As close as the sectional was between the Westfield and Guerin Catholic boys golf teams, the regional was even closer.
The Shamrocks managed to pull through, winning the Lake Central regional championship by one stroke over the Golden Eagles Thursday at Sandy Pines Golf Course in Demotte. Westfield posted a 299, while Guerin Catholic scored a 300. It’s the third regional championship for the ‘Rocks; they won back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015.
Both teams will advance to the IHSAA state finals, which begin Tuesday at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.
“Couldn’t be prouder of these young men today,” said Westfield coach Josh Bryant. “Every team faced some adversity out there with a couple of major waits and pin locations and I thought we handled it really well.”
Two freshmen led the way for the Shamrocks. Jake Cesare finished with an even-par 72, while Will Harvey was right behind him with a 73, playing his back nine two under. Cesare totaled three birdies for the regional and Harvey made two.
Junior Alec Cesare totaled a 74, including a clutch performance in his last three holes. Cesare had to make par on each of those holes for Westfield to clinch the title, and he did just that, including an eight-foot side hill par save on No. 17. Alec Cesare had one birdie for the day.
“Alec was just so steady all day for us,” said Bryant.
Cam Kooi made three birdies and Nolan Hill made one. Westfield will be making its seventh appearance at the state meet, and the first since 2017.
The Golden Eagles were led by Jacob Modleski, who was the meet medalist. Modleski carded a three-under par 69, a score that included five birdies.
Connor McNeely and Leo Wessel both added 74s; Wessel had three birdies and McNeely made two. Zach Thieme also had a birdie. Guerin Catholic will advance to state for the third consecutive year.
Valparaiso placed third with a 313, taking the third spot to qualify for state. Carmel finished in fifth place with a 320, but will have an individual advancing to state. Owen Sander scored a 75, which easily qualified him for the state meet. The top five players not on an advancing team move on to Prairie View.
Sander had two birdies in his round. Joseph Armfield totaled a 78, including two birdies as well. Patrick Michael also made two birdies.
AT SANDY PINES
Team scores: Westfield 299, Guerin Catholic 300, Valparaiso 313, Chesterton 319, Carmel 320, Crown Point 321, Faith Christian 338, Twin Lakes 344, Munster 345, West Lafayette 349, Boone Grove 352, Lake Central 359, Rensselaer Central 362, New Prairie 367, Harrison 377, La Porte 391, Logansport 394, LaCrosse 415.
Medalist: Jacob Modleski (Guerin Catholic) 36-33=69.
Westfield scores: Jake Cesare 37-35=72, Will Harvey 34-39=73, Alec Cesare 37-37=74, Cam Kooi 45-35=80, Nolan Hill 41-41=82.
Other Guerin Catholic scores: Connor McNeely 38-36=74, Leo Wessel 39-35=74, Zach Theime 41-42=83, Scotty Smith 44-40=84.
Carmel scores: Owen Sander 38-37=75, Joseph Armfield 40-38=78, Kent Fujita 42-41=83, Patrick Michael 42-42=84, Ryan Jones 47-44=91.
Over at The Players Club in Yorktown, both Noblesville and Hamilton Southeastern were in celebratory moods, as they also qualified for the state meet after their performances at the Muncie Central regional.
The Millers finished with a team score of 305. Cathedral also totaled a 305, and won the regional on the fifth-man score. Still, Noblesville was happy as it qualified for state for the first time since 2019 and the 23rd time in program history.
“We had a goal at the start of the year to make it back to Prairie View, and we’re headed that way, so we’re going to enjoy the ride home,” said Millers coach Gary Deakyne.
Noblesville had two of its golfers finish in the top five of the individual standings. Will Perkins placed fourth with his score of 73, while Drew Decker’s 74 put him in a three-way tie for fifth place. Perkins collected three birdies and Decker made two. Alex Peck and Brady Mangin both carded 79s; Peck had three birdies and Mangin had one. Deakyne said both Peck and Mangin “played great all day long.”
Perkins said his team had an “off year last year, but we’re more experienced this year. We finally started putting our game together, and we’re back.”
The Royals will also be back at state for the fourth year in a row and the 12th overall. Cole Starnes continued his strong post-season play with an even-par 72, good for third place and the highest individual finish of a county player. Starnes had two birdies in his round.
Sophomore Jordan Huxford turned out to be the hero of the day for Southeastern. He stepped into the No. 4 spot and delivered a 75, greatly helping the Royals hold off a tough New Castle team for the third team spot.
Huxford made four birdies.
“I think I played great, other than holes 2 and 6,” said Huxford. Even with the tough holes, Huxford found a way to “finish and get the job done.”
Lane Zedrick had three birdies in his round, while Tyler Marcinko made two.
“Overall we played pretty well, pretty consistent,” said HSE coach David Young. “We stuck to our plan.”
The Royals started from the 10th tee, which Young admitted is not an easy thing to do. The coach said he “couldn’t be more proud” of his team for sticking it out, and the team is “very excited for next week to have a new course and have a new challenge.”
Fishers placed sixth as a team with a 325, but did move an individual on to state. Connor McMillan scored a 74, putting him in the fifth-place tie. McMillan had three birdies in his round.
“I got off to a little bit of a rough start,” said McMillan. “I was a couple over through my first few holes, and I knew I had to fight back to be able to advance to the state finals.” McMillan said he knew he had to go make some birdies and stay consistent, “and I was able to do that,” he said.
Jonathan Ash had two birdies, while Ryan Witt made one.
AT THE PLAYERS CLUB
Team scores: Cathedral 305, won on fifth-man score, Noblesville 305, Hamilton Southeastern 309, New Castle 316, Yorktown 323, Fishers 325, Park Tudor 328, Bellmont 329, New Palestine 336, Mount Vernon 336, Bishop Chatard 337, Delta 338, Richmond 344, Connersville 352, Norwell 353, Bluffton 356, Northeastern 357, Jay County 377.
Medalist: Derek Tabor (New Castle) 34-32=66.
Noblesville scores: Will Perkins 36-37=73, Drew Decker 35-39=74, Brady Mangin 40-39=79, Alex Peck 37-42=79, Rory Bushong 42-45=87.
Southeastern scores: Cole Starnes 34-38=72, Jordan Huxford 40-35=75, Lane Zedrick 38-43=81, Tyler Marcinko 39-42=81, Tyler Lacy 42-40=82.
Fishers scores: Connor McMillan 36-38=74, Ryan Witt 39-42=81, Jonathan Ash 39-44=83, Matthew Albright 45-42=87, Eli Toon 48-40=88.