(Carmel) — Fairfield senior Brayden Miller didn’t repeat as individual state champion at the IHSAA Boys Golf State Finals this week but he didn’t come away with a massive honor.

After his 8th place finish this week, Miller was named the 1st ever Mr. Golf in Indiana. Started this year, Mr. Golf will annually recognize the top senior golfer in the state, determined by their play on the course throughout their career.

“It means the world to me–it’s awesome,” Miller said, before conceding he didn’t even know the award existed. “The last two years I’ve tried to take a big leadership role in our team. I’ve tried to lead a really great group of guys. I care more about my team than myself. That’s what I want to continue. I don’t want to be known as the way I play golf but for the impact I left.”

After winning the state championship as a junior, Miller shot rounds of 70 and 74 to finish at Even Par in the 2025 State Finals, good for an 8th place finish. He will golf at Cincinnati next year.

Westview junior Silas Haarer finished 11th at +1 (70, 75) and Elkhart freshman Ben Divido was 12th at +2 (75, 71).

Westfield senior Will Harvey took home medalist honors, finishing at impressive -9 (69, 66). His efforts led Westfield to the team state championship. Three Westfield golfers finished in the top 10.

In the team competition, Saint Joseph was 12th and Elkhart 13th.

Day 1 Recap

Westview’s Silas Haarer and defending state champion Brayden Miller both carded scores of 70 in round one of the IHSAA State Finals here at Prairie View Golf Club.

The two-under-par rounds tie them for 5th place, three strokes behind co-leaders Luke Johnston of Evansville North and Brycen Tisch of Zionsville.

Haarer, the sectional champ, was extremely consistent. The Westview senior had three birdies and 13 pars until finally scoring a bogey on the par-4 17th hole.

Miller, who came back and won the regional last Thursday at Stonehenge, started with seven pars and fired an even-par 36 on the front nine. After a birdie on 11, the senior came up big with an eagle on the 13th hole to go to three-under.  But Miller sandwiched a birdie on 16 with bogeys on 15 and 17 to finish at -2.

The sophomore Tisch from Zionsville finished as smoldering as the temperatures. The Eagles star shot a 31 on the back nine, including birdies on 17 and 18.

In the team competition, Westfield owns a six-stroke lead on Zionsville as the Shamrock squad finished with a four-man score of even par. Area squads Elkhart (+34) and Saint Joseph (+36) stand 12th and 13th overall.  Freshman Ben Divido led Elkhart with a 75, while Zach Matthys and Tate Guyton paced Saint Joseph, each carding a 79. is slated to resume Wednesday.

The final 18 holes are slated for Wednesday, but thunderstorms are expected during the afternoon.