October 3, 2015
Evansville North Repeats as Team Champion, Lake Central's Miestowski wins Individual Championship
Top-ranked Evansville North successfully repeated as state champion and Lake Central's Alexis Miestowski captured medalist honors during the 43rd Annual IHSAA Girls Golf State Finals at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.
The defending state champion Huskies, coached by Ken Wempe, finished at 651 (332-319) and were led by sophomore Hadley Walts who finished tied for second overall at 151 (79-72). Emma Kieffer, the team's only senior, finished fourth overall at 153 (76-77). Junior Katelyn Le ended at 168 (82-86) and junior Brittany Skinner finished with 167 (95-84). Hannah Davis and Katelyn Skinner split rounds the last two days also and shot 95 and 98, respectively, for the winners.
It was the school's second state title in girls golf and fourth in any sport.
Second-ranked Westfield finished as the runner-up enjoying its best finish ever after a 677 (350-327). Chesterton placed third, its highest finish ever, with a 692 (353-339). Evansville Memorial ended in fourth place at 699 (354-345) and Indianapolis Cathedral took fifth with 700 (356-344). Both tied their school's best state finals placement.
Miestowski birdied six holes this weekend including four on the front nine of Saturday's final round to win the state championship. She shot -3 for 69 on Saturday to finish the tournament with a one-over 145 (76-69). She became the first state golf medalist in her school's history - girls or boys. The sophomore began the day one stroke back and tied for second place with three others behind Lafayette Central Catholic's Morgan Brown (75). Brown finished at 156 (75-81) for sixth place.
Defending champion Cherise Otter, a senior from Bloomington South, finished tied as the runner-up with Evansville North's Walts at 151 (76-75). After Kieffer in fourth place, Kiley Swisher, a senior from Seeger, rounded out the top five at 155 (76-79).
Of special note, Fishers sophomore Morgan Lewis used a pitching wedge to score a hole-in-one on the par-3, 12th hole from 109 yards away on Saturday. It was the first ace ever recorded in girls golf state finals history. She completed the weekend tied for 21st overall with a 166 (84-82).
Both days of the tournament were played under dreary, overcast skies with gusty winds and temps in the mid-to-high 40s. Rain also fell at times during Saturday's second round.
Bloomington South's Cherise Otter named Mental Attitude Award winner
At the conclusion of the state finals, Cherise Otter of Bloomington High School South was named the winner of the mental attitude award by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee.
Otter maintains a 3.7 GPA at her school where she is a member of the National Honor Society and a leader in the Panther Activity Council. The 2014 state champion is a four-time All-State selection and was a Team Indiana representative in the United States Golf Association Women's State Team Championship last month.
She is the daughter of Greg and Candy Otter of Bloomington and plans to study Sports Management at the University of South Florida where she will play golf for the Bulls.
Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the sponsor of 28 IHSAA mental attitude awards, presented $1,000 to Bloomington High School South's general scholarship fund in the name of Cherise Otter.
The IHSAA Executive Committee presents the mental attitude award to the outstanding senior participant during the state finals each year dating back to 1973. The recipient of the award, nominated by her principal and coach, was determined to have best demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in girls golf.