Warsaw Golf Sectional Loaded With Talent
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Three Kosciusko County high schools compete in Saturday's 11-team boys golf sectional at Rozella Ford.
Those three teams -ÊTippecanoe Valley, No. 15 Warsaw and No. 16 Wawasee - are favored to take the top three places. The top three teams advance to the Homestead Regional at Chestnut Hills.
"I can't remember when the sectional has been this talented," Warsaw coach Bob Turner said. "You have us, Wawasee and Valley. CMA is a close fourth, and Northfield is a close fifth. You have three very good teams and two sleeper teams."
Said Tippecanoe Valley coach Roger Moriarty: "Last year, all three of the county teams were pretty good. This year has been an exceptional year for area golf teams.
"It depends on which day it is. Any one of the three teams, Warsaw, Wawasee or us, could win."
Warsaw is 15-3, including 7-0 at Rozella Ford, its home course. Tippecanoe Valley is 14-2, including 4-0 at Rozella Ford, also its home course. Wawasee is 15-2.
How talented are these teams? The three schools combined for 11 top-three finishes in invitationals and six individual or team records.
"I think the three teams that advance out of this sectional have an excellent chance of going 1-2-3 at the regional," Moriarty said. "That's how strong these teams are."
But only one of the three county teams, Valley, advanced to last year's state finals. The Vikings placed 16th, led by Drew Shafer, who tied for sixth.
"[The state] is invaluable experience," Moriarty said. "They have a burning desire to get back there again. We don't want to be a flash in the pan."
Valley's 9-hole average at home and away matches is 160.1. The Vikings have played just four matches at home. Shafer leads with a 9-hole average of 37.5 and is followed by Andy Martin (39.8), Brian Love (40.5), Anthony Domenico (43) and Aaron Zolman (44).
Shafer, Martin, Love and Domenico are seniors, and Zolman is a junior. The Vikings enter the sectional having won three consecutive invitationals. Valley set four records. The Vikings broke the team 18-hole record of 312 with a 311 then broke that record with a 302. Shafer set the individual 9-hole record with a 32, and he holds the record for most birdies in a season with 32.
"My kids are ready," Moriarty said. "Our kids don't have to play over their heads. They just have to play up to their capabilities. If we go 155-155 for 310, I'd put that number up and let other teams shoot for it. Our guys say they'll shoot better than that. But I'll take my chances with 310. I think it will take a 315 to get to regional.
"This is the sectional. There is a little bit of pressure. I have seen a lot of good golfers not have their best day at the sectional."
A team that always seems to have its best day at the sectional is Warsaw. The Tigers have won five straight sectionals. All five have come at Warsaw's home course.
"It's always nice to not have to travel," Warsaw coach Bob Turner said. "Playing at home will help us and will help Valley. We feel comfortable here.
"We want to win the sectional, but you can't get to the state championship unless you get to the regional. As long as we get out of the sectional, it will be fine with me."
Warsaw shot a 309 to win last year's sectional and was followed by CMA (316) and Tippecanoe Valley (316). But at the Homestead Regional, Valley placed third to advance to the state tournament, while Warsaw failed to advance.
The Tigers average a 9-hole score of 156 in all matches and boast an average of 150 at Rozella Ford. Adam Johnson leads Warsaw with a 38.5 9-hole average and is followed by Aaron Turner (39.5), Greg Clay (40), Matt Osbeck (40.6) and David Slater (41.2). All five are juniors.
Warsaw has topped Valley and Wawasee in all common matches. Warsaw (first, 330) finished ahead of Wawasee (eighth, 348) in the Homestead Invitational, beat the Warriors head-to-head at Rozella Ford (150-152) and finished ahead of the Warriors in the NLC Tournament (314-315) to clinch the NLC title. Warsaw (third, 321) placed ahead of Valley (seventh, 325) in the Michigan City Tournament. The Tigers won one invitational and took second in three others.
While this may be the most talented the three county schools ever have been in the same year, Turner warns not to expect too much at sectional.
"The scores may be higher than what people think," he said, "because there's always a little more pressure at the sectional.
"You don't know what could happen. It could be rainy. Then the golf course plays tough. Every year 317 or 318 seems to be the third-place score."
How does Rozella play on a normal day?
"One, the golfer has to be patient," Moriarty said. "There are places on this course you can get yourself in trouble. You have to be willing to suck it up and say I'll take a five instead of a four rather than trying to do too much. Otherwise, you'll take a triple or double. There are holes here where you can take big numbers."
The Tigers have the luxury of playing more matches on the course, so they are confident.
"None of these teams scare me," Turner said. "You have to beat us on our home course, as far as I'm concerned."
And that's one reason Wawasee coach Steve Coverstone considers Warsaw the favorite to win the sectional.
