The high school sports season kicks off on Monday when girls golf teams from around the state can begin playing in matches.
Three of the seven area schools with girls golf teams will be in action Monday, including Columbus East, which opens its season at the Bloomington South Invitational. Columbus North and Hauser, which has a team for the first time this year, are scheduled to open their seasons on Aug. 12.
Here is a look at the area schools heading into the 2024 season:
Columbus East
The Olympians made it to regional last year, but lost three of their top four golfers.
“They’re coming along,” second-year East coach LaDonna VanDeventer said. “We have a young team, but I think we’re going to get better as we go.”
Senior Grace LaSell was the Olympians’ No. 2 or 3 golfer last season. Senior Sophia Begley and Allison Sharpe were Nos. 5 and 6.
Freshmen Abby King and Sophia Perez likely will fill the other two varsity spots to begin the season. Junior Maylie Walls and freshman Kobi Stephenson look to contend.
“We have some younger ones coming in that have played some golf,” VanDeventer said. “We keep getting some new ones, so I’m very happy with that.”
East will look to make a return trip to the regional in September.
“We’re in two new tournaments, so that will give us some more experience,” VanDeventer said. “Right now, our goal is to get out of sectional.”
Columbus North
The Bull Dogs return all five of their golfers from last season and have added three newcomers.
Columbus North’s Erin Hopkins putts on No. 4 at Timbergate Golf Course while playing Perry Meridian Aug. 7, 2023.
The Republic file photo
Seniors Erin Hopkins was a regional qualifier as an individual. She and senior Lindsey Hartwell were North’s top two golfers all season.
“We look for a lot of leadership from them,” North coach Scott Seavers said. “They’re going to be counted on in every match. They have the skill level to play well consistently.”
Seniors Kara Buntin and Ana Pavlov also return, as does sophom*ore Harper Andresen. New to the team this year are freshmen Pia Mantooth, Sophia Wills and Caroline Crawford.
“They’re young, and they just need to get some more experience and more reps and more lessons,” Seavers said. “But they’re young and eager, and we’re glad to have them.”
The Bull Dogs will try to make it back to regional as a team after finishing fourth in last year’s Bloomington North Sectional, one spot out of a qualifying berth.
“We obviously want to make it out of the sectional and play in the regional and see where it goes from there,” Seavers said. “That’s our goal every year.”
Hauser
The Jets are fielding a team for the first time. Steve Todd, who coaches the Hauser boys golfers, will lead the girls squad.
“We are literally starting from scratch,” Todd said. “We had them this summer a couple days a week, just working on their swing and working on the basics. We’re just trying to pick up the game. I think we’ll be fine down the road. We’re just going to be all brand new to it.”
Sophom*ore Abigayle Trotter will split time between soccer and golf this fall. She is joined on the golf team by sophom*ores Cheyanne Moody and Lydia Taylor.
Freshman Beckah Session, a move-in from South Decatur, could allow the Jets to have four players.
“If we can get that fourth, that would definitely help to score in matches,” Todd said. “Hopefully, when we get back to school on Wednesday, we’re going to see if we can recruit some more.”
With such a young team, Todd is building for the future.
“It’s more or less trying to teach the game to them and getting them to realize that golf is a lifetime sport,” Todd said. “You can play when you’re 80 or 90, or at least well after high school. So we’d like to see them get involved and get the hang of it. Everybody that’s played golf understands that golf can be a very difficult and frustrating sport. You have to go into it with an open mind, and you just have to put the time in.”
Jennings County
The Panthers have a new coach in Vanessa Shepherd, a former Jennings golfer.
Junior Shelby Davis was the Panthers’ No. 1 player last season. Sophom*ores Amilia Gresham and Aslynn Hopkins were Nos. 4 and 5.
Freshmen Gracie Oden and Temprance Eggleston have the inside track on the other two varsity spots. Sophom*ore newcomers Lani Wilson, Abbi Dunham, Jorgia Ashpaugh and Victoria Baez will look to contend for those positions.
“I think we have a lot of potential this year,” Shepherd said. “As a new coach, I just want them to do the best they can.”
Brown County
The Eagles have four players to begin the season, led by senior Lily VanNess, who was the Western Indiana Conference medalist and a regional qualifier as an individual.
“I think last year was kind of a breakout year for Lily, and she’s been working hard,” Brown County coach Brad Baughman said. “We look for a big year from Lily.”
Junior Chloe Poling and sophom*ore Caitlyn Lookebill also return. They are joined by senior newcomer Katie Johnson.
“It would be nice to pick up another two or three players if we could,” Baughman said.
Edinburgh
The Lancers hope to contend for the Mid-Hoosier Conference title after finishing second last year.
“I would definitely like to see us compete in our conference matchups,” Edinburgh coach Jessica Carie said. “I know we were pretty competitive with them last year because a lot of them had newer players, as well.”
Senior Macie Blandford was No. 2 golfer. Sophom*ore Sophia Pace also returns.
The other three golfers are new in juniors Gracie Barrett and Addyson Chandler and freshman Kaydra Peters.
“All of them have experience of just going out and trying it, but we have some rebuilding as a team,” Carie said.
Trinity Lutheran
The Cougars have a new coach in Brooks Thoele, and he has two girls to begin the season.
Sophom*ore newcomer Jennifer Jones played in middle school. She is joined by freshman Naomi McKinley
“Golf is enjoyable,” Thoele said. “You have to be honest with yourself. You can’t get in your head too much.”
2024 golf schedules for Bartholomew County schools:
Columbus East
Monday at Bloomington South Invitational, 9 a.m.
Thursday at Greenfield-Central, 5 p.m.
Saturday at New Albany Invitational, 9 a.m.
Aug. 12 at Batesville, 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 13 at Jennings County, 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 17 at Franklin Invitational, 1 p.m.
Aug. 19 vs. Seymour, 4:15 p.m.
Aug. 21 at Greenwood, 5 p.m.
Aug. 24 at Floyd Central Invitational, 2 p.m.
Aug. 28 vs. Madison, 5 p.m.
Sept. 5 at Shelbyville, 5 p.m.
Sept. 14 at Bloomington North Invitational, 9 a.m.
Sept. 17 at Columbus North, 4:15 p.m.
Columbus North
Aug. 12 vs. Perry Meridian, 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 17 at Franklin Invitational, 1 p.m.
Aug. 19 vs. Greenwood, 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 20 vs. Batesville, 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 22 at Roncalli, 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 at Bloomington North, 4:45 p.m.
Aug. 27 at Seymour, 4:45 p.m.
Sept. 3 vs. Southwestern (Shelby), 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 4 at Southport, 4 p.m.
Sept. 10 at Franklin, 4:15 p.m.
Sept. 11 vs. Martinsville, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 at Bloomington North Invitational, 9 a.m.
Sept. 16 in Conference Indiana at Timbergate, 9 a.m.
Sept. 17 vs. Columbus East, 4:15 p.m.
Hauser
Aug. 12 at Morristown (with Southwestern), TBA
Aug. 15 at North Decatur (with Edinburgh), 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 17 at Madison Invitational, 11 a.m.
Aug. 22 at Oldenburg Academy (with Edinburgh), 5 p.m.
Aug. 30 at Brownstown Central (with Salem), 5 p.m.
Sept. 3 vs. Shelbyville, 5 p.m.
Sept. 4 at Edinburgh (with Brown County), 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 12 at North Decatur (with Oldenburg Academy), 4:30 p.m.
