Apollo’s Macey Brown finished the day tied for third overall at KHSAA State Golf Championships, while teammate Claire Reynolds set the tone for the future of the program with her top-50 finish.
After shooting a 73 on day one in order to advance, Brown finished the tournament with an overall score of 148.
Reynolds finished with a final score of 168 in her first state appearance as an eighth grader, while Daviess County’s Holly Holton closed out her senior year with an overall score of 172.
Brown said she got off to a rocky start, but was able to stay focused and finish off her high school career strong.
“When I first started I doubled the second hole, so that put a damper on it,” Brown said. “But, I knew I had a lot of golf left and so I got them back eventually on the back nine. After that I missed a few putts and gained a few strokes, but overall I was pretty happy with how I played.”
Brown was excited to be back at state following her state championship run last year and was thrilled to be in contention on day two this year.
While she wasn’t able to repeat as state champion, Brown was pleased with how she played and is ready to head on to the next chapter of her athletic career.
Brown has committed to the University of Indianapolis and will sign in November, but first she wanted to credit Apollo Head Coach Jarrod Carter and her father for helping her become the golfer that she is today.
“I’m going to give a lot of credit to my coach and my dad on this one,” Brown said. “Because the last four years have really been us three. It’s been good bonding moments and they’re my best friends even though it’s my dad and my coach and they’re alway there for me. I know they would do anything for me… I think they’re the ones that helped me improve the most.”
Looking back on her career Brown and Carter both said that they will never forget winning the state championship last year.
“Just that feeling whenever I made that putt,” Brown said. “I just knew that he was behind me the whole time and he coached me so well both days. That’s probably the best memory I have with him. Just running to him and giving him a hug before I gave anyone else a hug. He’s just really close to my heart and I’m going to miss him a lot.”
As much credit as Brown gives Carter, he does the same with her, saying that she’s helped him become the coach he is today.
“She’s made me a better coach,” Carter said. “I coach differently because of her. She put Apollo golf back on the state map per say. People knew who she was and they loved playing with her. Personality-wise, I mean she’s talented and skilled and everything like that, but people just loved when they got to play with her and that means a lot.”
Carter said that he loves Brown and her family and that he’s thankful for all the time that they’ve gotten to spend together over the past four years.
That’s what Carter will remember the most and is something he looked back on as the day came to a close.
“Just the time that I got to walk with her and spend with her and figure things out,” Carter said. “We did it together. She gives me a lot of credit that I don’t deserve and she says I was a big reason why she won last year just because of being with her and keeping her on track. But who wouldn’t want to coach a player like that?”
While the Macey Brown era for the E-gals has come to a close, both she and Carter are excited for the future that is ahead for Apollo.
Mary Ann Lyons and Reynolds both qualified for the state tournament, with the latter advancing to the second day and looking to return next year.
Carter said that Reynolds is a work horse and that while she has more to learn, he knows that she’s determined to come back to state.
“I was really impressed,” Carter said. “For an eighth grader to come out first year making state and shoot a couple of 84s. That was pretty good and it’s a good foundation to work off of.”
With Lyons and Reynolds now setting the tone for the bright future of Apollo golf, Carter said that the next step is getting more athletes to join the program and.
“Really it’s just trying to build the program’s numbers,” Carter said. “I think I’ve got a good core. I’ve got two girls that have been to the state tournament and I think Claire’s got a bug for it now.”
