CARMEL, Ind. — That’s a wrap on another high school girls golf season.
The 2025 campaign concluded with the Indiana High School Athletic Association state championship on Saturday, Oct. 4, at Prairie View Golf Club. It was another solid season overall for the Southwestern Indiana contingent, even if no individuals or teams reached the podium on the final weekend.
Two teams and three individuals from the Evansville area competed at Prairie View. Here are thoughts from the state championship and the season at large.
Castle finishes as top team from SW Indiana once again
The Knights had the best lineup from start to finish of any team around Evansville this season.
Castle finished 16th at the state championship ― the lowest placement for the Knights on the final weekend in their recent stretch of local dominance. It does fall in line with their ranking for most of the season. The final round 367 was 10 shots better than their performance on Friday.
Leena Rice and Deeya Patel were much stronger on day two with 79s. Rice birdied the par-three 12th and played the front nine in two-day 38. Patel offset a trio of double bogeys with birdies at par-four 1st and 5th holes. Castle has reached the state championship five of the last six years.
The only program from Southern Indiana who fared better was Floyd Central (tied for 11th). No. 1 Zionsville defended its state championship with a two-day 607 (305-302). The Eagles beat No. 3 Noblesville by 22 shots.
It was always a tough challenge for Barr-Reeve based on comparative scores. That shouldn’t be the takeaway from its final three weeks. The Vikings finished 18th with a final-round 407. Juniors Lauren Knepp (92 in first round) and Brynnlee Rollins (95 in second round) both finished tied for 89th overall.
Since girls golf became an official sport in 1973, only five schools currently classified as 1A in basketball have made the state finals. None since 2005 ― until Barr-Reeve did it in only the fifth year of having a full team.
Who was the top SW Indiana individual at the state championship?
Only one player from the Evansville area finished in the top 40 at Prairie View.
Rice finished tied for 36th (20-over) thanks to her final-round effort. The senior was four shots better than last year at the state championship. Memorial’s Abby Shires (82 on day two), Evansville Christian’s Kate Edwards (85 on day two) and Patel were tied for 42nd overall at 22-over. Shires completed her third and final trip to Prairie View with the best finish of her career. Edwards is primed for multiple visits as one of the top freshmen in Indiana.
Washington senior Grace Hickey turned in a final-round 86 to finish tied for 66th. Taylor Snively of Zionsville was the repeat individual champion by four shots at 3-under (71-70).
What will the 2026 season bring for the Evansville area?
The answer feels up in the air considering what the top teams need to replace.
Castle should be among the contenders once again with Patel trending to become a top player in Southern Indiana. But the Knights have just one other returning starter (Lucy Jackson) ― one spot could be filled by Layna Patel, an incoming freshman. Castle’s hold at the top might still be up for grabs.
Barr-Reeve returns its top three scorers from the state finals. Could the Vikings earn a return visit? Memorial needs to replace three from its lineup. Same with Washington. One potential pick to make a move? North returns the entirety of the roster after finishing eighth in the regional.
Patel and Edwards would be the early picks for best players in Southwestern Indiana. Among the other top returners: Libby Reese (Mount Vernon), Kady Gideon (Pike Central) and Lydia Aldridge (Boonville).
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: How Evansville-area teams, individuals finished at IHSAA girls golf state championship
Reporting by Kyle Sokeland, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
