By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
Get ready for a sensational showdown at Prairie View today.
Carmel, Center Grove and Westfield will play in the final group at the boys golf state championships, which resume this morning at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel. The Greyhounds hold a six-shot lead over the Trojans after Tuesday’s first round concluded, with the two-time defending state champion Shamrocks just one shot behind Center Grove. Carmel finished the first round with a two-under par 286, CG sits at 292, and Westfield’s score is 293.
Noblesville is not too far away, sitting in fourth place with a 300. Fishers, competing in its first-ever boys golf state championship, is currently in 11th place with a 320.
The golfers had to sit out two weather delays in what is becoming an unwelcome tradition at the state meet: Rain and thunderstorms. But the delays did not deter the teams, especially not the Greyhounds, who played with remarkably consistency.
Senior Kevin Stone and junior Curtis Robertson both carded one-under par 71s, while sophomore Cole Harris and Nick Dentino shot even with 72s. This placed all of Carmel’s top four in the top 10: Stone and Robertson are presently tied for third, with Dentino and Harris part of a seven-way tie for seventh.
Harris and Robertson each drained five birdies, while Stone had four and Dentino made two. Freshman Clay Stirsman, who finished with a 78, also had a birdie.
“It’s a great team effort,” said Carmel coach Chard Reid. The coach said that every one of his golfers played well. As for tomorrow, the Greyhounds are where they want to be as they go for their first state championship since 1990.
“We’re going to try to beat Prairie View one more time and see where it puts us up,” said Reid.
The Shamrocks are not only in the lead group, they also have the leading individual. Senior Noah Shanteau had a solid round of three-under par 69 to move to the top of the leaderboard. Shanteau, part of last year’s Westfield champion team, drained four birdies.
“He played fantastic,” said Shamrocks coach Josh Bryant. “He hit it well, he had a couple great recovery shots, made birdies that he should make and had a great attitude out there all day long for a senior playing for another state championship. He handled the pressure with the maturity that you hope your seniors have.”
Junior Andrew Lewis finished the day even at 72 with two birdies, and placed him in the seventh-place tie. Lewis had two birdies. Senior Josh Kehl and sophomore Ethan Lutz both had scores of 76, with one birdie each.
Bryant said that getting into the final group “was of importance” to his team.
“Our Day 1 goal was to put ourselves in the golf tournament and find our way to the last group, and then that way we can play golf tomorrow and see where the chips fall,” said Bryant.
The Deakynes led the way for the Millers, with both senior Parker and sophomore Jacob shooting 74s, making them part of a tie for 15th place currently. Jacob Deakyne made three birdies. Senior Mitchell Compton shot a 75 with two birdies, and sophomore Clay Merchent added a 77, with three birdies.
“We started out pretty well early,” said Noblesville coach Gary Sewell. “I think the second rain delay took something out of us.”
But the Millers still have another day to play.
“We got a second round tomorrow,” said Sewell. “It’s a new day, anything can happen.”
Juniors Noah Chamberlin and Nick Fisher led the Tigers with 79s; both had one birdie. Freshman Bryce Robertson also made a birdie.
Hamilton Southeastern senior Drew Alexander finished with a 74, putting him in the 15th place tie. Alexander had two birdies in his round.
Team scores: Carmel 286, Center Grove 292, Westfield 293, Noblesville 300, Columbus North 305, Park Tudor 307, Zionsville 307, Evansville North 307, Bedford North Lawrence 307, Homestead 315, Fishers 320, Bishop Dwenger 321, Castle 324, Cathedral 332, Fort Wayne Carroll 336.
Carmel scores: Kevin Stone 71, Curtis Robertson 71, Nick Dentino 72, Cole Harris 72, Clay Stirsman 78.
Westfield scores: Noah Shanteau 69, Andrew Lewis 72, Josh Kehl 76, Ethan Lutz 76, Stephen Hildebrand 90.
Noblesville scores: Parker Deakyne 74, Jacob Deakyne 74, Mitchell Compton 75, Clay Merchent 77, John Barnes 86.
Fishers scores: Nick Fisher 79, Noah Chamberlin 79, Shivom Patel 80, Bryce Robertson 82, Jackson Ousley 99.
Hamilton Southeastern score: Drew Alexander 74.
Westfield’s Noah Shanteau is on top of the leader board with a three-under par 69 after the first round of the boys golf state finals. (Kirk Green)
Fishers’ Bryce Robertson joined the Tigers team in its first-ever appearance at state. (Kirk Green)