By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – If the Noblesville boys golf team knows how to do anything, it’s finish strong.
Decker
The Millers have a history of doing that at the state meet, and history repeated itself on Wednesday at Prairie View. Noblesville cut 10 strokes off its first-day score, totaling 295 on the second day. That helped the Millers secure a third-place finish with a score of 600, giving them medals and a step up from last year, when Noblesville placed fourth at state.
“My kids always seem to play better on Day 2,” said Millers coach Gary Deakyne. “And I don’t know what it is or why it is, but they have this feeling that Noblesville plays better on Day 2. And I’m fine with that. They played great.”
Carmel’s Noah Johnson helped the Greyhounds to a sixth-place team finish. (Julie Brown)
The Millers had consistent finishes all around. Senior Drew Werkley tied for 12th place with a two-day score of 146. Werkley made five birdies on the second day to help Noblesville clinch a place on the podium.
Deakyne said that Werkley is “more about what the team needed. It was never about him as an individual. It’s always about ‘What can I do for the team? And that’s the way all our kids are, and it’s great.”
Senior Lance Decker helped out with four birdies on the second day, giving him a score of 76. Decker was named to the All-State team at the conclusion of the meet.
All five Millers made at least one birdie. Senior Jackson Umthum drained three; he totaled 72 for his second day score. Junior Tyler Marucci added three birdies, while junior Dustin Turpin made one.
Hounds, Royals finish top 10
Carmel was back at state as a team for the first time since 2021. The Greyhounds had a solid day, scoring 618 and placing sixth.
Sophomore Patrick Wolf was Carmel’s low man, with a two-day score of 152. Wolf made one birdie. Seniors Davis Hutchins and Ethan Hoagland both drained two birdies, while junior Noah Johnson made one.
Hamilton Southeastern finished ninth as a team with 626. Senior Kai Warner totaled 149, tying him for 19th place. Warner scored 72 for the second day, making three birdies.
Junior Mattingly Upchurch finished with four birdies while totaling 151 for the tournament. Sophomore Dane Starnes had two birdies, while junior Blake Babb and sophomore Brody Colburn both made one.
County individuals
Fishers junior Tommy Klinker tied for 15th, with a score of 147. Klinker made four birdies in his first appearance at state.
Guerin Catholic junior Eli Wessel finished with a two-day score of 150, tying him for 24th place. Wessel made one birdie and was named to the All-State team.
Hamilton Southeastern’s Kai Warner tied for 19th place. (Julie Brown)
Guerin Catholic’s Eli Wessel tied for 24th; he was named to the All-State team. (Julie Brown)