Before Thursday, Hamilton Southeastern sophomore golf player Tyler Marcinko had yet to play an 18-hole varsity match.
Marcinko finally got to do that on Thursday, in a tournament that just happened to be the Muncie Central regional at The Players Club in Yorktown. Marcinko played outstanding, emerging as the Royals’ low man and helping Southeastern to its first regional championship in six years.
The Royals won the regional with a score of 296. It’s the school’s fourth regional title, with the others coming in 2008, 2013 and 2015. It also sends HSE to next week’s IHSAA state finals at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel, the Royals will be making their 11th appearance at state and third in a row.
Southeastern’s team score was its second-best total of the season, just off the 295 it carded at the Hamilton County meet. Royals coach David Young noted that in terms of scoring to par, it was the team’s best of the year at eight over.
“We played really well,” said Young. “Tyler coming in today for his first 18 holes for varsity and shooting even par is absolutely great.”
Marcinko finished with an even-par 72, which tied him for fifth place individually. He had four birdies in his round.
“I played great,” said Marcinko. “It was a fun experience out there. The atmosphere was wonderful. Just taking it hole by hole. I had a lot of my teammates there to support me and it was a lot of fun today.”
Lane Zedrick and Cole Starnes both added 73s for Southeastern, with Starnes making four birdies and Zedrick three. Young pointed out that the Royals’ low three scores were all from sophomores.
“Coming from sectionals, we didn’t have one person who had played in a postseason because of last year, obviously not having a season, and so many seniors the year before,” said Young. “We’re really chalking this year up to getting great experience for years to come on our program.”
Tyler Lacy scored a 78 for HSE, while Thomas Reising added an 86. Both made one birdie.
“We’re peaking at the right time,” said Young. “We knew that we were close Monday at sectionals. We knew that we could’ve done a whole lot better, and then we bounced right back today and really got our plan executed, just like we knew that we needed to.”
Cathedral was the second-place team with a 301, followed by Fishers, which carded a 313 for third place. Both teams will also advance to next week’s state meet. It will be the Tigers’ second time qualifying for state; they made their inaugural appearance in 2017.
Will Schade led Fishers with a 76, including five birdies. Matt Wolf scored 77 and Matthew Albright carded a 79; both had two birdies.
“Played well enough to advance,” said Tigers coach Mike Mozingo. “We had some struggles out there on the course today, especially on the back nine. But the kids did a good job of grinding things out and getting it home.”
Noblesville had two individuals play at the regional. Will Perkins scored 84 and Drew Decker carded an 87, including one birdie.
AT THE PLAYERS CLUB
Team scores: Hamilton Southeastern 296, Cathedral 301, Fishers 313, Tipton 318, Bellmont 324, New Castle 324, Mount Vernon 325, Yorktown 326, Bishop Chatard 331, Monroe Central 335, Norwell 335, Richmond 336, Park Tudor 344, Delta 344, New Palestine 348, Connersville 358, Union County 359, Eastbrook 381.
Medalist: Ryan Ford (Cathedral) 31-37=68, won in playoff.
Southeastern scores: Tyler Marcinko 35-37=72, Lane Zedrick 38-35=73, Cole Starnes 36-37=73, Tyler Lacy 40-38=78, Thomas Reising 43-43=86.
Fishers scores: Will Schade 36-40=76, Matt Wolf 39-38=77, Matthew Albright 39-40=79, Connor McMillan 43-38=81, Ryan Witt 41-42=83.
Noblesville scores: Will Perkins 39-45=84, Drew Decker 43-44=87.
GOLDEN EAGLES GET FIRST REGIONAL WIN
Guerin Catholic finally made its postseason breakthrough on Thursday, as the Golden Eagles triumphed at the Lake Central regional at Sandy Pines Golf Club in Demotte.
The victory is the first-ever postseason championship for Guerin Catholic, which scored a 296 for the win. The Golden Eagles edged out Carmel by one stroke; the Greyhounds totaled 297. Zionsville was third with a 318 and will join GC and Carmel at next week’s state meet.
Guerin’s Connor McNeely won individual medalist honors with a two-under par 70, while Leo Wessel’s 73 tied him for fourth place. Both Golden Eagles players had four birdies for the day. Jacob Modleski added a 74 with one birdie. Christian Hein made two birdies.
This will be Guerin Catholic’s second appearance at state. The Golden Eagles made their first trip to state in 2019.
The Greyhounds were led by Joe Armfield, who took third place individually with a 72, making three birdies. Carmel had another remarkably consistent day, with all five golfers finishing within five strokes of each other.
Shoji Fujita carded a 74, with two birdies, while Patrick Michael had one birdie in his round of 75. Sam Booth scored a 76, including three birdies, and Owen Sander carded a 77.
Carmel will be making its 34th appearance at the state meet. The Greyhounds are tied for fourth place with La Porte and Marion in terms of total state finals appearances. Lafayette Jefferson is first with 44, followed by Columbus North with 42. Bloomington South finished second at the Providence regional to secure its 35th appearance at state, putting the Panthers in third place.
Westfield had two individuals advance to state. Alec Cesare’s one-under par 71 earned him individual runner-up honors and a ticket to Prairie View. Cesare drained two birdies in his round. Hunter Cook scored a 73, tying for fourth place and qualifying for state, and making four birdies. Nolan Hall scored 76 and had one birdie.
The state meet takes place Tuesday and Wednesday at Prairie View.
AT SANDY PINES
Team scores: Guerin Catholic 296, Carmel 297, Zionsville 318, Crown Point 328, Valparaiso 331, Lake Central 332, Faith Christian 342, Chesterton 346, Logansport 346, Twin Lakes 353, Harrison 359, Boone Grove 361, Munster 363, West Lafayette 370, Rochester 371, La Porte 373, Knox 421, North Judson 429.
Medalist: Connor McNeely (GC) 33-37=70.
Other Guerin Catholic scores: Leo Wessel 35-38=73, Jacob Modleski 36-38=74, Andrew White 39-40=79, Christian Hein 42-39=81.
Carmel scores: Joe Armfield 34-38=72, Shoji Fujita 38-36=74, Patrick Michael 38-37=75, Sam Booth 39-37=76, Owen Sander 38-39=77.
Westfield scores: Alec Cesare 36-35=71, Hunter Cook 37-36=73, Nolan Hall 38-38=76.