Bickel, Back Nine Key For Warrior Boys
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
FRANKLIN - After the Wawasee boys golf team finished the first nine holes of the state semifinal Wednesday afternoon at Legends of Indiana in Franklin, things looked bleaked.
The Warriors were well above par as both Stephen Conrad and Joel Bickel shot 39s, Josh Abrams and Darrin Cripe 40s, and Evan Gerard a 41.
However, the back nine holes were a different story for the determined squad from Wawasee.
After a strong performance on the back nine, the Warriors finished the day with a team score of 298 to tie for fifth place overall and advance to Thursday's state finals.
"We really struggled on the front nine," said Wawasee coach Steve Coverstone. "We played the back nine really well. The guys not only made the cut, they put us back in contention by shooting 5-under on the back nine."
The top nine teams as well as those 20 strokes within the lead advanced to today's final round. After 18 holes, Richmond leads the way with a 288, followed by Columbus North with 291, Concord with 295 and Jasper with 297.
Bickel had a large part in the Warrior comeback. After shooting a 39 on the front nine, Bickel shot an unbelievable 31 on the last nine holes. To reach his 5-under par score, Bickel had three birdies and an eagle.
"I didn't like this course before, but I like it now," said Bickel.
During a practice round Tuesday, Bickel shot a hole-in-one on No. 16. He aced the 187-yard hole with a 6-iron as Conrad, Abrams and Gerard watched.
"Joel had an unbelievable day," Coverstone said.
Bickel finished Wednesday with a 70, while Conrad had a 75.
After shooting a 41 on the first nine holes, Gerard shot a 1-under 35 on the back nine for a 76.
Abrams ended the afternoon with and 80.
Warsaw's Chris Hanson, who competed as an individual, did not fare as well as the Wawasee team. Hanson shot a solid 76 but missed the state cut by two strokes. Those shooting 74 and under advanced to today's individual final round.
"It was really hot here," said Hanson. "I thought it would be a little cooler."
"Chris played a pretty good round," said Warsaw coach Ben Barkey. "He only missed four greens. He's only a sophomore, so it was good for him to get down here for the state competition."
Team Scores - Richmond 288, Columbus North 291, Concord 295, Jasper 297, Wawasee 298, Center Grove 298, Vincennes Lincoln 298, Valparaiso 300, Anderson 300, Bedford North Lawrence 301, Munster 304, Zionsville 304, West Washington 305, Carmel 306, Mishawaka Marian 306, Terre Haute South 306, Warren Central 310, Columbia City 310, Lafayette Jeff 311, Logansport 311, Maconaquah 322
Wawasee scores - Stephen Conrad 39-36-75, Joel Bickel 39-31-70, Josh Abrams 40-37-77, Darrin Cripe 40-40-80, Evan Gerard 41-35-76
Warsaw score - Chris Hanson 36-40-76 [[In-content Ad]]
FRANKLIN - After the Wawasee boys golf team finished the first nine holes of the state semifinal Wednesday afternoon at Legends of Indiana in Franklin, things looked bleaked.
The Warriors were well above par as both Stephen Conrad and Joel Bickel shot 39s, Josh Abrams and Darrin Cripe 40s, and Evan Gerard a 41.
However, the back nine holes were a different story for the determined squad from Wawasee.
After a strong performance on the back nine, the Warriors finished the day with a team score of 298 to tie for fifth place overall and advance to Thursday's state finals.
"We really struggled on the front nine," said Wawasee coach Steve Coverstone. "We played the back nine really well. The guys not only made the cut, they put us back in contention by shooting 5-under on the back nine."
The top nine teams as well as those 20 strokes within the lead advanced to today's final round. After 18 holes, Richmond leads the way with a 288, followed by Columbus North with 291, Concord with 295 and Jasper with 297.
Bickel had a large part in the Warrior comeback. After shooting a 39 on the front nine, Bickel shot an unbelievable 31 on the last nine holes. To reach his 5-under par score, Bickel had three birdies and an eagle.
"I didn't like this course before, but I like it now," said Bickel.
During a practice round Tuesday, Bickel shot a hole-in-one on No. 16. He aced the 187-yard hole with a 6-iron as Conrad, Abrams and Gerard watched.
"Joel had an unbelievable day," Coverstone said.
Bickel finished Wednesday with a 70, while Conrad had a 75.
After shooting a 41 on the first nine holes, Gerard shot a 1-under 35 on the back nine for a 76.
Abrams ended the afternoon with and 80.
Warsaw's Chris Hanson, who competed as an individual, did not fare as well as the Wawasee team. Hanson shot a solid 76 but missed the state cut by two strokes. Those shooting 74 and under advanced to today's individual final round.
"It was really hot here," said Hanson. "I thought it would be a little cooler."
"Chris played a pretty good round," said Warsaw coach Ben Barkey. "He only missed four greens. He's only a sophomore, so it was good for him to get down here for the state competition."
Team Scores - Richmond 288, Columbus North 291, Concord 295, Jasper 297, Wawasee 298, Center Grove 298, Vincennes Lincoln 298, Valparaiso 300, Anderson 300, Bedford North Lawrence 301, Munster 304, Zionsville 304, West Washington 305, Carmel 306, Mishawaka Marian 306, Terre Haute South 306, Warren Central 310, Columbia City 310, Lafayette Jeff 311, Logansport 311, Maconaquah 322
Wawasee scores - Stephen Conrad 39-36-75, Joel Bickel 39-31-70, Josh Abrams 40-37-77, Darrin Cripe 40-40-80, Evan Gerard 41-35-76
Warsaw score - Chris Hanson 36-40-76 [[In-content Ad]]