For the Daily Reporter
CARMEL — New Palestine senior Annaliese Fox could never find a rhythm.
“She had a couple bad holes with a double (bogey) and triple on the front nine,” Dragons coach Sarah O’Brien said.
Fox shot an 85 on Saturday to give her a 36-hole total of 164, tied for 27th, in the Indiana High School Athletic Association Girls Golf State Finals at Prairie View Golf Club.
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“She was kind of unlucky was really all it was,” O’Brien said. “She hit some great shots. She hit it well today. Not too many putts fell. It was one of those rounds.”
Fox hit in the water twice on the ninth hole to register a triple-bogey.
“She hit some clubs that we both agree were good choices but she hit them so well and hit them farther than she thought,” O’Brien said. “You feel unlucky when you don’t get rewarded for hitting good shots and, frankly, just the opposite. It is a funny game.”
Fox was admittedly frustrated Friday with her first round of 79, but O’Brien said Fox had a good attitude Saturday. O’Brien said Fox enjoys playing with Greenfield-Central junior Caroline Gibson, who she was paired with on Saturday.
“(Fox) played tough and fought through it,” O’Brien said. “I wish it could have been better, but I’m proud of her.”
Gibson shot an 85 on Saturday to give her a two-day total of 166, tied for the 30th.
‘I had a slow start to the front nine,” Gibson said. “On the back nine, I kicked it in gear the last four holes.”
Gibson parred the final four holes.
‘I could have got started sooner and I would have been happy with that,” Gibson said. “I’m proud of myself and for the first time coming to state, not bad.”
Gibson said the ball was carrying farther than it was Friday since it was warmer.
“I was able to hit my normal clubs the normal distance, so it felt good,” she said.
The experience of making the state finals for the first time was a positive for the Cougars’ junior.
“I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Gibson said. “I’m happy with how it turned out.”
