Had the pace of play been a bit more consistent at Prairie View Golf Club on Friday, Ava Ray might have found herself atop the individual leaderboard after the first round of the girls golf state championship.
The Franklin senior got out to a torrid start, collecting birdies on the second, seventh and eighth holes to make the turn in first place with a 33. A half-hour wait on the 10th tee slowed her momentum, but Ray still shot a 2-over-par 74 to land in a three-way tie for fourth place heading into today’s final round.
Ray is four strokes back of Lapel’s Macy Beeson and Evansville North’s Chloe Johnson; she is one behind Castle’s Lydia Bauersfeld for third.
“I was really happy with the front, at least,” Ray said. “The back nine is just harder visually off the tee, and that’s really what I struggled with.”
Center Grove, meanwhile, is eighth in the team standings after posting a team total of 336. The Trojans, who were led by an 80 from sophomore Camille Short, trail Evansville North by 34 but are just 14 strokes out of fourth place, which would ensure a spot on the medal stand.
Sage Parsetich carded an 83 for Center Grove, while senior Lanie DeHaven was close behind with an 84. Lexi Stuart and Rowen Pfeifle each shot 89.
While the Trojans try to work their way up the team leaderboard, Ray will be doing what she can to make her way to the top as a solo act.
She plans to take the same approach she took Friday, except with the idea that winning is actually a possibility.
“I have to make up ground,” Ray said. “I’m just going to go out and play the best that I can, and kind of hope that it’s enough.”
