Warsaw standout wins playoff; Tigers 5th at golf regional
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Dale Hubler-dhubler@timesuniononline.com
Jonny Hollar didn’t just advance to the state finals. No, the recently-graduated Warsaw golf standout earned a trip to next week’s two-day, 36-hole event at Prairie View in Carmel. The top three teams, as well as the top five individuals not on an advancing team, from Thursday’s 18-team regional at Stonehenge qualified for the 79th annual state finals, which will be played Tuesday and Wednesday. With the Tigers’ hopes of advancing as a team already dashed with their fifth-place score of 314, Hollar punched his ticket by winning a four-man playoff. Playing on Warsaw’s home course, Hollar carded a 4-over 75 and then birdied the par-4 No. 1 to beat Kokomo’s Zach Watterson, Leo’s Ashby Drummond and Homestead’s Ellis Yoder in the playoff. This will be Hollar’s third trip to the state finals. During his freshman and sophomore seasons, the Tigers advanced as a team. “For this senior class to go to the state finals three out of four years is fantastic,” said Warsaw coach Ben Barkey. “Everything that he’s been able to accomplish, and what he’s been a part of ... it’s very fitting. “He was very consistent today actually. His front nine wasn’t that great, he shot 40, so to shoot 1-under on the other side is a good score. He knew what he needed to do, and he was able to perform. That’s special for kids to be able to perform, knowing what they need to do.” On a day hot day, the action on the course was just as sizzling. Bishop Dwenger and Columbia City tied for the top team scores at 303. Dwenger won the team title via a fifth-man score. There was also a tie for the top individual score between Columbia City teammates Spencer Klimek and Tyler Green, Northfield’s Braydon Schinder and Dwenger’s Patt Allgeier, all of whom shot 73. Schinder, who was playing in the regional as an individual, won a playoff for medalist honors. Schinder, Western’s Riley Tomlinson (74), Mishawaka Marian’s Jonathan Wallisch (74), Canterbury’s Michael Brothers (74) and Hollar were the advancing individuals. Homestead finished third with a 310 and grabbed the final team state finals berth. Northridge finished fourth at 312, followed in the top 10 by Warsaw (314), Leo (318), Northwestern (320), Carroll (321), Penn (325) and Marian (328). From the Northern Lakes Conference, Plymouth was 11th with a 332, NorthWood was 13th at 336 and Elkhart Memorial 18th with 358. To go with Hollar’s 75, classmates Brandon Eckert and Ryan Cultice shot 76 and 77, respectively. Freshman Sam Yeager carded an 86 for Warsaw, while sophomore Michael Jensen overcome a rough time on No. 2 to finish with a 93. “Our guys played their butts off today,” said Barkey. “Under challenging course conditions, the guys continually worked hard and played with class ... that’s all you can ask for as a coach. I’m extremely proud of the way they tackled that adversity.” The Tigers shot a four-man score of 159 on the first nine holes and were seven shots behind leader Dwenger and just four shots behind Carroll, which was in third at the time. At the turn, the top nine teams were separated by just nine strokes. Competing as an individual, Wawasee’s Tristen Atwood concluded his prep career with an 82. Atwood made the turn with a 45, and then shot 37 over his final nine holes. “He hit it really well today,” Wawasee coach Steve Coverstone said of Atwood, who finished his round with eight 3-putts. “He just had one of those days where you putt enough to three and four feet and you miss a couple and ... he got in a rut where he had trouble making short putts. “So, you take the eight 3-putts away and he’s got a 74. It’s probably the best I’ve seen him drive the ball, he was in the fairway almost all the time. We’re proud of him for making it here. We’re proud of him for sticking with it after a tough front nine.”
WARSAW REGIONAL (Stonehenge, par-71) Note – top 3 teams, as well as top five individuals not on advancing team, qualify for state finals Team Scores – Dwenger 303, Columbia City 303, Homestead 310, Northridge 312, Warsaw 314, Leo 318, Northwestern 320, Carroll 321, Penn 325, Marian 328, Plymouth 332, Fairfield 333, NorthWood 336, Canterbury 337, Western 337, Peru 343, DeKalb 351, Elkhart Memorial 358 Top Individuals – Braydon Schinder (N’field) 73, Spencer Klimek (CC) 73, Tyler Green (CC) 73, Pat Allgeier (Dwe) 73 Advancing Individuals – Schinder (NF) 73, Riley Tomlinson (Wes) 74, Jonathan Wallisch (Mar) 74, Michael Brothers (Can) 74, Jonny Hollar (War) 75 Warsaw – Hollar 75, Brandon Eckert 76, Ryan Cultice 77, Sam Yeager 86, Michael Jensen 93 Local Individual – Tristen Atwood (Wawasee) 82
