GREENFIELD — With just six strokes difference from its top golfer to its No. 5 spot in the lineup, New Palestine shot a season-low 170 to win the Hancock County Girls Golf Tournament — for the second straight year — at Hawk’s Tail of Greenfield Golf Course Tuesday.
Katie Kelley and Hanna Beller each shot 41s to lead the Dragons, one stroke behind individual champion Izzy VanHeel of Mt. Vernon.
The Dragons had the fourth-place finisher in Lauren Deering, who was just a stroke behind her teammates with a 42. Mt. Vernon’s Aerin Hubbell and Natalie Miner and New Palestine’s Lauren Appleby all shot 46s.
Hubbell earned the fifth and final all-county spot on a tiebreaker, which was determined by best score on the hardest handicapped hole.
New Palestine’s Lily Kirchner was the only other golfer under 50, with a 47.
“It’s a different dynamic that I’ve got on this team than I’ve had in the past,” New Palestine head coach Sarah O’Brien said. “Any one of them, on any particular night, could be the medalist or low on our team. That’s what’s really exciting.”
Kelly was playing in the team’s No. 1 spot. Beller was playing at No. 4.
“We played here a week ago in a three-way with Greenfield and Franklin Central and (Hanna) shot 41,” O’Brien added. “She just kept saying, ‘I love this course. I love this course.’ Tonight, she birdied her last hole to shoot 41. She’s worked so hard and I’m thrilled for her.”
Kelley birdied her last hole, too. Only a sophomore, she earned all-county honors for the second straight year. She was fourth last year with a 46.
“We all shot really well today,” Kelley said. “I got fourth last year, so coming in second is nice. I had a couple of unlucky shots, but I thought I played well overall. I know what I need to work on, but I thought it was a solid round.”
VanHeel shot a 44 on the course in last year’s county tournament. It was good enough for third place. She was hopeful, with the two girls that finished ahead of her graduated, she’d be medalist this time around.
“I really wanted to win last year and coming up this year and winning, I feel like it’s a big step in my improvement. I hope I can do it next year,” VanHeel said. “I felt I started out pretty average, but I made a long birdie putt on No. 3 and that lifted my spirits. I felt like that boosted my round a little bit.
“I felt a little bit of pressure (with last year’s winner Sydnie Wherry, of Greenfield-Central, and runner-up Zoe Nelson, of New Palestine graduated), but I feel pretty accomplished (being able to win),” VanHeel said.
Mt. Vernon finished second with a 183, 24 strokes better than last season. In fact, that score would have won the tournament in 2022 by four strokes.
“I’m proud of Izzy. She was struggling (lately) and I think part of it was the pressure of her wanting to win it here. Leading up to (Tuesday’s tournament) she wanted to get in that rhythm,” Mt. Vernon coach Mike Miner said. “She bounced back and stayed really focused today.”
Greenfield-Central was third with a 249. Ella Neill was low for the Cougars with a 59. Eastern Hancock finished with a 264, led by Emily Hodges with a 60.
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2023 Hancock County Girls Golf Tournament
At Hawk’s Tail of Greenfield
Team scores: New Palestine 170, Mt. Vernon 183, Greenfield-Central 249, Eastern Hancock 264
All-County (Top 5): Izzy VanHeel (MV) 40, Katie Kelley (NP) 41, Hanna Beller (NP) 41, Lauren Deering (42), Aerin Hubbell (MV) 46*.
* Hubbell tied with Lauren Appleby (NP) and Natalie Miner (MV), earned fifth on tiebreaker (lowest score on hardest handicap hole)
