By CHARLIE CLIFFORD
WISH-TV
You may remember earlier this summer the “putt heard around Indianapolis.”
Nick Dentino drains it. The Carmel Greyhounds celebrate a one shot win over Center Grove for the 2018 Indiana High School State Athletic Association’s boys golf title.
“I was trying not to let anything get to me in my head,” Dentino said. “‘Don’t miss this putt it is a really big putt.'”
“It is probably one of the best ones I’ve experienced.”
The Dentino fan club, led by Nick’s grandfather Calvin, did not dream of topping that moment this summer. But, it happened.
“I still don’t know how to describe it honestly,” said Nick. “From what I have heard from other people, it is one of the bigger if not the biggest amateur tournament someone like me could play in.”
About 7,400 golfers sought one of 312 spots for the qualifying pool of the prestigious U.S. Amateur, which takes place Aug. 13-19 at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course in California.
“It has been really cool,” Dentino said. “To be a part of so far and it is going to be really cool to go out there and play in the same tournament that all these big guys have played in before. I am just going to go make the most of it and have fun with it.”
Next fall Dentino packs his clubs for Boilermaker country at Purdue. His good-luck charm, however, will have to stay behind.
“Calvin Dentino, we call him ‘Paw,’ short and simple. He loves to hear all the stories that I have and loves to hear my feedback after I play. He just loves every part of it.”
With “Paw” behind him and one more season at Carmel still ahead, Pebble Beach and the U.S. Amateur are up next.
HARRIS ALSO QUALIFIES
Dentino was the only Indiana player to qualify for the U.S. Amateur – until Tuesday.
Dentino’s Carmel teammate Cole Harris qualified that day after his finish at the USGA qualifying event at Westwood Country Club in St. Louis. Harris, also a senior, carded a five-under par 69-68=137, finishing third at the event. Harris had a bogey-free second round.
Carmel’s Nick Dentino qualified for the prestigious U.S. Amateur, which takes place next month in Pebble Beach, Calif. (Photo provided by WISH-TV)