By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com
NOBLESVILLE – The IHSAA girls golf season began this week, with experienced players and new talent making an impact at the first tournaments.
The young players shined at Stony Creek Golf Club, the site of Tuesday’s Hamilton Southeastern Invitational. Two freshman players led the way for Carmel as the Greyhounds’ Blue team won the trophy, scoring 287 for the event.
The top five individuals at the Hamilton Southeastern Invitational:
Maya Fujisawa-Keuling (Carmel), Ressie Lemmon (Mt. Vernon), Karis Reid (Carmel), Janelle Garcia (HSE), Maya Cieply (HSE). (Richie Hall)
Carmel’s freshmen may be new to the Greyhounds, but they are already experienced players. Maya Fujisawa-Kueling was only a few days removed from playing in the Junior PGA Championship at Purdue University, where she made the third round. Fujisawa-Keuling’s first tournament as a Carmel player was also a success: she scored six under par 65 to earn medalist honors.
Another freshman, Karis Reid, placed second with one under 70, while a third freshman, Ishin Fujita, scored 77 for the Blue team.
“We’re doing great, and I feel like we’re doing our best to contribute to the team,” said Fujisawa-Keuling.
Two “old” players, juniors Allie Thompson and Reese Roudebush, scored 75 and 79 respectively to round out Carmel Blue; Thompson’s score was a personal best. Another junior, Maddie Headlee, scored 79 to lead the Carmel Gold team, which placed third with 339.
“They played great,” said Greyhounds coach Kelly Kluesner. “We had a great showing by all three freshmen.”
Carmel started the season Monday by winning the Guerin Catholic Invitational at Pebble Brook. The Greyhounds scored 300 as a team.
Fujisawa-Kueling was the medalist with 69, followed by Reid with 71. Thompson totaled 78, while Roudebush and Fujita both scored 82.
“They’re all experienced players, but nerves are still there for your first-ever team competition,” said Kluesner. “Today, they knew what to expect, and off they went.”
The host Royals also had multiple teams at Stony Creek, with their Blue team placing second by scoring 300. Senior Janelle Garcia, an All-State player from last season, led Southeastern with 73 and placed fourth individually. Maya Cieply took fifth with a score of 75; she won a tiebreak to receive that place.
Paige O’Hara scored 77 for the HSE Blue team, while Taylor Wetzel led the Royals’ White team with 79.
“Today is just about setting the stage and getting the season going,” said Southeastern coach Peter Salvadori. “It’s the first competition that we do after tryouts. Everybody on my team gets to play 18 holes. It’s more about coming together and being together for the first day than it is necessarily about results.”
Mt. Vernon’s Ressie Lemmon, another freshman, placed second with a score of 69.
Team scores: Carmel Blue 287, Hamilton Southeastern Blue 300, Carmel Gold 339, Hamilton Southeastern White 350, Mt. Vernon 351, Fishers 355, Hamilton Southeastern Red 376, Guerin Catholic 430.
Medalist: Maya Fujisawa-Kueling (Carmel Blue) 34-31=65.
Other Carmel Blue scores: Karis Reid 34-36=70, Allie Thompson 37-38=75, Ishin Fujita 38-39=77, Reese Roudebush 41-38=79.
Southeastern Blue scores: Janelle Garcia 37-36=73, Sophie Roberts 39-36=75, Maya Cieply 39-36=75, Paige O’Hara 40-37=77, Bella Stanley 40-40=80.
Carmel Gold scores: Maddie Headlee 42-37=79, Mallorie Monico 46-40=86, Georgia Murnan 43-43=86, Halle Long 45-43=88, Moki Noothalapati 52-54=106.
Southeastern White scores: Taylor Wetzel 41-38=79, Ella Black 45-39=84, Meredith Walters 45-47=92, Riley Redmond 47-48=95, Emerson Johnson 50-49=99.
Fishers scores: Kendall Manion 45-42=87, Aleah Miller 44-44=88, Elli Webster 45-43=88, Sophia Rush 48-44=92, Fiona Doyle 51-52=103.
Southeastern Red scores: Anna McNairy 41-45=86, Keira Bassett 43-51=94, Sydney Gregory 46-49=95, Addi Phillips 50-51=101, Ella Marrs 49-53=102.
Guerin Catholic scores: Ava Klinker 49-53=102, Kenzie Zorger 47-55=102, Maddy Hood 62-50=112, Reese Taylor 57-57=114, Cora O’Connor 64-58=122.
Fishers individuals: Jazlin Guerrero 54-50=104, Olivia Banks 55-54=109, Elise Miller 62-61=123.
Southeastern individuals: Alexis Funk 52-55=107, Mia Davis 51-57=108, Kate Nawa 56-57=113.