"I would say Warsaw is the team to beat," he said. "They have five good players and a good coach in Bob Turner. He has one of the best programs around. I would say in an 18-hole match, playing on your home course is worth four or five shots."
Wawasee won two invitationals and took second in another. Sophomore Stephen Conrad, who averages a 9-hole score of 37, shot a 32 to set a school record. Wawasee set a team 9-hole record with a 140, a score the Warriors recorded twice.
Wawasee last advanced to the regional two years ago.
"There are four or five good teams at this sectional," Coverstone said. "Warsaw, Tippecanoe Valley, us, CMA and Northfield.
"We're just hoping to be one of the three to get to regional. I think it will take a 314 or 315."
Who will win this sectional?
"Flip a coin," said Turner, in search of a three-headed coin with the names Valley, Warsaw and Wawasee.
Moriarty hopes having four seniors and a trip to the state tournament gives his team an edge, but like Turner said, his first concern is placing in the top three.
"Our first goal is to continue to play after this week," Moriarty said. "Winning the sectional would be nice, because we've never done it. But third place isn't a bad place to be. You put up the first score at regional then let other teams shoot at it. The third-place teams tee off first.
"That's the way we did it last year. We placed third at sectional then finished before everyone else at the regional."
And last year led to Valley's first trip to the state tournament in school history.
This year, all three county schools have their focus on reaching the state match.
WARSAW SECTIONAL
11 a.m. Saturday at Rozella Ford
Teams -ÊArgos, Bremen, Culver Community, Culver Military Academy, Manchester (8-7), Northfield, Plymouth, Southwood, Tippecanoe Valley (14-2), Triton (8-12), Wabash, No. 15 Warsaw (15-3), No. 16 Wawasee (15-2)
CHURUBUSCO SECTIONAL
9 a.m. Friday at Eel River Country Club
Teams -ÊAngola, Carroll, Central Noble, Churubusco, Columbia City, DeKalb, East Noble, Eastside, Fremont, Garrett, Hamilton, Homestead, Leo, West Noble, Whitko (4-8)
NORTHRIDGE SECTIONAL
10 a.m. Saturday at Spring Meadow Farm Golf Club
Teams -ÊBethany Christian, Concord, Elkhart Central, Elkhart Memorial, Fairfield, Goshen, Jimtown, Lakeland, Northridge, NorthWood (7-12), Prairie Heights, Westview [[In-content Ad]]
Three Kosciusko County high schools compete in Saturday's 11-team boys golf sectional at Rozella Ford.
Those three teams -ÊTippecanoe Valley, No. 15 Warsaw and No. 16 Wawasee - are favored to take the top three places. The top three teams advance to the Homestead Regional at Chestnut Hills.
"I can't remember when the sectional has been this talented," Warsaw coach Bob Turner said. "You have us, Wawasee and Valley. CMA is a close fourth, and Northfield is a close fifth. You have three very good teams and two sleeper teams."
Said Tippecanoe Valley coach Roger Moriarty: "Last year, all three of the county teams were pretty good. This year has been an exceptional year for area golf teams.
"It depends on which day it is. Any one of the three teams, Warsaw, Wawasee or us, could win."
Warsaw is 15-3, including 7-0 at Rozella Ford, its home course. Tippecanoe Valley is 14-2, including 4-0 at Rozella Ford, also its home course. Wawasee is 15-2.
How talented are these teams? The three schools combined for 11 top-three finishes in invitationals and six individual or team records.
"I think the three teams that advance out of this sectional have an excellent chance of going 1-2-3 at the regional," Moriarty said. "That's how strong these teams are."
But only one of the three county teams, Valley, advanced to last year's state finals. The Vikings placed 16th, led by Drew Shafer, who tied for sixth.
"[The state] is invaluable experience," Moriarty said. "They have a burning desire to get back there again. We don't want to be a flash in the pan."
Valley's 9-hole average at home and away matches is 160.1. The Vikings have played just four matches at home. Shafer leads with a 9-hole average of 37.5 and is followed by Andy Martin (39.8), Brian Love (40.5), Anthony Domenico (43) and Aaron Zolman (44).
Shafer, Martin, Love and Domenico are seniors, and Zolman is a junior. The Vikings enter the sectional having won three consecutive invitationals. Valley set four records. The Vikings broke the team 18-hole record of 312 with a 311 then broke that record with a 302. Shafer set the individual 9-hole record with a 32, and he holds the record for most birdies in a season with 32.
"My kids are ready," Moriarty said. "Our kids don't have to play over their heads. They just have to play up to their capabilities. If we go 155-155 for 310, I'd put that number up and let other teams shoot for it. Our guys say they'll shoot better than that. But I'll take my chances with 310. I think it will take a 315 to get to regional.
