CARMEL — Before she took her first swing as a high-schooler this season, Southmont freshman Addison Meadows set out a goal to be playing golf on the last day of the season. The freshman phenom did just that as she competed a the IHSAA Girls Golf State Finals on Friday and Saturday at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel. Meadows is the first player in Southmont history to compete at the State Finals and the first Montgomery County golfer since 2008 to qualify.
Coming off a slow start on Friday shooting a 97, Meadows knew that she could redeem herself with a solid round Saturday. She improved her score by 12 strokes shooting an 85 to total a +38 (182) in first trip to the State Finals.
“To make history for our school feels really good,” Meadows said. “The first day was a struggle and it could have went a lot better, but to shave off 12 strokes feels nice. I knew coming into today that I could play better, and I ended with three birdies. I just had two bad holes that really hurt my score.”
This is just the beginning for Meadows who wanted to just know what it feels like to play in a state finals. She was one of only eight freshmen competing and the only freshman paying as an individual.
“I don’t think the pressure was overwhelming at all,” Meadows said. “I know that back home, everyone is proud of me and to know that they all have my back no matter what feels amazing.”
Meadows will be expected to make it back to the state finals. She knows this is just the beginning and there are many big things ahead.
“I think this year was just to get things started and see what it’s like, and to see how it’s going to be for the next three years,” she said. “These next three years I’ll really focus on competing and keep doing better than the previous year.”
Southmont Coach Bill Whalen knows that Meadows is and can continue to be one of the best golfers in the state, and that this experience will only continue to help improve her overall game.
“Not many people get to compete here,” Whalen said of the State Finals. “To do this as an individual, as a freshman, and then you look at the regional that got her here, there are nine ranked teams there. She got experience this and now she knows what it takes to be the top echelon of high school girls golf. Her work ethic is absolutely fantastic and I know she’ll continue to get better and be back here again next year.
Even with the outstanding season that Meadows had, both her and Whalen will continue to improve her game because as coaches say ‘there’s always room for improvement’.
“I think overall her distance is going to be the biggest thing to work on,” Whalen said. “The girls she played with were destroying the ball off the tee, and to play and compete at this level, as long as this course plays, her distance will need to be improved, and I think it will. She’s only going to get stronger and her swing speed will get better, and I have no doubt that she’ll improve on that.”
With a program that will lose three seniors next season, Meadows will once again be asked to lead the way. Whalen is hoping that seeing the success of his team and of Meadows making the state finals will draw more attention to the program and look to get more girls on the team.
“We’ll need to start growing the program once again and I hope some of the girls at junior high level see what Addison did this season and come on out and be apart of what we’re building.”
No matter who may be on the team in the coming years, one thing will remain constant, Meadows will continue to showcase her talent in her pursuit of getting back to the state finals.
