North golfer takes first at state; Senior leads girls team to podium finish

CARMEL — In the week leading up to the Girls Golf State Finals, Holly Anderson asked her parents if she could get a dog if Columbus North won the state team title or if she won the individual title.

The Anderson clan is about to grow by one furry, four-legged creature. The senior fired a 2-over-par 146 for 36 holes to win medalist honors and led the Bull Dogs to a third-place team finish.

“This morning on the driving range, she was joking about it, and I said ‘Holly, don’t get excited,'” said her father, Chris Anderson. “It was a pretty safe bet when we told you that, so we’re not worried.”

Holly Anderson, who became the first North girl to win state medalist honor, was tied for seventh, three shots out of the lead, following an opening-round 75 at Prairie View Golf Club. She played 16 holes on Friday before play was suspended because of darkness and had to play her final two holes of the first round Saturday morning.

In the final round, she moved into the lead following a 1-under 35 on the front nine. She slipped back with bogeys on No. 11 and No. 13 but then birdied 14 and 15 to regain the lead and parred the final three holes for a final-round 71.

“I knew I was up there, but I didn’t know I was in first,” she said. “I knew if I just hit fairways and greens and made some putts, I’d be up there. I was not nervous but anxious to get through and see how I finished.”

Anderson, who also won medalist honors at the Greensburg Sectional and Lapel Regional, won by two shots under Elyse Stasil of Chesterton. Defending champion Alexis Miestowski of Lake Central and Reece Malapit of Yorktown tied for third at 149.

Holly Anderson was named to the All-State team following the tournament.

“After winning the sectional and the regional, it gave me confidence,” she said. “I never thought I could actually win because there’s such stiff competition. It’s great to finish strong my last season.”