A Kosciusko County Sweep
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Kosciusko County high school golf teams were a little stingy when it came to the top three slots to get out of the sectional at Rozella Ford Saturday.
With Warsaw winning another sectional title and Wawasee getting second and Valley third, the top three advancing teams were the three high schools in Kosciusko County.
"I think it is very nice that all three teams that are advancing are from Kosciusko County," Warsaw coach Bob Turner said. "It is a county sweep of the teams that are going to Fort Wayne (for the regional). I am glad for all three teams.
"I know some people thought I gave these other teams too much credit," he said. "But I knew there were seven teams here that were very decent. This is the toughest sectional I have seen since I have been here."
Warsaw had to rally on the back nine, but came up with a 157 on the final holes to shoot a 321. Wawasee finished with a 326 and Valley a 329.
It wasn't easy for the Tigers, who trailed the upstart Vikings by five strokes (159-164) at the turn. But Turner challenged his talented and deep squad, and Warsaw blistered the back side.
"The kids came through with a 157 on the back nine on a day like today, and I am exceptionally pleased," Turner said. "I am as pleased now as I was disappointed at the turn. I knew what they were capable of shooting on the back nine, and it just comes down to can they shoot what they normally shoot. They didn't buckle under. They put their heels in and played some golf.
"I think it was just this course played hard," he said. "The pins were in some tough spots. Justin Howell had a five-putt on one hole."
No individual score was probably bigger than senior Kevin Powell, who shot a 44 on the front, but rebounded with a 38 on the back to end up with an 82.
"I told Kevin Powell that if he didn't come back and play well, it could be his last high school golf match," Turner said. "I am very pleased with what he did. He has had a rough year, and he comes back with a 38 on the back nine. That is a sign of a senior."
Jason Henthorn continued his hot golf as of late with a 77. Howell and Powell both had 82s.
The Vikings surprised a lot of people, including maybe themselves with the 159 on the front nine. And the 170 on the back nine not withstanding, Valley coach Roger Moriarty still liked what he saw out of his Viking squad with three freshmen and two sophomores.
"They are capable of 150s on any course they play," he said. "I knew we shot well, but I was surprised we had a five-stroke lead.
"For us, the back played tougher," he said. "We got off to a tough start on No. 10. We basically had four kids who have never played in a sectional, maybe they got a little nervous."
When Tippecanoe Valley finished its round, the Vikings were in first place, but there were still four teams on the course and three of them (including Warsaw and Wawasee) had the capability of shooting below Valley's 329. As the scores were being posted on the board outside Rozella Ford, Moriarty took a location on a golf cart away from any visibility of the scores. As he said then, "I didn't want to wear out my shoes pacing."
"I wanted to be in first place when our threesome got done and then just beat two of the final four teams," Moriarty said. "I am pleased with the kids. It is incredible for a young bunch to do that well."
Valley was paced by Aaron Martin's 77 and Drew Shafer's 79.
Just like Warsaw, Wawasee had to play tough on the back nine just to make the regional field. The Warriors were eight strokes behind Valley (159-167) after the front nine, but came back to shoot a 159 on the back to garner second-place honors.
"We had a good back nine after a discouraging front nine," Wawasee coach Don Deck said. "We didn't play real well on the front and had some penalty strokes. They all hung in there and came back."
Wawasee was led by Chad Wortinger, who shot the second-best individual score of the day with a 74.
"We are just excited about getting second and getting to go to regional," Deck said. "It is just a big boost for our program. We are very proud of them, particularly Chad Wortinger's 74."
All three teams will play in the regional at Chestnut Hills Friday.
WARSAW 321, WAWASEE 326, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 329, NORTHFIELD 330, PLYMOUTH 334, WABASH 338, CMA 346, MANCHESTER 353, CULVER 360, BREMEN 364, TRITON 367, ARGOS 368, SOUTHWOOD 374
Top individuals - 1. Nick Arquette (Culver) 69, 2. Chad Wortinger (Wawasee) 74, 3. Nick Maurer (Northfield) 77
Top advancing individuals - 1. Nick Arquette (Culver) 69, 2. Nick Maurer (Northfield) 77, 3. Phil Kreighbaum (Plymouth) 82, won in a playoff
Warsaw - Jason Henthron 38, 39 - 77, Chris Osbeck 40, 40 - 80, Kevin Powell 44, 38 - 82, Justin Howell 42, 40 - 82, Jeff Phillips 45, 48 - 93
Wawasee - Chad Wortinger 38, 36 - 74, Scott White 42, 39 - 81, Ryan Skaggs 44, 40 - 84, Lucas White 43, 44 - 87, Travis Coy 46, 42 - 88
Valley - Aaron Martin 36, 42 - 77, Drew Shafer 37, 42 - 79, Andy Martin 42, 40 - 82, Brandon Eaton 43, 44 - 87, Brian Love 48, 46 - 94
Manchester - Ben Vineyard 37, 45 - 82, Ryan Burton 45, 38 - 83, Derek Miller 46, 46 - 92, Tony Ritenour 50, 49 - 96, Chris Williams 53, 48 - 101
Triton - Scott Neal 45, 43 - 88, Mark Feldman 48, 42 - 90, Eric Schneider 45, 49 - 94, Andy Westafer 50, 45 - 95, Derric Kaufman 52, 47 - 99 [[In-content Ad]]
Kosciusko County high school golf teams were a little stingy when it came to the top three slots to get out of the sectional at Rozella Ford Saturday.
