Noblesville’s Caroline Whallon went into the final day of the Girls State Junior Championship at the Country Club of Terre Haute three strokes ahead of Fort Wayne’s Taylor Larkins. Caroline finished the front nine of the final day +1 and never handed over her lead throughout the three-day tournament, although Larkins and Carmel's Claire Swathwood applied some pressure on the front nine.
“I definitely felt somewhat pressured today because this is the first tournament that I’ve ever really been in the lead for. After the front nine this morning, I felt like I was able to take a breath and be like okay it’s fine, it’s going to work out. After the first two rounds, I tried to make sure that I kept positive thoughts and I was able to keep it going throughout the day” said Whallon.
Whallon used this positive pressure to produce a steady back nine, which led to her coming out victorious, four strokes ahead of the competition (+7).
Whallon added “I have been working really hard, practicing a lot, and just playing a lot and I feel like all of this paid off today. I feel like I will be mentally prepared for the next tournament and I’m more than excited for the Women's State Amateur”.
Whallon will represent Indiana August 2-5 at the National PGA Junior Championship held at Coghill Golf and Country Club.
Fort Wayne’s Simone Senk came close to snagging the second spot on the last few holes, but Larkins remained consistent finishing two-over par on the back to finish out the tournament +11, one stroke ahead of Senk, thus securing her runner-up spot.