FALL SPORTS PREVIEW: Girls Golf

While it would appear that golf is an individual sport, seeing as how, well, it's golfer versus course, when it comes to team championships, it's all about depth and balance. Martinsville proved that in 2007, winning a record 10th girls state golf championship. Artesians girls golf coach Sharon Most set the mark for the second-best team score in state finals history with a 305. Senior Carleigh Silvers (who shot a 152 for the two day event last fall) returns, as does junior Kelsey Benson (158). While Martinsville graduated three seniors from last year's squad, expect the Artesians to be in the hunt again this season. Who else can build that team dynamic and make a run at state? Watch out for Hamilton Southeastern, led by senior Autumn Duke, for one. The Royals finished runner-up in 2007 with a 642 (compared to Martinsville's two-day total of 623). Other teams to watch for: Avon, Noblesville, Brebeuf, Roncalli, Carmel, Cathedral Defending individual state champion Sophie Hayashi, of Brebeuf, will not be back to defend her crown this fall. Hayashi moved to Bradenton, Fla. over the summer. That means that several local Central Indiana players have a chance to compete for the individual state title. GOLFERS TO WATCH FOR THIS FALL: AUTUMN DUKE (Hamilton Southeastern) - Senior tied for 17th at state last fall BREANNA PATZ (Avon) - Senior tied with Duke for 17th place in 2007. CARLEIGH SILVERS (Martinsville) - Senior is top returning Central Indiana finisher from state, where she placed 12th in 2007. KELSEY BENSON (Martinsville) - A junior, Benson was top 25 at state. ERIN BUCKLEY (Roncalli) - A senior, she tied for 25th with teammate Jamie Caylor at state. JAMIE CAYLOR (Roncalli) - Just a sophomore, one of the best young girls golfers in the area. MEGHAN POTEE (Noblesville) - Shot a 160 to tie for 27th at state last season as a sophomore. EMILY PODZIELINSKI (Noblesville) - A senior, she shot a 166 over the two-day state finals. CHRISTINA BEYERL (Hamilton Southeastern) - As a junior, tied for 31st at state. ARI SAVICH (Carmel) - A junior, Savich is the younger sister of '07 state runner-up Melina Savich. MAGGIE FLYNN (Brebeuf) - Tied for 33rd at state as a sophomore.