Columbus North’s Willy Davis watches his chip shot on No. 9 during a match against Columbus East May 5, 2022, at Otter Creek Golf Course.
The Republic file photo
The boys golf season kicks off today with six of the seven area schools with programs in action. Columbus North and Columbus East will have squads at both the Seymour and Edinburgh Invitationals.
Here is a look at all of the area teams heading into the 2023 season:
Columbus North
The Bull Dogs finished sixth in the regional last year and had a pair of individual state qualifiers. Two-time Republic Boys Golfer of the Year Luke Schneider has graduated, but Willy Davis is back for his senior year.
Seniors Tyler Wilks and Jack Schiavello also return from the regional lineup, and sophomore Brady Schneider played in the sectional.
“I expect them to be an integral part of the top of the lineup,” North coach Doug Bieker said. “We have some other guys that are working hard. We are a little bit thin on numbers, but we are senior-laden. I look forward to this team. I think it’s going to be a fun year.”
Senior John Merritt has the inside track on the other varsity spot. Also pushing for a spot will be sophomores Luke Friend and Joe Perkins and junior Alex Clark. Sophomores Carter Batton and Parker Brown and junior Brennan Kushman will provide depth.
“I do think these guys are pretty talented and can get us to the state finals as a team,” Bieker said. “I think it was important for a couple guys to get there. The other guys saw that.”
The IHSAA has realigned the tournament. The Bull Dogs will still go to Greensburg for the sectional and Champions Pointe for the Providence Regional, but the Bloomington schools will no longer feed into that regional.
“I think we’re going to be right there in the mix again,” Bieker said. “But you still have to play well. I think that’s the hardest day in boys golf — the regional.”
Columbus East
The Olympians return their top four players from a team that qualified for regional last season.
“I think we’re going to get better,” East coach Keith VanDeventer said. “We’re just focused on shooting some scores that we can compete with some of the team like Columbus North and teams like that. Our No. 1 goal is to shoot scores that will allow us to compete.”
Columbus East’s Pierce Arnholt watches his putt on No. 8 during a match against Columbus North May 5, 2022, at Otter Creek Golf Course.
The Republic file photo
Juniors Pierce Arnholt and Ben Luedeke, sophomore Carter Greene and senior Spencer Erfmeier are back from last year’s varsity. They likely will be joined by senior Jamall Stark, who played golf as a sophomore, but threw the shot and discus for the track team last year.
“We have some kids that really enjoy playing, and that makes it fun for the coaches to see the kids wanting to get better,” VanDeventer said. “They seem like a bunch of kids that want to learn and get better, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Hauser
The Jets have a new coach in Steve Todd, a longtime basketball coach in the area. He replaces Mike and Donita Compton, who retired after last season.
Junior Caleb Wallace was Hauser’s top golfer in about half the matches last season. Sophomore Brendan Burton also returns to the varsity, and will be joined by sophomore Hunter Pappano, a move-in from Southwestern (Shelby), and sophomore Marshall Moody.
“The kids are coming along fine,” Todd said. “After the first of the year, we started having them do workouts a couple days a week to kind of shake off the rust. For the most part, we’re going to be a young team. We’re kind of rebuilding right now. We’re kind of starting from scratch, other than Caleb and Brendan and Marshall.”
Sophomores Jayden Blair and Carson Stuckey and freshman Sam Hoene are playing both baseball and golf this spring. They are battling for the final varsity spot, along with sophomore Colton Hatton.
“We’re a little inconsistent early on,” Todd said. “It’s been tough to get outside with all the rain. We’ve been hitting inside, but there’s a difference between hitting inside and hitting outside.”
Jennings County
The Panthers also have a new coach in Dave George. He returns all five varsity golfers, including individual regional qualifiers in juniors Jack George and Jake Grider.
Also back are sophomores Davey Shaw and Eli Simmons and senior Tanner Stearns.
“I think they’re in line to take a huge step this year, a big jump from where they were last year,” Dave George said. “I think they have a really good shot to be a competitive squad. It’s definitely going to be an advantage that all five of them are returning and have a couple others pushing them.”
Sophomore Sam Hauersperger and senior Bryce McIntosh hope to push for varsity spots.
“I told (the team) they have to put it on their shoulders to own the culture of Jennings County golf,” Dave George said. “They’re working hard for it, so it’s good. They had a great run in basketball, and we want golf to share those successes.”
Edinburgh
The Lancers also return their entire top five, led by senior Max Blandford, who injured his shoulder in last year’s Johnson County meet and missed the sectional.
Also back are seniors Mason Calhoun, Devyn Milburn and Keegan Smith and junior Wyatt Burton.
