By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – The Hamilton Southeastern boys golf team successfully defended its sectional championship on Monday.
The Royals led a 1-2-3 finish of county teams at the Noblesville sectional, which took place at Harbour Trees. Southeastern totaled a team score of 292 to win the trophy and the program’s sixth sectional title. It’s the third time the Royals have gone back-to-back for a sectional victory.
Sophomore Mattingly Upchurch led the way for HSE. Upchurch drained five birdies and made no bogies on his way to a five under par 66. That puts him in elite company: Upchurch is now the 41st golfer to card a 66 or lower at a sectional tournament.
Everyone on the Royals team put up solid scores. Nate Benson made four birdies on his way to 74, Kai Warner had five birdies while scoring 75. Aiden Huffer added a 77, making three birdies and Jordan Huxford’s 79 included two birdies.
The top three teams at the sectional advance to the regional, which takes place Thursday at The Player’s Club in Yorktown. Noblesville placed second with a 301 to earn a regional spot.
Alex Peck was the Millers’ low man with a 74, he made one birdie along the way. Lance Decker and Drew Werkley both scored 75, with Werkley draining two birdies. Tyler Marucci led the birdies with three during his round of 77.
Fishers placed third, taking the final regional place on a tiebreaker with Pendleton Heights. Both teams scored 315, with the Tigers advancing on the fifth-man score.
Tommy Klinker led the Tigers with a 72, tying for second individually. Klinker had three birdies in his round. Sam Keithley made one birdie during his round of 79. Lucas Brown and Will Major both made two birdies; Brown chipped in his second birdie on the 18th hole. Carson Peters also got a birdie on the 18th hole.
Hamilton Heights placed sixth with a team score of 335. Nathan Cox led the Huskies with a 78, making four birdies. Caleb Sullivan, Kole Kirtley and Ethan Millsaps all drained one birdie.
Guerin Catholic won its first-ever sectional title Monday at Ulen Country Club. The two-time defending state champion Golden Eagles totaled a 288. (Photo provided)
First win for Golden Eagles
Guerin Catholic, the two-time defending state champion, did something Monday it never had before: win a sectional championship.
The Golden Eagles broke through with an outstanding performance at the Westfield sectional, which took place at Ulen Country Club in Lebanon. Guerin Catholic scored a 288 at this loaded sectional that saw the top four teams all score under 300.
Leo Wessel and Owen Nielsen both tied for third place individually with scores of 70. Wessel made three birdies during his round and Nielsen had two. Eli Wessel and Will Parenteau both carded 74s, with Parenteau draining two birdies. Gabe Berglund had four birdies in his round.
Zionsville took second as a team with 292. Westfield and Carmel both scored 298, but the Shamrocks had the lower fifth-man score, so they took third place and the last spot to advance to the regional, which takes place Friday at Coyote Crossing in West Lafayette.
The Shamrocks’ Jake Cesare was the meet medalist. Both he and Zionsville’s Adam Wall scored two under par 68s; Cesare claimed first place in a playoff. He had two birdies in his round with no bogies.
Will Harvey and Ryan Cesare both had 75s; Harvey made four birdies and Cesare had three. Hudson Kutchma also made one birdie.
Carmel advanced its three lowest scorers on to the regional as individuals. Noah Husk was part of the tie for third place by scoring 70; he made four birdies. Noah Johnson totaled a 73, including three birdies, while Ethan Hoagland carded a 76, making two birdies. Mason Price scored a 79, draining one birdie. Max O’Neil also had one birdie.
University scored a 380, while Sheridan totaled 391. Tyler Davis scored an 89 for the Trailblazers. Nathan Hinshaw and Erich Retz both had 96s for the Blackhawks, with Retz making one birdie.
AT HARBOUR TREES
Team scores: Hamilton Southeastern 292, Noblesville 301, Fishers 315 (advanced on fifth-man score), Pendleton Heights 315, Tipton 317, Hamilton Heights 335, Frankton 341, Lapel 347, Elwood 412, Alexandria 445, Anderson 478, Daleville 483.
Meet medalist: Mattingly Upchurch (Southeastern) 34-32=66.
Other Southeastern scores: Nate Benson 37-37=74, Kai Warner 36-39=75, Aiden Huffer 39-38=77, Jordan Huxford 39-40=79.
Noblesville scores: Alex Peck 38-36=74, Lance Decker 38-37=75, Drew Werkley 35-40=75, Tyler Marucci 37-40=77, Brady Mangin 38-42=80.
Fishers scores: Tommy Klinker 34-38=72, Sam Keithley 38-41=79, Carson Peters 43-38=81, Lucas Brown 41-42=83, Will Major 45-44=89.
Heights scores: Nathan Cox 38-40=78, Caleb Sullivan 38-42=80, Kole Kirtley 42-44=86, Drew Woodruff 42-49=91, Ethan Millsaps 44-49=93.
AT ULEN COUNTRY CLUB
Team scores: Guerin Catholic 288, Zionsville 292, Westfield 298 (advanced on fifth-man score), Carmel 298, Lebanon 354, Frankfort 359, Bethesda Christian 361, University 380, Sheridan 391, Western Boone 422.
Meet medalist: Jake Cesare (Westfield) 35-33=68, won in playoff.
Guerin Catholic scores: Leo Wessel 35-35=70, Owen Nielsen 36-34=70, Eli Wessel 37-37=74, Will Parenteau 37-37=74, Gabe Berglund 42-41=83.
Other Westfield scores: Will Harvey 39-36=75, Ryan Cesare 38-37=75, Brayden Worthington 40-40=80, Hudson Kutchma 40-41=81.
Carmel scores: Noah Husk 37-33=70, Noah Johnson 39-34=73, Ethan Hoagland 40-36=76, Mason Price 41-38=79, Max O’Neil 42-41=83.
University scores: Tyler Davis 44=45=89, Emmett White 47-49=96, Ked Laborsky 49-48=97, Nick Quinto 45-53=98, Eli Barnes 58-58=116.
Sheridan scores: Nathan Hinshaw 50-46=96, Erich Retz 52-44=96, Parker Williams 51-46=97, Zach Phillips 51-51=102, Tyler Garner 56-51=107.