"This is the sectional. There is a little bit of pressure. I have seen a lot of good golfers not have their best day at the sectional."
A team that always seems to have its best day at the sectional is Warsaw. The Tigers have won five straight sectionals. All five have come at Warsaw's home course.
"It's always nice to not have to travel," Warsaw coach Bob Turner said. "Playing at home will help us and will help Valley. We feel comfortable here.
"We want to win the sectional, but you can't get to the state championship unless you get to the regional. As long as we get out of the sectional, it will be fine with me."
Warsaw shot a 309 to win last year's sectional and was followed by CMA (316) and Tippecanoe Valley (316). But at the Homestead Regional, Valley placed third to advance to the state tournament, while Warsaw failed to advance.
The Tigers average a 9-hole score of 156 in all matches and boast an average of 150 at Rozella Ford. Adam Johnson leads Warsaw with a 38.5 9-hole average and is followed by Aaron Turner (39.5), Greg Clay (40), Matt Osbeck (40.6) and David Slater (41.2). All five are juniors.
Warsaw has topped Valley and Wawasee in all common matches. Warsaw (first, 330) finished ahead of Wawasee (eighth, 348) in the Homestead Invitational, beat the Warriors head-to-head at Rozella Ford (150-152) and finished ahead of the Warriors in the NLC Tournament (314-315) to clinch the NLC title. Warsaw (third, 321) placed ahead of Valley (seventh, 325) in the Michigan City Tournament. The Tigers won one invitational and took second in three others.
While this may be the most talented the three county schools ever have been in the same year, Turner warns not to expect too much at sectional.
"The scores may be higher than what people think," he said, "because there's always a little more pressure at the sectional.
"You don't know what could happen. It could be rainy. Then the golf course plays tough. Every year 317 or 318 seems to be the third-place score."
How does Rozella play on a normal day?
"One, the golfer has to be patient," Moriarty said. "There are places on this course you can get yourself in trouble. You have to be willing to suck it up and say I'll take a five instead of a four rather than trying to do too much. Otherwise, you'll take a triple or double. There are holes here where you can take big numbers."
The Tigers have the luxury of playing more matches on the course, so they are confident.
"None of these teams scare me," Turner said. "You have to beat us on our home course, as far as I'm concerned."
And that's one reason Wawasee coach Steve Coverstone considers Warsaw the favorite to win the sectional.
"I would say Warsaw is the team to beat," he said. "They have five good players and a good coach in Bob Turner. He has one of the best programs around. I would say in an 18-hole match, playing on your home course is worth four or five shots."
Wawasee won two invitationals and took second in another. Sophomore Stephen Conrad, who averages a 9-hole score of 37, shot a 32 to set a school record. Wawasee set a team 9-hole record with a 140, a score the Warriors recorded twice.
Wawasee last advanced to the regional two years ago.
"There are four or five good teams at this sectional," Coverstone said. "Warsaw, Tippecanoe Valley, us, CMA and Northfield.
"We're just hoping to be one of the three to get to regional. I think it will take a 314 or 315."
Who will win this sectional?
"Flip a coin," said Turner, in search of a three-headed coin with the names Valley, Warsaw and Wawasee.
Moriarty hopes having four seniors and a trip to the state tournament gives his team an edge, but like Turner said, his first concern is placing in the top three.
"Our first goal is to continue to play after this week," Moriarty said. "Winning the sectional would be nice, because we've never done it. But third place isn't a bad place to be. You put up the first score at regional then let other teams shoot at it. The third-place teams tee off first.
"That's the way we did it last year. We placed third at sectional then finished before everyone else at the regional."
And last year led to Valley's first trip to the state tournament in school history.
This year, all three county schools have their focus on reaching the state match.
WARSAW SECTIONAL
11 a.m. Saturday at Rozella Ford
Teams -ÊArgos, Bremen, Culver Community, Culver Military Academy, Manchester (8-7), Northfield, Plymouth, Southwood, Tippecanoe Valley (14-2), Triton (8-12), Wabash, No. 15 Warsaw (15-3), No. 16 Wawasee (15-2)
CHURUBUSCO SECTIONAL
9 a.m. Friday at Eel River Country Club
Teams -ÊAngola, Carroll, Central Noble, Churubusco, Columbia City, DeKalb, East Noble, Eastside, Fremont, Garrett, Hamilton, Homestead, Leo, West Noble, Whitko (4-8)
NORTHRIDGE SECTIONAL
10 a.m. Saturday at Spring Meadow Farm Golf Club
Teams -ÊBethany Christian, Concord, Elkhart Central, Elkhart Memorial, Fairfield, Goshen, Jimtown, Lakeland, Northridge, NorthWood (7-12), Prairie Heights, Westview [[In-content Ad]]