FRANKLIN -ÊAfter advancing from the state semifinals in a three-way tie for fifth place Wednesday, the Wawasee Warriors were determined to get a better start Thursday in the last round of the state finals.

And the Warriors did just that. On the front nine, the Warriors shot a solid round, with scores ranging from 36 to 40. Then the Wawasee squad finished the back nine with scores ranging from 36 to 42.

The Warriors finished Thursday's round with an 18-hole team score of 304. Added to Wednesday's 298, the Wawasee foursome totalled 602 strokes as a team.

"We beat last year's score by six strokes," said Wawasee coach Steve Coverstone, after the Warriors finished their Thursday round. "We're hoping to finish in the top 10 today, but it will depend on the other scores."

In the end, the Warriors' 602 was good enough for fourth place behind Richmond, Center Grove and Columbus North. Richmond won the state title with a two-day total of 587, a new state meet record.

Joel Bickel led the Warriors with a two-day score of 145, while Stephen Conrad shot a 148.

"Joel played well until 18, and then he double bogeyed the last hole," said Coverstone. "Stephen hit the ball really well today, but he couldn't get the putts. Yesterday it was the opposite, he wasn't hitting the ball very well, but he did a good job putting."

Both Conrad and Bickel were named to the All-State team.

Finishing out the Wawasee lineup was Josh Abrams with a 154, Evan Gerard with a 155 and Darrin Cripe with a 161.

"Josh played steady golf both days for us," said Coverstone. "Evan came back after a bad start (Wednesday) and finished well. And this was Darrin's first time down here, and he had a little trouble with his putter. But he's a sophomore, and we hope he'll be back here next year."

Conrad, Bickel, Abrams and Gerard finished their high school golf careers with the fourth-place finish at state. Cripe and alternate Casey Weade will return next season for the Warriors.

"This is a great group of guys," said Coverstone. "I am very proud of these kids, no matter what. These guys are very special, and they will go on to play a lot more golf."

GOLF STATE FINALS

at The Legends Of Indiana in Franklin

Team scores -ÊRichmond 288-299-587, Center Grove 298-296-594, Columbus North 291-306-597, Wawasee 298-304-602, Concord 295-312-607, Zionsville 304-303-607, Valparaiso 300-309-609, Terre Haute South 306-306-612, West Washington 297-317-614, Jasper 297-317-614, Mishawaka Marian 306-308-614, Bedford North Lawrence 301-315-616, Anderson 298-322-620, Vincennes Lincoln 298-322-620, Carmel 306-316-622, Munster 304-318-622

Wawasee 2-day scores -ÊStephen Conrad 75-73-148, Joel Bickel 70-75-145, Josh Abrams 77-77-154, Darrin Cripe 80-81-161, Evan Gerard 76-79-155

All-State Team -ÊChris Baker, Brownstown Central; Joel Bickel, Wawasee; Stephen Conrad, Wawasee; Adam Gifford, Plymouth; Kyle Demeter, South Bend Clay; Nick Gillaspy, Owen Valley; Cole Isban, Mishawaka Marian; Aaron Knapp, Columbus North; Brandon Knutson, Mishawaka Marian; Alex Kopko, Center Grove; Nick Prout, Vincennes Lincoln; James Sacheck, Zionsville; Patrick Schleck, West Lafayette; Chris Tillbury, Fremont; Adam Vandoski, Center Grove; Andy Winings, Franklin Community [[In-content Ad]]