Beavins, Dickey win at Indiana Junior

Ellie Beavins felt a surge of emotion as she walked toward the 18th green at The Legends on Wednesday afternoon, but it certainly didn’t show in her game.

The Franklin senior-to-be calmly finished off with a two-putt par to give herself a one-shot victory in the girls division at the Indiana Junior Golf Championship. Her winning margin equaled that of classmate Damon Dickey, who held on to win the boys title.

Beavins trailed by one shot coming into the day but made up the difference with a 74, the low round of the day, to finish with a two-day score of 151 and edge Lauren Kaltenmark of Zionsville.

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“Starting out today I was really nervous, because I knew what I had to make up for today,” Beavins said, “but I also told myself to just be confident and to just play my game. That’s what I did, and it all worked out.”

Down a stroke after a bogey on the 11th hole, Beavins kept a steady hand and closed with seven consecutive pars while Kaltenmeyer bogeyed 15 and 18.

The win was a bittersweet one for Beavins — her first tournament title since losing her father, Joel, in a plane crash last October.

“Walking up 18, it was hard,” she said.

Dickey, who shot even-par 72 on both days, got out in front Wednesday with birdies on holes 2 and 14. He bogeyed the last two holes, in part because he knew he could afford to be a bit more conservative and careful.

“I kind of knew what I needed to do coming in, and I played it safe,” he said. “I just didn’t want to make a big number.”

Johnson County was well represented near the top of the leaderboard, especially among the girls. Ava Bunker, tied for the lead after round one, wound up fourth at 155 after a final-round 79. Liv Parramore (80-78—158) tied for fifth, while Ava Ray (84-75—159) was seventh.

Other local girls included Meg Fosnot at 165, Camille Short and Lauren Pagel at 170, Lexi Ray at 171, Lanie DeHaven at 172, Sage Parsetich at 180, Abigail Rich at 186 and Kathleen Ameis at 201.

For the boys, Peyton Short (77-74—151) tied for seventh, Sam Slaughter (78-76—154) tied for 13th and Alex Heck (82-73—155) tied for 15th. First-round co-leader Zach Ricketts wound up tied for 18th (157) after closing with an 85.

Also representing the county were Brandon Heffner (158), Andrew Shaub (160), Eli Poe (171), Conner Wray (171) and Jack Besner (174).

Most of the local competitors came in familiar with the course after playing in the Johnson County Tournament Series here throughout May. Beavins felt like it helped set her up for success this week.

“I definitely felt more prepared,” she said. “I’m glad I played in the May series; it definitely helped. But I was just more on my game these two days.”