Three seasons as a high school girls golfer and Southmont’s Addison Meadows has made the IHSAA Girls Golf State Finals all three years. In her junior season, Meadows had plenty to celebrate. Let’s rewind all the way back to Aug. 2 which was the Mounties second meet of the season. Meadows had a day she’ll remember for quite a while as she fired a personal best 67 on her way to earning medalist. There were only a handful of meets this season where Meadows didn’t take home medalist honors.
She was the sectional champion for the third straight season and at the Regional, despite a nail-biting score, was still able to able to qualify for the State Finals. And at the State Finals despite the controversy that originally of Meadows not making the All-State team, once things got clarified a day later, the Mountie junior did in fact for the second straight season make 1st-Team All-State.
“There’s a lot of things to be proud of with how I played this season,” Meadows said. “Shooting that 67 made me feel really good just knowing that I have that ability in me to shoot that well. I had a lot of fun playing and that’s the biggest thing. I know some things won’t always go my way but in the end I had a great time and playing with my team this season made it even more fun for me.”
Being recognized at the All-State banquet, being a third straight sectional champion, helping lead South to another county golf title, and making her third straight State Finals, Meadows continues to show why she’s one of the best golfers in the state. For the third year in a row, Meadows has earned the Journal Review Girls Golfer of the Year.
Southmont coach Bill Whalen has seen his superstar golfer grow every single year. This season was just another step in what’s already been a sensational career.
“We had six 18-hole matches this season and she was medalist in three and runner up in two of them,” Whalen said. “She came in ninth at the Regional against an extremely tough field. From her freshman year to her sophomore year I really saw her get stronger and be able to drive the ball off the tee way better. This season her putting was the thing I was most impressed with.”
Meadows since she’s arrived for her freshman year has always been centered around the team success. While she knows that her ability on the course is good enough, she’s always been willing to step in and make sure she can do whatever she can to help make the team better. This season with being an upperclassmen, that leadership role stood out even more.
“Addison is like another coach out there for us,” Whalen said. “Sometimes the girls need a different voice and she’s been right there to help out all season long. It doesn’t matter what it might be, Addison is more than willing to step in if any of the girls ask for her help. That’s what you want to see out of your leader both on and off the course.”
Getting to the State Finals for three straight seasons is no small feat. Add on that now the last two years Meadows has made1st Team All-State. Great players like Meadows set high expectations for themselves. Making that All-State Team once again was gratifying for her because it validated not only her talent but the belief in herself that she belongs in the conversation for one of the best in the state.
“It feels really great to say that I’ve made the State Finals the last three seasons,” Meadows added. “Not a lot of people can say they’ve achieved that. I feel really grateful for the gift that I have to be able to play this sport at a high level.”
Meadows also opened up about the 1st-Team All-State situation where after waiting for over 2+ hours after she finished her round, it appeared as if she wasn’t going to achieve her goal.
“After Saturday it was heart-breaking because I had thought I had let so many people down,” she said. “Everyone from coach, to the school, my mom and dad and all my friends and family who were in my corner. It felt like I was a failure at that point and that obviously wasn’t a great feeling. Once I got the call from coach and he told me I made it, it was a huge sigh of relief and big weight lifted off my shoulders.”
Meadows still has goals out there she wants to achieve. There’s been the dreaded few holes on the back nine that have given her trouble at Prairie View. Every athlete wants their senior season to be their best and go out on top. Meadows is no different.
“I really do think I can go out and win the Regional,” she said. “With losing some of those senior from those bigger schools will relieve some of the pressure. When it comes to State, I’m not going to look for a top 10 or a top five goal, I just want to go out there and have a great mindset especially on the back nine. If I get over those few holes, I know I go can go out there and post a good score both days.”
