Lapel Macy Beeson hits out of the bunker on the first hole during the final day of competition in the 2021 IHSAA girlsÕ golf state finals, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021 at Prairie View Golf Club, in Carmel, Ind(Rob Baker/Daily Reporter)
NOBLESVILLE — Lapel High School’s two-time state golf champion Macy Beeson had to play a waiting game after finishing her round at Indiana High School Athletic Association Golf Sectional 16 on Monday.
After finishing with a 10+ round of 81 at Harbour Trees Golf Club in Noblesville, Beeson had to wait until the final four golfers came in to know if she would continue her quest for another state championship.
As a team, Lapel did not finish in the top three to advance and tied Frankton for fourth place with scores of 412. Noblesville (316), Hamilton Southeastern (318) and Fishers (381) were the first three.
The top three scores of players on non-advancing teams also advance to the regional. Both Beeson and Grace Martin, with a 93, had to wait to see if their scores would hold up.
The wait was nearly 90 minutes before the final four golfers from Frankton and Tipton turned their scores in.
Beeson was in. Martin was not. Chloe Wegner from Frankton and Lacie Logan from Tipton made the cut.
“It was a tough day out there,” Lapel coach Dylan Crosley said. “The girls didn’t play their best. They just couldn’t find their groove.”
Crosley said the course conditions were a little tough with a prolonged breeze and a long rough to fight.
Beeson had battled the course all day. She bogied her first two holes but was still only five off of the lead after nine holes. Beeson had to remain her cool self even after recording a nine on the 11th hole to keep her hopes of advancing alive.
“It was pretty rough out there,” Beeson said. “My putts weren’t really falling. Just all around rough.”
Beeson will have the advantage in the regional of playing on her home course; Regional 4 is set for 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at Edgewood Golf Course.
“I’m pretty good at letting past rounds go and starting over. It will be nice playing at home.”
She said she doesn’t feel the pressure to earn a third state title.
“I’m just playing my game. It’s going to be hard this year because only two get out of regional where last year it was five,” Beeson said. “I’m just going to play my game and hopefully I get there.”
As a team Pendleton Heights struggled on the course as well.
Medalist for the Arabians was Skylar Baldwin who had a 104.
“I feel this was a great learning experience for all of these girls,” coach Hilary Slick said.
While many of them had never played in a sectional, all the girls playing will return with that experience for next season.
“The experience will make us ready for next year,” Slick said.
Team scores: Noblesville 316, Hamilton Southeastern 318, Fishers 381, Frankton 412, Lapel 412, Pendleton Heights 438, Hamilton Heights 440, Alexandria-Monroe 496, Elwood 507.
Lapel scores: Macy Beeson 81, Grace Martin 93, Rosemary Likens 114, Ellie Carey 124, Chloe Sasser 125.
Pendleton Heights scores: Skylar Baldwin 104, Audrey Jenkins 107, Addison Summerall 111, Addison Nichols 117, Kelsey Day 118.