New Palestine shot a 376 (+88) and finished 13th of 18 teams at the State Fall Preview at Prairie View Golf Course in Carmel Saturday.
The 18-team event was an invitational tournament for all of last season’s girls golf state-qualifying teams.
The Dragons placed 15th in last year’s IHSAA Girls Golf State Finals — also held at Prairie View — and graduated two players, Hanna Beller and Lauren Appleby, from the program’s first state-qualifying group since 2014.
The Preview was the first tournament of the season for the Dragons, the last of four Hancock County schools to begin play for the 2024 season.
“All in all, I’m pretty happy with (a 376),” head coach Sarah O’Brien said. “Everybody had bad holes, some eights, a couple 10s, but everybody hung tough. That’s what you have to do on that golf course. It’s the toughest course we play.
“They did a nice job of handling it all and showing they belong. It was a great opportunity to play and I’m grateful to have that opportunity.”
Sophomore Lauren Deering, who finished 62nd in last year’s 36-hole state tournament, shot an 86 and tied for 24th place. Junior Katie Kelley, 75th in last year’s state finals, tied for 29th with an 88.
Senior Janie Hamilton, playing the course for the first time, shot 100 and senior Lily Kirchner, who finished 94th in last year’s tournament, shot a 102. Matti Tiede-White rounded out the Dragon five with a 113.
“I know the girls are replaying some shots in their minds, but I think, overall, they did really well,” O’Brien added. “Lauren Deering and Katie Kelley both had a couple big numbers on their cards, but both had their pars and Katie had a couple birdies.
“They hung tough, bounced back and did not let the rough holes get them down.”
New Palestine shot rounds of 383 and 374 in last year’s finals. Playing just two strokes over with what they ended up with last season in a season-opener was a nice start for the Dragons.
“I had no idea what to expect,” O’Brien said of opening the season on the tough course against a strong field. “You know these are the best teams, but it’s a season later. You don’t know what key players were lost or new incoming players they have.
“You expect the perennial strong teams to be strong, and they were. It was hard to know going in what really to expect, I was just hoping we could put a round in [Saturday] like we did. We’re just getting started and it always feels like it takes a couple tournaments to really get your footing, so I’m pleased with how they played.”
Top-ranked Westfield, led by individual medalist Addi Kooi’s 3-under par 69, won the event with a score of 319 (+31). The Shamrocks finished one stroke ahead of No. 2 Zionsville’s 320 (+32).
Unranked prior to Saturday’s tournament, New Palestine is now honorable mention on the Indiana High School Golf Coaches Association Top 20 poll that was released today.
The Dragons will be busy this week.
They played today (Monday) in a dual match against Greenwood at Valle Vista Country Club, and are scheduled to play Tuesday at Smock Golf Course with Greenfield-Central against Franklin Central, and on Thursday at the home course (The Links) against Noblesville.
New Palestine will be back at an 18-hole event Saturday, joining Greenfield-Central and Mt. Vernon at the Lapel Invitational at The Edge Golf Course. The course also hosts an IHSAA regional.