With Warsaw winning another sectional title and Wawasee getting second and Valley third, the top three advancing teams were the three high schools in Kosciusko County.
"I think it is very nice that all three teams that are advancing are from Kosciusko County," Warsaw coach Bob Turner said. "It is a county sweep of the teams that are going to Fort Wayne (for the regional). I am glad for all three teams.
"I know some people thought I gave these other teams too much credit," he said. "But I knew there were seven teams here that were very decent. This is the toughest sectional I have seen since I have been here."
Warsaw had to rally on the back nine, but came up with a 157 on the final holes to shoot a 321. Wawasee finished with a 326 and Valley a 329.
It wasn't easy for the Tigers, who trailed the upstart Vikings by five strokes (159-164) at the turn. But Turner challenged his talented and deep squad, and Warsaw blistered the back side.
"The kids came through with a 157 on the back nine on a day like today, and I am exceptionally pleased," Turner said. "I am as pleased now as I was disappointed at the turn. I knew what they were capable of shooting on the back nine, and it just comes down to can they shoot what they normally shoot. They didn't buckle under. They put their heels in and played some golf.
"I think it was just this course played hard," he said. "The pins were in some tough spots. Justin Howell had a five-putt on one hole."
No individual score was probably bigger than senior Kevin Powell, who shot a 44 on the front, but rebounded with a 38 on the back to end up with an 82.
"I told Kevin Powell that if he didn't come back and play well, it could be his last high school golf match," Turner said. "I am very pleased with what he did. He has had a rough year, and he comes back with a 38 on the back nine. That is a sign of a senior."
Jason Henthorn continued his hot golf as of late with a 77. Howell and Powell both had 82s.
The Vikings surprised a lot of people, including maybe themselves with the 159 on the front nine. And the 170 on the back nine not withstanding, Valley coach Roger Moriarty still liked what he saw out of his Viking squad with three freshmen and two sophomores.
"They are capable of 150s on any course they play," he said. "I knew we shot well, but I was surprised we had a five-stroke lead.
"For us, the back played tougher," he said. "We got off to a tough start on No. 10. We basically had four kids who have never played in a sectional, maybe they got a little nervous."
When Tippecanoe Valley finished its round, the Vikings were in first place, but there were still four teams on the course and three of them (including Warsaw and Wawasee) had the capability of shooting below Valley's 329. As the scores were being posted on the board outside Rozella Ford, Moriarty took a location on a golf cart away from any visibility of the scores. As he said then, "I didn't want to wear out my shoes pacing."
"I wanted to be in first place when our threesome got done and then just beat two of the final four teams," Moriarty said. "I am pleased with the kids. It is incredible for a young bunch to do that well."
Valley was paced by Aaron Martin's 77 and Drew Shafer's 79.
Just like Warsaw, Wawasee had to play tough on the back nine just to make the regional field. The Warriors were eight strokes behind Valley (159-167) after the front nine, but came back to shoot a 159 on the back to garner second-place honors.
"We had a good back nine after a discouraging front nine," Wawasee coach Don Deck said. "We didn't play real well on the front and had some penalty strokes. They all hung in there and came back."
Wawasee was led by Chad Wortinger, who shot the second-best individual score of the day with a 74.
"We are just excited about getting second and getting to go to regional," Deck said. "It is just a big boost for our program. We are very proud of them, particularly Chad Wortinger's 74."
All three teams will play in the regional at Chestnut Hills Friday.
WARSAW 321, WAWASEE 326, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 329, NORTHFIELD 330, PLYMOUTH 334, WABASH 338, CMA 346, MANCHESTER 353, CULVER 360, BREMEN 364, TRITON 367, ARGOS 368, SOUTHWOOD 374
Top individuals - 1. Nick Arquette (Culver) 69, 2. Chad Wortinger (Wawasee) 74, 3. Nick Maurer (Northfield) 77
Top advancing individuals - 1. Nick Arquette (Culver) 69, 2. Nick Maurer (Northfield) 77, 3. Phil Kreighbaum (Plymouth) 82, won in a playoff
Warsaw - Jason Henthron 38, 39 - 77, Chris Osbeck 40, 40 - 80, Kevin Powell 44, 38 - 82, Justin Howell 42, 40 - 82, Jeff Phillips 45, 48 - 93
Wawasee - Chad Wortinger 38, 36 - 74, Scott White 42, 39 - 81, Ryan Skaggs 44, 40 - 84, Lucas White 43, 44 - 87, Travis Coy 46, 42 - 88
Valley - Aaron Martin 36, 42 - 77, Drew Shafer 37, 42 - 79, Andy Martin 42, 40 - 82, Brandon Eaton 43, 44 - 87, Brian Love 48, 46 - 94
Manchester - Ben Vineyard 37, 45 - 82, Ryan Burton 45, 38 - 83, Derek Miller 46, 46 - 92, Tony Ritenour 50, 49 - 96, Chris Williams 53, 48 - 101
Triton - Scott Neal 45, 43 - 88, Mark Feldman 48, 42 - 90, Eric Schneider 45, 49 - 94, Andy Westafer 50, 45 - 95, Derric Kaufman 52, 47 - 99 [[In-content Ad]]