In her first two years of high school, Holly Anderson had a chance to play alongside her sister Sydney on the Columbus North girls golf team.
Holly Anderson liked that experience so much she decided to follow her older sister to college. They will team together next year at Ball State University.
“She’s partly why I chose to go to Ball State,” Holly Anderson said. “She really wanted me to go there. Being on the team with her here at North was great. I loved being on the team with my sister, which is good because now (younger sister) Annie is on the (North) team this year.”
That team begins its season Saturday in the Fall Preview at Prairie View in Carmel, site of the state finals. Holly Anderson led the Bull Dogs to a seventh-place finish in last year’s state tournament.
The previous year, Sydney and Holly Anderson led North to a fifth-place finish at state.
“I think Ball State is a great fit for her,” North coach Scott Seavers said. “It’s a Division I school. It’s relatively close to home. They have a good golf program. The coach (Katherine Mowat) is a nice lady. I’m really happy for her and excited.”
The Cardinals finished ninth out of 10 teams in the Mid-American Conference Tournament in April at Purgatory Golf Club in Noblesville. Holly Anderson was in attendance to watch her sister.
Holly Anderson also had a chance to see Sydney play in Ball State’s Cardinal Classic in September at The Players Club in Yorktown.
“It was a great experience watching all the college teams there, to see how they do things,” she said.
The Cardinals started recruiting Holly last summer. They offered a 50 percent scholarship.
Holly Anderson, who plans to major in interior design or something business related, is hoping to win a few other academic grants, including the Andy Critzer Memorial Scholarship.
“I’m going to work hard and try to get some academic money, so hopefully, my whole college will be paid for after that,” she said.
Last year, Holly Anderson led the Bull Dogs with a 78.5 average in 11 18-hole matches in earning The Republic Girls Golfer of the Year honors.
“I’m definitely expecting a lot from Holly,” Seavers said. “She’s put in a lot of time in the summer and in the spring. She’s going to have a great year. She’s developed really good leadership skills, and I expect that to transfer and help our team out.”
Holly Anderson has had a busy offseason, playing in several tournaments. She won her age division in Indiana Golf Association tournaments at Shadowood, Cascades and Greensburg Country Club.
She hopes that success carries over into the high school season.
“I’m so excited,” she said. “Being with all the girls in the summer, we usually play in the summer tournaments together, and going out and practicing with Annie and Sydney is getting me ready. I’m ready for golf every day and ready for school to start, and I’m excited for the postseason.”
Having her college decision out of the way means one less thing for her to stress over.
“It’s just a relief not having one more thing to worry about senior year,” she said.
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Name: Holly Anderson
School: Columbus North
Year: Senior
College choice: Ball State
Key stat: Averaged 78.5 in 11 18-hole matches last season
Fun fact: Anderson was last year’s The Republic Girls Golfer of the Year. The previous three years, that honor went to her sister Sydney, who is entering her sophomore year on Ball State’s women’s golf team.
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