EDINBURGH — Columbus North boys golf coach Doug Bieker usually is happy when none of his players shoot in the 80s.
That’s because usually when that happens for the Bull Dogs, it means they have five scores in the 70s. But in Monday’s Conference Indiana Tournament at Timbergate, they had three in the 70s and two in the 90s.
Unfortunately for North, it had to count one of those scores in the 90s, and its two closest competitors didn’t. That enabled Perry Meridian to win with a 308, while Bloomington South edged the Bull Dogs 311-313 for second.
“It’s a good thing not to have any scores in the 80s,” Bieker said. “We’ve had that situation before, but usually we’re five scores in the 70s. It was ours to win, and we kind of gave it away a little bit.”
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Drew Smith led North with an even-par 72 to tie for the low score of the day and put him in a playoff with Perry Meridian’s Chase Miller.
On the first playoff hole — the par-4 No. 18 — Smith pushed his approach shot a little right of the green, then left his chip shot about seven feet short. He missed his par putt, while Miller made a three-footer for par.
“I hit three bad shots in a row on the playoff hole,” Smith said. “I can’t do that. There’s no way I can win with that. But I’m still glad I got there.”
Smith battled back from a slow start to put himself in contention. Starting on No. 14 in a shotgun start, he bogeyed three of his first four holes.
But Smith recovered with six birdies to get back to even-par.
“I started off pretty badly, but I kind of came back after that and I finished well,” Smith said. “I wish I could have capitalized on that playoff hole.”
Smith was one of three Bull Dog juniors to earn All-Conference honors. Henry Kiel carded a 75 and Jackson Kerber added a 76 — his first time under 80 in a tournament.
Freshman Luke VanDeventer rounded out North’s scoring with a 90. Freshman Jacob Niedbalski had a 93.
“We’re coming along,” Bieker said. “Jackson Kerber’s 76 was a really good score for him, and certainly Drew Smith shooting 72 and battling all day, and Henry was right there, too. Those two freshmen have to step up. They’re almost not freshmen anymore. They’re going to have to play better for us to advance at the regional.”
