Westfield graduate Hudson Kutchma delivered in crunch time at the IHSAA boys state golf meet.
He hit a birdie on the 18th hole to help Westfield secure its second consecutive state team title. He then won a two-hole playoff over Guerin Catholic’s Eli Wessel for the individual crown as rain poured down at the Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.
He spoke with the IndyStar as part of the our Athlete of the Year Q&A series.
His responses have been edited for clarity, length and style.
Question: How did it feel to win both a state team title and individual title?
Answer: “It felt pretty good. Like I said, I really didn’t know that I would have a chance of being anywhere near winning individual or even coming close to it. I was kind of just worried about the team part of it and what I had to do to get our team the win.”
Question: What was your mindset going into your two-hole playoff at state and how were you able to get the job done in the pouring rain?
Answer: “I play my best golf when I’m in the rain. I love playing the rain because a lot of people worry too much about it and I just think playing without an umbrella is also really helpful. It’s just rain. Eli beat Brian this year at county in a playoff and I was just like I can’t let Eli beat another Westfield kid.”
Question: Westfield boys golf won back-to-back state titles. How special were each of those wins?
Answer: “They were really special. To even get your name in the state books, it’s very special to do that. Not a lot of people can do that.”
Question: What kind of legacy do you feel like you have left behind?
Answer: “I hope I left behind a very positive one. Just showing kids that it doesn’t take a perfect round just to play good. Like you could play bad sometimes. You got to know how you’re hitting it.”
Question: What makes a good high school golf player?
Answer: “Just having fun, honestly. You only get four years of high school golf and you’ve got to make the best of it, which I feel like I definitely did that towards my senior year. I just wanted to let the freshman know that just to have fun and not worry so much.”
Question: What did you learn the most about playing Indiana high school boys golf?
Answer: “It’s very, very competitive with a lot of really good golfers. You just got to keep making friends and then those friends will lean on to more and more things.”
Question: What are your plans post-high school?
Answer: “After high school, I’m going to take a gap year, and I’ll go play ice hockey in, as of right now, Pennsylvania. I’ve been skating since I was two (years old) and I feel like it’s just a different sport. You can play golf in the summer when it’s sunny out and hockey when it’s snowing out so it’s pretty cool.”
Marc Ray is a high school sports reporter at the IndyStar. He can be reached at marc.ray@indystar.com , and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Q&A: Westfield golfer Hudson Kutchma talks state title win, post-high school plan
Reporting by Marc Ray, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Marc Ray, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
