Over the past dozen years, the postseason has been good to Warsaw’s boys golf program. Thursday, however, just wasn’t the Tigers’ day. Playing in the 18-team regional at Stonehenge – Warsaw’s home course, known for its length and difficulty – the Tigers finished ninth with a four-man score of 320. Only one player for Warsaw, senior Will Petro with a 77, shot below 80 on the par-71 course. “It just wasn’t our day,” said Warsaw coach Ben Barkey, whose team was looking for its third-straight regional championship and ninth state finals berth in Barkey’s 12 years as coach. “We just didn’t play well,” he added. “You can’t put your finger on it or explain it. I don’t understand it. We just didn’t play well. It wasn’t our day.” Brandon Eckert shot an 80 for the Tigers, while Michael Jensen carded an 81, Ryan Cultice finished with an 82 and Jonny Hollar shot 83. “Will is our only senior, and it’s disappointing he won’t be part of the team anymore,” said Barkey. “He’ll always be a part of Tiger golf nation, but selfishly you wish he could be a part of the team one more week. Not just so we could play at state, but so we could be around him another week. I wish we could have given him a better sendoff.” The top three teams, as well as the top five individuals not on an advancing team, qualified for next week’s state finals. The state finals are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday at The Legends in Franklin. NorthWood, which shot a team score of 142 on the front nine Thursday, won the regional title with a 305 – the same score Warsaw won with last year. Sixth-ranked Bishop Dwenger finished second with a 308, while Homestead shot 310 to grab the last state finals berth. The rest of the sectional field included Northridge (315), Columbia City (316), Leo (316), Marian (316), Canterbury (318), Warsaw (320), Penn (321), Kokomo (326), Carroll (328), Culver Military Academy (331), Western (332), East Noble (334), Fairfield (338), Peru (344) and Glenn (352). Glenn’s Tyler Prentkowski and Canterbury’s Michael Brothers both shot 71, and Prentkowski earned medalist honors after winning a playoff. Both advanced to state as individuals and will be joined in Franklin by Heritage’s Nick Bienz (72), Marian’s Michael Makris (72) and Peru’s Cameron Smith (73). Three local players competed in Friday’s regional as individuals but failed to advance. Wawasee’s Jeffrey Moore shot 74, missing a trip to Franklin by one stroke. Tippecanoe Valley’s Bryce Zimpleman finished the day with an 80, while Triton’s Greg Music carded a 91. “He played well,” Wawasee coach Steve Coverstone said of Moore. “He was focused on this tournament. He really prepared for this tournament and he came through and played a really good round. He was solid all day, he just had one bad swing on No. 16.”
WARSAW REGIONAL (Stonehenge, par 71) Note – top three teams, as well as top five individuals not on an advancing team, qualify for state finals Team Scores – NorthWood 305, Bishop Dwenger 308, Homestead 310, Northridge 315, Columbia City 316, Leo 316, Marian 316, Canterbury 318, Warsaw 320, Penn 321, Kokomo 326, Carroll 328, Culver Military Academy 331, Western 332, East Noble 334, Fairfield 338, Peru 344, Glenn 352 Medalist – Tyler Prentkowski (Glenn) 71, won playff Advancing Individuals – Tyler Prentkowski (Glenn) 71, Michael Brothers (Canterbury) 71, Nick Bienz (Heritage) 72, Michael Makris (72), Cameron Smith (Peru) 73 Local Individuals – Jeffrey Moore (Wawasee) 74, Bryce Zimpleman (T. Valley) 80, Greg Music (Triton) 91 Warsaw – Will Petro 77, Brandon Eckert 80, Michael Jensen 81, Ryan Cultice 82, Jonny Hollar 83
