FRANKLIN — When the Indiana Golf Association announced that it was putting together a high school boys team tournament after the IHSAA season was canceled, Harrison Lake Country Club wanted to put together a team that could be competitive.
Monday at The Legends Golf Club, a team called the Harrison Lakers was more than competitive. They fired a 314 team total to win a qualifier for the Indiana Golf Association 2020 Team Event, which will be Wednesday and Thursday at Purdue’s Kampen Course.
“I thought there might be a chance,” said Andrew Weisheit, an assistant pro at Harrison Lake who is coaching the team. “We’re a really young team, compared to a few teams that have mostly seniors and juniors here. A lot of these kids have some real potential to go places and play in college. I know they’re getting offers right now, so it’s a really exciting time.”
The Lakers’ 314 was one shot better than Center Grove Legacy and New Castle. Center Grove Legacy claimed the second and final state qualifying berth with a better fifth score.
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Christie Ministrels, a team consisting of players from three Johnson County schools, finished fourth with a 318. Franklin Golf Club and The Trojans (Center Grove) tied for fifth at 324. CG Trojan Boys were seventh at 347, and Columbus Sandbaggers were eighth in the 10-team field with a 347.
While the Columbus Sandbaggers consisted of all Columbus North golfers, the Harrison Lakers featured three Bull Dogs, along with one golfer from Columbus East and one from Greenwood.
Jackson Watkins, who will be a junior at Greenwood, led the Lakers with a 76. Willy Davis, who will be a sophomore at North, and Kody Reynolds, who will be a senior at East, each shot 79.
“I feel good,” Davis said. “I missed a couple of putts that I could have made, but other than that, I’m happy with my round. I’m pretty excited that we won and beat Center Grove.”
“If I shoot 79, I’m never happy with 79, but I guess we got the job done, and that’s all that matters,” Reynolds added. “I need to hit the range. I’m not doing too well right now.”
Luke Schneider, who will be a junior at North, had an up-and-down day. He shot 44 on the front, then eagled No. 10 to begin a stretch where he went 4-under on the first four holes of the back nine. But then he played the final five holes in 4-over to finish with a 36 on the back and 80 for the round.
“The front nine was really rough, and then the back nine, I kind of got it together,” Schneider said. “I felt like I just calmed down a little bit. It’s the first tournament of the year for me, so I was a little nervous.”
Jack Schiavello, who will be a sophomore at North, rounded out the Lakers with a 97.
“I knew that Center Grove’s teams were going to be really good,” Schneider said. “I thought we might have a chance at placing top three. I didn’t know if we were going to get second or third, but I didn’t think we were going to get first. But a couple guys came through like Jackson. He came in clutch.”
Weisheit agreed.
“I really think they overperformed,” Weisheit said. “They really just went out there with some attitude and some grit and really stuck to the plan — just try to make pars and bogeys and let the birdies come when they may. The front nine was very tough on them. The wind picked up on the back nine, but they stuck to it and really made some great putts down the stretch.”
Jacob Niedbalski led the Sandbaggers with an 83. Michael Gambiani carded an 85, Luke VanDeventer added an 89, Damon Gregory shot 90 and Andrew Krueger had a 100. All will be seniors at North, except Gregory, who will be a junior.
