By Mike McGraw
Executive Director

MARTINSVILLE – People got an early season glimpse of the best in Central Indiana golf Aug. 7 at Foxcliff Golf Club in Martinsville, the site of the annual Artie Invitational. The field of nine schools included four of the Top 10 teams in the initial statewide coaches’ poll, and five of the Top 15.

Host Martinsville holds the No. 2 rating, while Columbus North is third, Roncalli fifth, and Avon seventh. Carmel, meanwhile, came in with a No. 12 ranking and already owning the Brebeuf Invite crown.

HoosierAuthority.com spoke with Martinsville's Carleigh Silvers, Columbus North's Taylor Gohn, and Avon's Breanna Patz as well as coaches Sharon Most of Martinsville and Jack Cooper of Columbus North – their videos now appear in the player at the bottom of this page!

In the end, this day played out as most anticipated on the par-72, 5,417-yard course (72.5/125). Defending state champion Martinsville and Columbus North engaged in a battle that was not decided until the last golfer from either team had finished her trip around the challenging course. Ultimately, Martinsville prevailed by a slim two strokes.

The Artesians carded a 326 while the Bull Dogs ended with 328. The decision was in doubt until Columbus North’s No. 5 player, Sidney Cox, completed the final hole. Columbus needed Cox to record a 79 to tie and she gave it her very best, ending with an 81.

The drama was destined from the beginning. Playing in the first threesome of the day, Martinsville’s Carleigh Silvers carded an outstanding 76 and then waited to see if it would stand up for medalist honors. It did – barely.

Columbus North junior Taylor Gohn made the circuit in 77. That was quite an accomplishment, considering Gohn double-bogeyed the opening hole on each side. Gohn and Silvers are leading candidates for medalist honors at the state finals later this fall.

Ari Savich of Carmel was third low on the day with a 79. She recorded that despite a bumpy finish that saw her double-bogey 17 and bogey 18 after having birdied 16 to move into contention.

Roncalli finished third on the day with a score of 333. That was one shot better than Avon, with Carmel fifth at 349.

“The course played 400 yards longer than Monday (at the Brebeuf Tee Shot Tourney at Woodwind), and the girls struggled with hitting fairways and greens today,” said Carmel coach Ken Kelly. “We just turned too many mistakes into big numbers today.”

Other teams in the field included both Bloomington schools, Franklin Central, and Center Grove.

Team scores
#2 Martinsville 326
#3 Columbus North 328
#5 Roncalli 333
#7 Avon 334
#12 Carmel 349
Center Grove 359
Bloomington South 366
Franklin Central 396
Bloomington North 454

Top individuals
1. Carleigh Silvers, Martinsville 76
2. Taylor Gohn, Columbus North 77
3. Ari Savich, Carmel 79
3. Breanna Patz, Avon 79
5. Erinn Sutton, Columbus North 80
5. MacKenzie Smith, Avon 80

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