Playing at The Legends for only the fourth time in her life, Ava Ray decided to make it memorable.
The freshman shot 80 on Wednesday to lead 20th-ranked Franklin to the championship of the Mid-State Conference girls golf meet. The Grizzly Cubs finished with a team score of 335 to down runner-up and 19th-ranked Martinsville by nine strokes.
Ray’s score was good enough for medalist honors.
Placing a distant third with a 385 was league newcomer Perry Meridian, while Greenwood and Whiteland were fourth and fifth, respectively, separated by a single shot (387 and 388).
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Playing in a group with the No. 3 golfers from Martinsville and Greenwood, Ray, who shot 91 on the same course at last week’s Johnson County tournament, found a rhythm and refused to let up.
“Honestly, I know there’s no such thing as a perfect golf round,” Ray said. “I just came out here hoping to hit good shots and play the best that I could play today. I just could not be happier with how I played and how our team played.”
Only a shot back with 81s for Franklin were sophomores Ellie Beavins and Liv Parramore. That score tied them for second individually among the 40 golfers. Carly Woodward carded a 93 for the Grizzly Cubs and senior Taylor Drake a 94.
Cubs coach Chris Kacarab was pleased with how his squad played. Franklin’s score bested the 341 it shot in winning county.
“We played excellent today,” Kacarab said. “From the 5 spot, Carly shooting a 93, that’s a really solid score for a conference match.”
Greenwood placed two individuals among the top 10 in Maecee Terhune (83) and Maura Guilfoy (92). Although her team’s score was a step back from at county (368), Woodmen coach Brittany Runge praised her players.
“I’m always proud of them because they always give me 100 percent,” Runge said. “I feel when my girls walk off that’s what they’re going to do. Overall, I’m happy. We can definitely be shooting some lower scores, but we’re leaving them for sectional, apparently.”
For Whiteland, senior Bri Harwell shot 84, followed by Allie Watson with a 96.
“It’s an improvement from last week,” said Warriors coach Crystal Morse, referring to the county meet on the same course. “We didn’t break 400 at county, but I know we can do better. We need to improve going into sectionals, so we’re just going to keep putting the work in.
“I look forward to seeing what we can do.”
