Cesare comes back, reaches Amateur top 10

By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com

INDIANAPOLIS – Westfield’s Jake Cesare finished as the top Hamilton County player at the Indiana Amateur Championship, which finished Wednesday at Broadmoor Country Club in Indianapolis.

Cesare

Cesare took sixth place overall with a 10 under par 206 over three rounds. He scored 70 for the third round, totaling four birdies, including back-to-back birdies on the last two holes.

It was a remarkable result considering Cesare hadn’t played since last year’s Amateur after having surgery.

“I sat out for six months, couldn’t really swing and it was tough,” said Cesare. “The fall was rough. I just sat there and putted and chipped a lot.”

Cesare said Broadmoor was a “good test” for someone coming back on to the playing circuit.

“You got to hit fairways out there and you got to really know where the pins are at,” said Cesare.

Cesare played with 2014 Hamilton Southeastern graduate Johnny Watts (see related story) and another 2010s county star. Michael Walters graduated from Carmel in 2015 and played college golf at Marian University. He finished tied for seventh with a nine under 207, carding a one under 71 for the third round with four birdies.

“I just like the competitive nature and I really enjoy meeting new people all the time,” said Walters. “We get out here, we get the competitive juices flowing, and then it’s always nice seeing some people that I always played with growing up,” said Walters.

Fishers’ Cole Starnes was also part of the seventh-place tie, as he totaled 207 for the tournament. Starnes scored a three-under 69 for his third round, making five birdies.

Two more county players tied for 10^th place with scores of eight under par 208. Noblesville’s Connor McNeely soared into the top 10 after a seven under 65 for his third round. McNeely drained eight birdies during Wednesday play.

Carmel’s Clay Stirsman scored 73 in the third round and also finished with 208 for the tournament. Stirsman made two birdies during the third round.

A list of scores for Hamilton County golfers now follows.

6. Jake Cesare, Westfield 68-68-70=206, T7. Cole Starnes, Fishers 67-71-69=207; Michael Walters, Carmel 69-67-71=207, T10. Connor McNeely, Noblesville 74-69-65=208; Clay Stirsman, Carmel 65-70=-73=208, 14. Andrew Rhodes, Westfield 69-71-69=209, T15. Nicholas Dentino, Carmel 67-71-72=210, T19. Tyler Marucci, Noblesville 70-71=70=211, T29. Robert Wuethrich, Westfield 74-70-70=214, T42. Drew Shafer, Carmel 73-74-70=217; Dane Starnes, Fishers 72-72-73=217; Bobby Delagrange, Carmel 71-71-75=217, 65. Matt Haneline, Fishers 75-71-78=224.