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In the last few weeks, things have been all too clear when Warsaw golf coach Bob Turner has been asked to look into his crystal ball.
Less than two weeks ago, when Turner was asked what it would take to win the Warsaw Sectional at Rozella Ford, he said 318. The Tigers smashed the sectional competition and finished first with a 301, 17 strokes in front of second place.
To win the Homestead Regional at Chestnut Hills in Fort Wayne, he said the winning team would have to shoot somewhere around 320. Again, the Tigers smashed the competition, this time with a 304, 10 strokes ahead of fourth-ranked Fort Wayne Concordia.
On Monday night, two days before his team's date in the state finals match at Prestwick Golf Club in Avon, Turner looked into his trusty crystal ball one more time.
"The first day I think you'll have to be under 320," said Turner, who coached the Tigers to an 18-2 regular season record. "On the first day our main goal is to get 320. You have to be within 20 strokes of the leader to advance to the second day."
Only the top nine teams and individuals advance to Thursday's championship round of competition, as well as teams within 20 strokes of the leader and individuals within six strokes of the leader.
Just what does Warsaw have to do to advance to Thursday's round of competition?
"The course kind of fits our style," said Turner. "It's narrow in some parts. The kids will have to play position golf and keep their heads on right to play decent golf. They can't get involved in the hoopla."
Of the five Warsaw golfers in tomorrow's first-round match, none of them are seniors. The Tigers' fate Wednesday will rest on the shoulders of two freshmen (Aaron Turner, Adam Johnson), a sophomore (Ryan Slone) and two juniors (Jason Henthorn, Justin Howell).
"We have five players that I think can play with anybody if the kids are on that day," said Bob Turner. "It depends on how low the other team's one and two players go."
And the Tigers will have to be able to play with the best Wednesday. Of the 20 teams to be ranked in the final coaches' poll, 14 of them will be showcased at Prestwick Wednesday. Included is top-ranked Center Grove and second-ranked Noblesville, last year's team champion.
In Friday's regional, it was the sophomore who led the team with a 72. Howell shot a 76, Turner and Johnson shot 78s, and Henthorn shot an 89.
Turner said the Tigers would have to shoot a 320 to advance to Thursday's round of golf. Just how easy a task is that?
Turner said Warsaw is doing the right things at the right time. But then again, the Tigers went 6-0 in regular season Northern Lakes Conference action, won the NLC golf tournament, won the sectional and won the regional. They've been doing the right things at the right time all season long.
"The main thing is the kids have to concentrate on their game and not watch other people play," said Turner. "That's the key."
Turner, the first Tiger to tee off, will tee off at 10:16 a.m. Wednesday. He will be followed by Johnson, Henthorn, Howell and Slone, each eight minutes apart.
1999 GOLF STATE FINALS
Wednesday/Thursday at Prestwick Country Club in Avon
Warsaw Wednesday tee times - Aaron Turner 10:16 a.m., Adam Johnson 10:24, Jason Henthorn 10:32, Justin Howell 10:40, Ryan Slone 10:48
Teams - Bloomington South, Carmel, Center Grove, Columbus North, Chesterton, Evansville North, Floyd Central, Fort Wayne Concordia, Garrett, Glenn, Greenfield-Central, Lafayette Jefferson, Marion, Martinsville, Noblesville, South Bend Clay, Southmont, South Vermillion, Terre Haute North, Terre Haute South, Warsaw.
Individuals - Ben Beatty, Seymour; Aaron Bell, Anderson; Derek Boling, Southridge; Matt Campbell, Homestead; Herbie Champlin, