Tigers Ready For Run At State Title
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
The Tigers enter Tuesday's first round of the 71st annual boys state finals at Legends of Indiana Golf Course in Franklin without a top 10 ranking, but that's not fazing fifth-year coach Ben Barkey.
"It's going to be a really tough field, but with all the tournaments we've played in this season, there's not really going to be competition we haven't seen this year," Barkey said.[[In-content Ad]]Weekend tournaments like the Hall of Fame Invitational in Peru, the Spring Preview in Franklin - the site of the state finals - and the Brownsburg Invitational have prepared the Tigers for for what they will face at the state finals.
With that kind of experience against the state's top teams, like Carmel (No. 1), Avon (2), Floyd Central (3) and Noblesville (4), Warsaw's first goal will be to place in the top nine after the first round, setting up a return trip to the golf course on Wednesday for the secod round.
"We are definitely good enough to get to the second day," Barkey said. "There are good teams that go down and don't make it, but we have a real good chance if everyone plays well."
Having already proven their championship pedigree by taking the state crown in 2005, the Tigers fully expect to reach the second day of competition.
"There are no guarantees in sports," Barkey said. "So we don't want to guarantee anything, but we are expecting to reach the second day."
And on that second day, the Tigers will look to give Barkey his second team championship in his five years at Warsaw.
"(After qualifying for state), a part of us was excited, but another part was businesslike," Barkey said of of his team's mentality following its second-place finish at last Thursday's Homestead Regional. "We're still not done with what we want to accomplish."
At this stage in the season, the goal to be accomplished is a second state title in three years - one the Tigers will have to win on a wide-open course, much like the team's 18 holes at Stonehenge Golf Course.
"It's probably the easiest of the three courses we'll see in the tournament," Barkey said, referring to the sectionals at Stonehenge and Orchard Ridge, the site of regionals. "It's not an easy course, but it's not really that different from what we've seen."
The team left for Franklin Sunday and was scheduled for a practice round today, prepping for its 9:36 a.m. tee time with Penn, Lafayette Harrison and Hamilton Southeastern on the 10th tee Tuesday.
With so much experience at the state level, Barkey believes his guys may have an advantage.
"I don't think anyone will really be that nervous stepping up at the tee," Barkey said. "Some may be a little nervous on the first hole, but with two seniors (Grant Slater and Tad Nieter), that have been there before, I think the guys will be all right."
The top nine teams, as well as any team within 12 strokes of the leader, will advanced to Wednesday's second round.
The top nine invididuals, as well as any player within four strokes of the leader, will play in the second round.
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The Tigers enter Tuesday's first round of the 71st annual boys state finals at Legends of Indiana Golf Course in Franklin without a top 10 ranking, but that's not fazing fifth-year coach Ben Barkey.
"It's going to be a really tough field, but with all the tournaments we've played in this season, there's not really going to be competition we haven't seen this year," Barkey said.[[In-content Ad]]Weekend tournaments like the Hall of Fame Invitational in Peru, the Spring Preview in Franklin - the site of the state finals - and the Brownsburg Invitational have prepared the Tigers for for what they will face at the state finals.
With that kind of experience against the state's top teams, like Carmel (No. 1), Avon (2), Floyd Central (3) and Noblesville (4), Warsaw's first goal will be to place in the top nine after the first round, setting up a return trip to the golf course on Wednesday for the secod round.
"We are definitely good enough to get to the second day," Barkey said. "There are good teams that go down and don't make it, but we have a real good chance if everyone plays well."
Having already proven their championship pedigree by taking the state crown in 2005, the Tigers fully expect to reach the second day of competition.
"There are no guarantees in sports," Barkey said. "So we don't want to guarantee anything, but we are expecting to reach the second day."
And on that second day, the Tigers will look to give Barkey his second team championship in his five years at Warsaw.
"(After qualifying for state), a part of us was excited, but another part was businesslike," Barkey said of of his team's mentality following its second-place finish at last Thursday's Homestead Regional. "We're still not done with what we want to accomplish."
At this stage in the season, the goal to be accomplished is a second state title in three years - one the Tigers will have to win on a wide-open course, much like the team's 18 holes at Stonehenge Golf Course.
"It's probably the easiest of the three courses we'll see in the tournament," Barkey said, referring to the sectionals at Stonehenge and Orchard Ridge, the site of regionals. "It's not an easy course, but it's not really that different from what we've seen."
The team left for Franklin Sunday and was scheduled for a practice round today, prepping for its 9:36 a.m. tee time with Penn, Lafayette Harrison and Hamilton Southeastern on the 10th tee Tuesday.
With so much experience at the state level, Barkey believes his guys may have an advantage.
"I don't think anyone will really be that nervous stepping up at the tee," Barkey said. "Some may be a little nervous on the first hole, but with two seniors (Grant Slater and Tad Nieter), that have been there before, I think the guys will be all right."
The top nine teams, as well as any team within 12 strokes of the leader, will advanced to Wednesday's second round.
The top nine invididuals, as well as any player within four strokes of the leader, will play in the second round.
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