PENDLETON — With a substantial roster of veterans and a host of newcomers, Pendleton Heights girls golf coach Hilary Slick has a troupe of 14 ready to take on the season.
“This is the biggest number I’ve had. I’m very excited,” Slick said. Four starters return from last season.
Senior Grace Wiggins, who was a regional qualifier last year, leads the team in her fourth year as a varsity player.
Wiggins spent part of her off season playing as well as taking more lessons.
She has been working for more consistency with a new driver.
“I really want to make it to the regional and shoot mid to low 80s,” Wiggins said. “Then I can see if I can make it on to state.”
She said she understands her role as a leader on the course for her younger team members.
“I need to lead the team and lead in confidence. Hopefully I can help them to play and have fun,” Wiggins said.
Joining Wiggins in the veteran category are seniors Kaylee McKenney and Kaitlyn Shamblin. Kaylee has lettered since she was a freshman, and Shamblin has two varsity letters under her belt. Junior Ashley McKenney is also a two-year letter winner.
The Arabians will build on their 10-5 record from last season and a second-place finish in the county meet to champion Lapel. Coach Slick, in her sixth year of coaching the Arabians, is working to bring the team to an even better run this year.
“I would like to go to regional as a team, but if we don’t make it as a team, I would like to see both Grace and Kaylee go to the regional.”
Three of the sophomores from last year, Skylar Baldwin, Kelsey Day and Audrey Jenkins were letter winners as freshmen, and Slick talked about their improvement.
“They all played really well from it being their first year,” Slick said. “None of them had ever played golf before.”
Slick said they went from shooting in the 70s for nine holes to the 50s by the end of the season, and a few times even hit the 40s.
“All of these girls are athletes,” she said. “They want to do it.”
Junior Zoe Morris has moved in from Shenandoah and has been playing all summer.
On the whole as a team, Slick said she wants to better their approach shots and also the putting. Most high school matches are nine holes, and Slick said sometimes they struggle on the 18-hole rounds.
“I wish they would play 18 more often.”
In matches, the top four scores count, and Slick wants the team to be more consistent about getting their scores together.
“During conference and county (last year), we didn’t put our scores together well. I’d (have) one that did well and some of the others would have off days. If I can get three to consistently shoot 40-42 that would be really good,” Slick said.
“I would love to see my top five beat me every time I time I went out on the course,” Slick said. “It would be a very happy day. I would be a little sad I got beat.”
She noted several schools in the area are also returning several players and the competition remains strong this year. The Arabians are in the Noblesville sectional and play the Harbor Trees course.
The Pendleton Heights top five is not set in stone. Slick uses the practice the day before a match to determine her top five for the round.
“I think this gives an opportunity to someone who is not quite there but could have a day and then they get their round in.”
On Aug. 2, the Arabians opened their season in the Plainfield Invitational. Although the team place 10th of 11 teams, Wiggins turned in an 89 for her first match of the season. Slick said Morris struggled a bit but overall with a 111. The was her first time out with a new team, and she believes Morris will settle in well as the newest Arabian. Kaylee McKenney posted a 103, and Shamblin scored a 109. Skylar Baldwin rounded out the scores with 121.
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2021 Pendleton Heights Girls Golf Schedule
Date;Opponent;Time
Aug. 2;at Plainfield Invitational;2 p.m.
Aug. 3;vs. Mt. Vernon;4:30 p.m.
Aug. 9;at Madison-Grant;4:30 p.m.
Aug. 11;vs. Shelbyville;5 p.m.
Aug. 14;at Lapel Invitational;9 a.m.
Aug. 16;vs. New Castle;4:30 p.m.
Aug. 18;vs. Hamilton Southeastern;4 p.m.
Aug. 21;Madison County Tournament (PH):1 p.m.
Aug. 24;at Daleville;4:15 p.m.
Aug. 25;vs. Yorktown;4:30 p.m.
Aug. 31;at Noblesville/Kokomo;4:30 p.m.
Sept. 2;at Delta;5 p.m.
Sept. 7;at Lapel/Heritage Christian;4:30 p.m.
Sept. 8;vs. Greenfield-Central;5 p.m.
Sept. 9;vs. Law. Cent./Warren Cent.;4:30 p.m.
Sept. 11;HHC Meet (at PH);1 p.m.
Sept. 13;at New Palestine;4 p.m.
Sept. 14;vs. Frankton;4:30 p.m.
Sept. 20;at Noblesville Sectional;9 a.m.
Sept. 25;at Lapel Regional;9 a.m.
Oct. 1;at State Finals (Carmel);TBA
Oct. 2;at State Finals (Carmel);TBA
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Seniors
Kaylee McKenney
Kaitlynn Shamblin
Grace Wiggins
Juniors
Ashley McKenney
Zoe Morris
Sophomores
Skylar Baldwin
Kelsey Day
Audrey Jenkins
Claire Neff
Addison Nichols
Freshmen
Ella Barker
Zoe Lawrence
Leila Reef
Addison Summerall
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