Junior Gabe Bennett has played baseball the past two years, but tore his ACL in football, and is playing golf this season. He will push for a varsity spot, along with senior D.J. Riddle, junior newcomers Austin Brockman and Brayden Sauer and sophomore newcomer Trenton Schmidt.
“We have a lot of experience this year, so optimism is very high,” Edinburgh coach Kyle Dell said. “We have a very mature team. Expectations are a little higher this year.”
Brown County
The Eagles will have a small team with only six kids, four of which played last season.
Junior Clay Austin is the top returner. Senior Bradley Arndt also was a varsity regular, and sophomores Wesley Arndt and Liam Cassiday played in some varsity matches.
“I don’t think we’re going to have anybody that’s going to have any really low rounds, but we have four guys that are going to be posting decent scores,” Brown County coach Brad Baughman said. “I think we’re going to have a little tighter grouping among the scores. We’re not going to have that big gap.”
Battling for the No. 5 spot are junior newcomers Jon Kirchhofer and Will Hiatt.
“We’re practicing well,” Baughman said. “It’s a good group. They’re doing everything we ask them to do, and maybe a little bit more. Five of the six guys work at the golf course, so being there a lot, they can chip and putt and hit golf balls. So I really look for each one of those guys to improve over last year.”
Trinity Lutheran
Todd Jack, who was assistant boys golf coach and head boys soccer coach last year, takes over the program.
Senior Gabe Lorenz and sophomore Wylie Jones return. Juniors Andrew Lemming and Solomon Hall are back after playing as freshmen and sitting out last season.
The other four players are freshmen — Jack Stuckwisch, Alex Overgaard, Sam Lorenz and Jeremiah Clay.
“Considering how much new talent we do have, I do see us going out and having a good showing on match day,” Jack said. “We’ve had some pretty solid play from these players so far. They are young, so it’s hard to say come match day how much the nerves will bring.”
The 2023 boys golf schedules for Bartholomew County schools:
Columbus East
Today;at Seymour Invitational;9 a.m.
Today;at Edinburgh Invitational;10 a.m.
April 8;at Floyd Central Invitational,2 p.m.
April 10;at Shelbyville;4:45 p.m.
April 15;at Center Grove Invitational;9 a.m.
April 15;at Jennings County Invitational;9 a.m.
April 18;Jennings County;4:30 p.m.
April 29;at Bedford North Lawrence Invitational;8:30 a.m.
May 4;Columbus North;4 p.m.
May 6;at Bloomington North Invitational;8:30 a.m.
May 8;at Madison;4:30 p.m.
May 16;New Albany;5 p.m.
May 17;Jeffersonville; 4:45 p.m.
May 22;HHC Tournament;10 a.m.
May 25;at Columbus North (with Providence);4 p.m.
May 26;at Greensburg;4 p.m.
May 27;at Providence Invitational;1 p.m.
May 30;Bloomington North;9 a.m.
May 30;at Fishers Invitational;Noon
Columbus North
Today;at Seymour Invitational;9 a.m.
Today;at Edinburgh Invitational;10 a.m.
Tuesday;Brownstown Central;5 p.m.
April 8;at Floyd Central Invitational;2 p.m.
April 15;at Franklin Central Invitational;9 a.m.
April 18;Brownstown Central;5 p.m.
April 24;Bloomington South;4 p.m.
April 29;at Bedford North Lawrence Invitational;8:30 a.m.
May 4;at Columbus East;4 p.m.
May 11;vs. Bloomington North at Timbergate;4 p.m.
May 13;at Brownsburg Invitational;8 a.m.
May 15;Conference Indiana at Timbergate;9 a.m.
May 16;Seymour;4:45 p.m.
May 23;at Greensburg;4:30 p.m.
May 25;Columbus East/Providence;4 p.m.
May 27;at Providence Invitational;1 p.m.
May 30;at Zionsville Invitational;11 a.m.
Hauser
Today;at Edinburgh Invitational;10 a.m.
Thursday;Brown County;4:30 p.m.
April 17;at Edinburgh;4:30 p.m.
April 20;at Batesville (with North Decatur);4:30 p.m.
April 21;at Austin;4:30 p.m.
April 27;Morristown;5 p.m.
May 2;Jennings County;4:30 p.m.
May 8;at Edinburgh (with North Decatur);4:30 p.m.
May 9;at Brown County;4:30 p.m.
May 18;Southwestern (Shelby) 4:30 p.m.
May 20;MHC at North Branch;8 a.m.
May 22;Rushville;4:45 p.m.
May 24;at Indian Creek;4:30 p.m.
