FORT WAYNE - The course is nearly an hour away, but Warsaw golf coach Bob Turner says Chestnut Hills in Fort Wayne is like another home course.

Friday, the Tigers, along with Wawasee and two individuals from Tippecanoe Valley and one from Whitko, will play the Homestead Regional on that course.

In the past three years, Warsaw has won three invitationals and one regional championship on the Fuzzy Zoeller-designed course.

"I feel pretty good going in," Turner said. "It's like another home course for us. With the regional and three invitational titles there in the past three years, let's put it this way, I feel pretty good going in."

The Tigers advanced to Friday's regional by shooting a round of 313 at the Warsaw Sectional, taking their sixth consecutive team championship. Wawasee and Culver Military Academy advanced out of the Warsaw Sectional by shooting rounds of 314 and 318, respectively.

The top three teams, as well as the top three individuals not on an advancing team, will advance to the state finals.

Locals playing in the individual portion of the regional include Tippecanoe Valley's Brian Love and Andy Martin and Whitko's Levi Krider.

Warsaw and Wawasee played the Homestead Invitational at Chestnut Hills earlier this year. The Tigers won with a 333. Turner is quick to point out that came on a day with 50 mph winds.

"I think a 315 could win it," Turner said. "Our chances are as good as anybody. The kids are ready to play, and they've been playing well. If they play intelligent and stick to the plan we'll be OK."

Asked what "the plan" was, Turner said he'd keep that a secret.

In this year's Homestead Invitational, Wawasee shot an 18-hole team score of 38. Warrior No. 1 golfer Stephen Conrad, a sophomore that took individual medalist with a 70 Saturday at Rozella Ford, shot a 90 that day.

"We can't seem to stay away from the big hole there," Wawasee coach Steve Coverstone said. "We have to play the course and not get any quadruple bogeys. We can beat anyone in the field, we can also get beat by anyone in the field."

The lineup for Saturday's team regional includes Warsaw, Wawasee, Culver Military Academy, Homestead, Angola, Carroll, Goshen, Westview, Concord, Fort Wayne Snider, Fort Wayne South and Fort Wayne Bishop Luers.

Based on what the regional field shot in the sectional, Warsaw would take third Friday.

Homestead won the Churubusco Sectional with a score of 300. Chestnut Hills is Homestead's home course.

Coverstone considers the 15th-ranked Tigers a favorite to win the regional.

"You've always gotta like Warsaw's chances," Coverstone said. "Homestead plays well on their home course. Goshen could sneak in there. Really, any team could sneak in there, that's why they're there."

Valley coach Roger Moriarty sees his two individuals having to shoot in the low to mid-70s to advance to the state finals, something the Vikings did as a team last year.

"I'd say a 75 or lower would get them out," Moriarty said. "The course is tight in places. You've gotta keep the ball straight. If they keep the ball straight they'll be in good shape. It's a nice course to putt on. I think they'll play pretty well."

Martin shot a 75 and Love a 79 in a practice round at Chestnut Hills Wednesday.

HOMESTEAD REGIONAL

Friday at Chestnut Hills

Local tee times

8 a.m. -ÊLevi Krider (Whitko)

8:08/8:16 a.m. -ÊAndy Martin (Tippecanoe Valley), Brian Love (Tippecanoe Valley)

9:52 a.m. - Wawasee

10:30 a.m. - Warsaw [[In-content Ad]]