Southmont girls’ golf is set out to prove that its past successes weren’t a fluke.
The Mounties have four returning varsity golfers and add a talented freshman to the mix for 2021.
Freshman Addison Meadows is off to a fast start this fall, taking a pair of medalist honors at two early season invites. Pair Meadows with seniors Bailey Barker, Taylor Grino, and Macie Shirk and junior Stella Snook — and the Mounties are primed to compete for team titles this season.
“It really hasn’t been that difficult,” Southmont coach Bill Whalen said about Meadows coming into the program and eventually assuming the No. 1 spot. “The upperclassmen know they need the underclassmen to be successful and visa versa. They have mixed very well and all seven realize what they are going to have to accomplish for us to be successful. Just like anyone else Addison had to come in and earn her spot, nothing was given to her. The girls realize that it doesn’t matter what position 1-5 you are playing. You are playing against the course not your opponent, unless you are in a match play event which we do once a year.”
Grino, Shirk, and Snook were all reserves when Southmont won its first ever IHSAA Sectional in 2019, while Barker joined the team last season. Shirk led the Mounties in 2020, including a trip to the regional as an individual.
“This senior and junior class had a chance when they were freshmen and sophomores to watch a Southmont team be very successful and win the school’s first sectional title,” Whalen said. “They certainly know what it takes to be successful. That, coupled with seeing Macie make it out of the sectional last year as an individual as only made them want to work harder to make sure they make it out as a team this year.”
Whalen says the Mounties strength is their length off the tee and they’ve been putting well. He also said staying away from the big number on the scorecard will be key to their success down the stretch.
