ANDERSON, Ind. — It’s never easy for a player’s season to come to an end, especially when that player is a senior and might’ve just finished their last competitive appearance ever.
The IHSAA girls golf season concluded for nearly all Delaware County players apart from Yorktown’s Kayleigh Agugliaro, who qualified for the state as an individual with a strong score of 73.
Delta as a team shot 376, Wapahani scored 414 and Yorkton had 443.
Unfortunately for senior athletes such as Delta’s Belle Brown and Daleville’s Addy Gick (82), they finished their high school careers on Saturday at Edgewood Golf Course in Anderson.
“Honestly, like I thought I was going to be sad, but I’m excited [for her future ahead],” Gick said. “It’s been so much fun playing with all these girls.”
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Gick also noted that fellow teammate and senior, Ava Capes, made this season extra-special for her since they’ve been playing together since the seventh grade. She also enjoyed playing with competitors from other teams like Brown and Agugliaro.
“It’s been so much playing with them,” Gick said. “I don’t feel as stressed (playing with Brown and Agugliaro) because it’s like just playing with my friends, so it’s been super nice.”
As for Brown, she and Delta had come off a state finals appearance a year ago. This team aspired to advance there again this year with how well the team had been playing the past couple weeks, especially with head coach Jim Fowler having their backs.
Even with Brown’s strong efforts shooting an 83, it wouldn’t be enough to help carry Delta back to state for a second consecutive season.
“It feels very heavy on my heart,” Brown said. “My faith is something that is super strong, and it just wasn’t in God’s plan.”
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Even with Brown and Delta not qualifying for state, Brown managed to take three strokes off her score from last year’s regional outing. She has also become good friends with Gick and Agugliaro over the years.
“It’s nice to see a familiar face showing up to the courses,” Brown said. “Kayleigh and I have gotten closer through my four years of playing.”
Agugliaro feels for Brown and Gick considering they’ve become such good friends. Agugliaro said they even pushed each other to get better.
“I’m just really sad for them,” Agugliaro said.
Even though Agugliaro still has one more weekend of golf left in her senior season, these seniors have left a lot behind.
“Those four girls [Brown, Gick, Agugliaro, Jane Armington] in our area of the state are the best four players we’ve had collectively in a long time,” Yorktown head coach Nate McClung said.
McClung said you just don’t root against those girls after getting to know them, their families and coaches after so many years of competing against each other. However, McClung now must direct his attention to senior and first-time state qualifier, Agugliaro, after his team failed to qualify for state.
Agugliaro shot an 84 last year in regionals and was just short of making it individually.
“It’s really good (making state) because I’ve been working for it since my sophomore year,” Agugliaro said. “So, it was really amazing.”
Said McClung, “This is a goal that she’s had for a long time. So to watch her work the way she’s worked and go out there today, and it’s the best round of golf I’ve seen her play.”
McClung wants Agugliaro to enjoy this moment because she deserves it, and it’s a big accomplishment just to get to state alone. She does, however, have some work to do between now and Friday.
“I need to work on my driver a little bit and just chipping and putting,” Agugliaro said. “You can never have a good enough short game.”
McClung added, “Prairie View is a very unique test. It’s visually very demanding as far as off the tee.”
McClung does believe that Agugliaro has what it takes just by the way she drives the ball.
Agugliaro will play at Prairie View Golf Course in Carmel for the state championship. The tournament will start Friday, Sept. 29, and will carry through Saturday, Sept. 30.
Radlee-Michael Besser is a freelance sports reporter. Follow him on Twitter @_RadleeMichael.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Yorktown’s Kayliegh Agugliaro advances past IHSAA girls’ golf regionals