The REPORTER
The Hamilton Southeastern boys golf team sailed to the Hoosier Crossroads Conference championship Monday at Bear Slide Golf Club in Cicero.
The No. 1-ranked Royals totaled a team score of 295 for first place, with No. 6 Westfield the runner-up by scoring 306. Third-ranked Zionsville finished with a 311.
Southeastern was led by Mattingly Upchurch and Nate Benson, both of whom had great performances on the back nine to score 73. Benson went 32 on the back nine, while Upchurch scored 34.
Both players were named to the All-HCC team at the conclusion of the meet. The Royals had two additional All-conference players: Kai Warner carded 74 (tying him for fourth place) and Jordan Huxford scored 75 (tying him for sixth place).
“Couldn’t be more proud of the guys because they just battled back and fought back all day,” said HSE coach David Young. The coach said his team handled the adverse conditions during the match.
“The course was playing pretty tough today, especially with the wind,” said Young. “They did that incredibly well, and couldn’t be more proud of their hard work and sticking with it today.”
The Shamrocks got three players on the All-HCC team. Jake Cesare also tied for fourth with a 74, while Will Harvey tied for eighth place with a 76 and Ryan Cesare placed ninth with a 77.
Zionsville’s Gavin Poole was the meet medalist with a 72.
Ninth-ranked Noblesville was a close fourth, scoring 313. The Millers had two all-conference plays: Rory Bushong tied for sixth with a 75 and Lance Decker tied for 10th place with a 78.
Fishers took sixth place as a team, scoring 330. Lucas Brown was the Tigers’ low man with an 81.
Team scores: Hamilton Southeastern 295, Westfield 306, Zionsville 311, Noblesville 313, Brownsburg 328, Fishers 330, Franklin Central 356, Avon 364.
Medalist: Gavin Poole (Z) 39-33=72.
Southeastern scores: Mattingly Upchurch 39-34=73, Nate Benson 41-32=73, Kai Warner 35-39=74, Jordan Huxford 36-39=75, Dane Starnes 38-41=79, Aiden Huffer 41-39=80.
Westfield scores: Jake Cesare 37-37=74, Will Harvey 40-36=76, Ryan Cesare 39-38=77, Brayden Worthington 39-40=79, Hudson Kutchman 41-40=81, Jack Harris 45-37=82.
Noblesville scores: Rory Bushong 37-38=75, Lance Decker 37-41=78, Drew Werkley 42-37=79, Alex Peck 40-41=81, Tyler Marucci 43-38=81, Brady Mangin 39-43=82.
Fishers scores: Lucas Brown 42-39=81, Carson Peters 42-40=82, Ethan Poto 40-43=83, Tommy Klinker 39-45=84, Will Major 43-43=86, Sam Keithley 39-49=88.
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Hamilton Heights won its Senior Night match Tuesday in a rainy three-team competition at Bear Slide.
The Huskies scored 166, followed by Northwestern with 169 and Western with 183. Kole Kirtley led Heights with 40, followed by Nathan Cox 41, Ethan Millsaps 42, Caleb Sullivan 43, Drew Woodruff 47, Simon Knott 49 and Hunter Doak 63.