Rochester's Bailey claims 8th place at girls golf state finals as Zionsville wins team trophy

Olivia Bailey capped off her high school golf resume with an eighth place finish at the IHSAA State Finals held in Carmel at Prairie View Golf Club.

Bailey was 3-over on the opening day and 5-over the second day for a total of 8-over 152 and a tie for eighth place in the finals individual standings.

Peru junior Piercey Dyer finished with at 12-over for the tournament in a three-way tie for twelfth place.

Tippecanoe Valley sophomore shared a three-way tie for 90th with a score of 48-over.

A cool glass of white milk likely never tasted so good for the Zionsville Eagles. 

The Eagles of coach Maggie Nobbe returned to Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel and rolled to their second-straight IHSAA State Golf Championship and third in program history. 

After besting Noblesville by seven strokes for the 2024 title, the Eagles came back with an impressive second round to finish with a 607 (305-302) to top the runner-up Millers, who finished with a 629 (308-321). 

As a result, Zionsville’s players and coaches got to ascend the medals stand and, thanks to a new IHSAA partnership with the American Dairy Association of Indiana, got to consume a cool glass of milk – a 'la Indianapolis 500-style. 

“We definitely had a target on our back this year,” Nobbe said. “We had the girls playing with no fear. We geared up for this after we won last year and we’ve had an incredible commitment from these girls.” 

The greatest beneficiary of that commitment proved to be sophomore Taylor Snively, who achieved a repeat of her own by shooting a 70-71-141 to claim the individual title. 

Snively becomes the eighth golfer in IHSAA history to repeat as individual champion, but the first to do so her first two years. Her 141 score is the fourth-best total for 36 holes in state finals history. 

“I knew it would be a battle,” Snively said. ““(Winning) this one is just as fun. As for the future, we’ll deal with that when it comes.” 

Snively came into the round two shots behind Carmel freshman Maya Fujisawa Keuling, who shot a 68 Friday – the second-lowest 18-hole score in state finals history. 

Snively still trailed by two shots heading to the par-5 No. 7, but she seemed to bear down after that, while Fujisawa Keuling faltered. 

Snively did bogey the par-4 10th, but shot par on the next four holes, then birdied both 15 and 17. Fujisawa Keuling, meanwhile, bogeyed 11 and 14 and double-bogeyed 13 to allow Snively to take firm control. 

Snively beat runner-up Lexi Ray of Franklin by four shots. Fujisawa Keuling finished third at 2-over, 146. 

“I felt I got stronger as the round went on,” Snively said. “I wasn’t making putts on the front (nine), but I got it together after that. It helped me to focus knowing the team had a nice lead.” 

“We told her to be patient and be steady,” Nobbe said of Snively. “That steadiness really helped her today.” 

The Eagles (who also won a title in 2017 -- which was Nobbe’s senior season as a player), backed up Snively’s performance with solid rounds by freshman Olivia Patton (154), sophomore Avery Lewis (155) and junior Paige Henney (159). 

Zionsville came in with only a three-shot lead in the team standings over Noblesville, but the Millers slumped to a 321 round. 

Coach Justin Werkley gave all the credit to the winners. 

“Zionsville played great and were just the better team,” Werkley said. “You just have to do your best and see how things stack up.” 

Senior Josey Kelley led the Millers with a 3-over, 147 – good for fourth place, individually. 

Westfield finished third (640), Carmel fourth (645) and Hamilton Southeastern fifth (650). 

Fort Wayne Carroll’s Taylor Larkins rounded out the top-five individuals as had a second-round-best 69 to help her finish at 149. 

Batesville's South named Mental Attitude Award recipient

Ava South of Batesville High School was presented the mental attitude award during the post-match ceremonies by the IHSAA Executive Committee. It is annually awarded to a senior who best demonstrates mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability during her four years of high school. She becomes the third Batesville student-athlete to earn an IHSAA mental attitude award and first since Rob Grote earned the award in boys cross country in 2003. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance presented a $1,000 scholarship to Batesville High School in Ava South’s name.