for a Trojans team that won county and sectional titles. … Was the low scorer by a wide margin at both the Johnson County championship (72) and Center Grove Sectional (71).
Honorable mention
Ellie Beavins, Franklin; Halle Booher, Center Grove; Jacqui Button, Indian Creek; Maddie Heineman, Center Grove; Makenzie Hill, Edinburgh; Lauren Pagel, Center Grove; Laila Stein, Greenwood; Allie Watson, Whiteland; Ashtyn Witte, Greenwood Christian
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