By Mike May
The Indiana High School Athletic Association’s (IHSAA) 50th annual state girls golf finals were held at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel. Following a practice round on Thursday, September 29, 100 girls from 30 different schools teed it up for 36 holes, beginning on Friday, September 30 and concluding on Saturday, October 1.
Carmel High School won the team competition, while Ava Bunker, a freshman from Columbus North took the individual title with two rounds of 69-73, two-under par.
Sophomore Ashley Kirkland from Castle High School finished runner-up with scores of 79-72. Finishing third with rounds of 74-78, was freshman Ava South of Batesville High School.
Bunker was the only player under par the first day and only ten players were able to break 80. In second place after the first round and trailing by five shots was South’s 74 put her in second place behind Bunker after the first round. And Sage Parsetich was third with a 76.
In the team competition, junior, Claire Swathwood’s two-round total of 155 led Carmel’s team and tied for sixth in the individual segment. Junior teammate Sophie Mock finished tied for tenth, one shot behind at 156.
The ladies from Center Grove led after the first round with a combined 32 over par and Carmel was three shots back at +35. Castle High School and Culver Academies were tied for third.
This was the third state title for Carmel in girls golf in school history, with the other state championships came in 1980-81 and 2013-14 school years.
The Wilson Staff Duo golf ball, the official ball of the IHSAA state tournament, was provided as a commemorative gift to each player at the beginning of the tournament.
If you interested in getting official pictures from this year’s IHSAA girls state golf tournament, contact Double Edge Media via email at: doubleedge317@gmail.com, or by phone at: 317-313-9602.
