Southwestern Indiana will be well represented at the IHSAA state championship with Castle, Barr-Reeve and three individuals earning spots.
MONTGOMERY, Ind. — This would have elicited a different response a few years ago.
What Castle accomplished on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Country Oaks won't be cemented in the trophy case. That would ignore the larger point. The Knights went about their business and accomplished what was expected of them. Yet another sign the program is pushing forward.
Castle is making a return trip to the IHSAA girls golf state championship.
The No. 17 Knights posted a 337 to finish second in the Washington Regional and earn a spot at Prairie View next weekend. Castle finished five shots behind champion Bedford North Lawrence, the only other team in the field to see time in the coaches poll this season.
It is the Knights' fifth trip to Indianapolis since 2020.
"We have girls fighting to beat the team that just graduated," Castle coach Luke Richison said. "Continue to push the envelope. It’s not just about building something for Castle, but these individual players a legacy of their own."
Castle had an opportunity to win another championship. It was tied with BNL at the turn and held the tiebreaker. But the Knights played the closing stretch in 9-over as a team. Therein was the difference. It still didn't diminish what was accomplished.
Deeya Patel and Leena Rice were the lineup anchors to keep Castle firmly in the top three. Patel followed her sectional victory with a 3-over 75 to finish tied for second overall. Rice was close behind with a 77. Emma Young (90), Allyson Denton (95) and Lucy Jackson (96) rounded out the scoring.
"Survive and advance," Richison said. "I told the team we've got free golf ahead of us. No expectations. There are teams up there that don't expect anything from us. We’ve got a chance to surprise them."
This day didn't just belong to the Knights. Southwestern Indiana will have two teams and three individuals at the state championship. Most of that group is making a first appearance on the final weekend.
Barr-Reeve made program history at Country Oaks
How the Vikings went from Point A to Point B needs to be studied.
The first step came five years ago when Barr-Reeve fielded its first full team. It has steadily risen in the interim: first sectional championship in 2022 and fifth-place regional finishes in 2023 and 2024. That now pales in comparison to what the Vikings did on Saturday.
Barr-Reeve shot a 345 to finish third and earn its first trip to the state championship. The Vikings clipped rival Washington by 10 shots for the final spot at Prairie View. It lost by 17 to the Hatchets in the sectional at High Pointe.
"We had some really good girls who came through that helped get it started," Barr-Reeve coach Joe Robinson said. "The numbers came in, and girls showed initiative. They showed up to play. This is amazing."
The reason this group became the team to break through? Barr-Reeve finally has the necessary depth. Shelby Dobson (84), Lauren Knepp (85) and Brynnlee Rollins (85) made the trek around Country Oaks with solid scores. Maeli Stoll completed the Vikings' scoring with a 91. The lineup wasn't dependent on a single player. A true team.
How Barr-Reeve will fare on the biggest stage is for another day. What matters is setting a new standard. This group showed what is now possible for the small school in Daviess County.
"One to five, they're all interchangeable," Robinson said. "I think that's the biggest difference. I have five girls who can score. Nothing real low, but all good. (The growth) has been really huge."
Abby Shires will complete her career on the biggest stage
The goal for the Memorial senior is to improve every single season. That could be on the scorecard or mentally.
That strive for continuous growth is what led to this day. Shires shot a 5-over 77 to earn one of three individual tickets to the state championship. It will be the third trip of her career to Carmel, the second time as an individual. Not the best round of the season, but the necessary one.
The senior was in contention for the individual title until bogeys at 14 and 17. Then it became just about advancing. A par at 18 cemented that notion ― a single shot better than Avery Cassell of Terre Haute South to avoid a playoff.
"I knew the course was going to be in tough shape," Shires said. "My main goal was not to have any three putts ― I only had one ― and avoid big numbers. I didn’t play my best but definitely proud of how I did."
Shires can focus on finishing her career on a high note. The immediate goal is to place better than her previous two trips (tied for 52nd and tied for 50th). The dream is to finish on the podium. That will require a pair of clean rounds, which she's capable of based on a top-15 finish at Franklin this month.
The senior wants to prove it to herself if anything.
"Each year I've taken a different lesson from it," Shires said. "Sophomore year was just for fun. Last year, I tried to do a little bit more. I've grown a lot in the past year as a player and a person. I know I can go up there and compete."
A pair of first-time state finalists round out the SW Indiana contingent
How Kate Edwards and Grace Hickey arrived at this point could not be more different.
Start with the former. The Evansville Christian standout is one of the top freshmen in the state. Big moments were expected from her. If not this season, then certainly the future. But based on her play this month, the timeline needs to be accelerated.
Edwards shot a 3-over 75 to finish tied for second overall, one shot behind individual champion Sammie Nusbaum of BNL. She was consistent throughout the day, the sign of a player wise beyond her years. Now comes the opportunity to make a statement in Carmel. Is a top 30 finish possible?
"I thought it wouldn't happen being a freshman," Edwards said. "A lot of challenges (this season), but came in clutch with the regional. Managed to get a few birdies and pars in difficult situations. The goal is to make myself and others proud of my team."
Meanwhile, Hickey never picked up a golf club until her sophomore year. What followed was a meteoric rise of hard work ― she started with a self-described softball swing ― and perseverance into a legitimate state qualifier.
The Washington senior matched Shires with a 77 to earn the final spot at Prairie View. It completes a final season which included individual titles at the Pocket Athletic Conference and sectional tournaments. Her mental approach has improved tenfold. She no longer gets upset at bad shots and plays to the best of her ability.
That best resulted in a state championship appearance.
"I am very grateful I have the opportunity to go to state," Hickey said. "I am very grateful for the coach I am blessed with, the team I've been given and the family for the support. I've learned that getting mad over shots doesn't mean anything. Just play your heart out. That's really how I got to where I am this year."
Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Castle, Barr-Reeve advance to IHSAA girls golf state championship
Category: General Sports
