Improvement ensures Southern repeats as Herald-Times Girls Golfer of the Year
Melanie Southern focused on shaving shots on and around the green this year.
There were several facets to the work Bloomington South sophomore put in to improve her short game and make things even easier on her putter. It started with her iron play and hitting more greens in regulation. And when she does miss, making sure her chipping is on target.
"She relies heavily on her putter," South coach Jim Southern said. "When she putts at her best, she's one of the best putters I've seen in the state — when she putts at her best."
Jim Southern has seen his daughter bail herself out with long one-putt pars. He also saw her hit maybe two or three greens in regulation, even while shooting in the upper 70s. This year, improved accuracy with her approach shots helped her lower her average by two shots and retain her title as Herald-Times Girls' Golfer of the Year.
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"She did hit a lot more greens and now we're working on proximity to the hole," Jim Southern said. The goal is to allow her to keep sinking long putts, but for birdie. "She prides herself on being a solid chipper, but she hit more greens, so she didn't have to chip as much."
Melanie won the Jasper Invitational this year and was the medalist in each of the Panthers' dual meets this season.
"She did a lot of great things," Jim Southern said.
The highlight of the season for him was walking the 18 at The Legends with his daughter during the regional.
"It was an awesome thrill for me as a dad and coach," he said. "We took her up a couple days before, which was her first time on the course, and it's a tough championship golf course. It was windy that day and when she played the regional it was windy, and we learned a lot.
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"I had to go back to a kids golf tournament the last time I was able to caddy for her. I was able to help her calibrate the wind into her shots. She struggled going out on the first nine, but the back nine, she turned it on, going 1-over (37) on the back."
The regional is also where the Southerns picked up the cues for what Melanie will focus on improving for next year.
"You get to regional, those girls are getting more distance off the tee," Jim said. "She is incredibly accurate. At one Indiana Golf event she did this fall, she hit 100% of the fairways on her second day. She was just a club shorter.
"She wants to break 70 someday, that's her goal."
2022 Herald-Times All-Area Girls' Golf Team
Avery Beck, South, Jr.
Finished the year with an 18-hole average of 96.0, shooting a career best 90 at sectional. Team captain and the Panthers' longest hitter off the tee. Had a 96 at CI Tournament, an improvement by 22 strokes over 2021.
Kenady Hudson, Eastern Greene, Sr.
Shot a 93 at Otis Park in the Bedford North Lawrence Sectional to earn the top individual spot and advance to regional. She became the first T-Bird to qualify for regional since sister Kaitlyn made it out of the North Sectional in 2015. SWIAC champ with a 43. Had a 108 at regional. Lows were 41 for nine holes, with a season average of 47.5, and 85 for 18.
Darian Lafferty, North, Jr.
Scoring leader for Cougars averaging 41.0 for nine-hole events and 83.7 for 18-hole events. Shot an 82 for fourth at CI Tournament. Tied for second at sectional with a 76 and followed with an 87 at regional. Repeat All-Area.
Candice Rosemeier, Edgewood, Sr.
Strong return this season for Rosemeier, who led the Mustangs with 46 average for nine holes and 93 for 18-hole events. Shot a 94 for 10th and earn all-conference honors as Edgewood placed second at the WIC Tournament, Shot a 94 to lead team at sectional. Repeat All-Area.
Melanie Southern, South, So.
The Herald-Times Golfer of the Year again led the area with a 76.84 average this season. Shot 73 for second at CI Tournament, had a 76 at sectional to tie for second, then had an area best 80 at regional to tie for 10th. Repeat All-Area.
HONORABLE MENTION: Mallory Barrow, North, Sr. (49.0/9-hole events, 107.0/18 hole events; shot 96 at sectional); Ivy Yoder, North, Sr. (51.0/9-hole events, 105.9/18-hole events; shot 96 at sectional).
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Melanie Southern repeats as Herald-Times Girls Golfer of the Year
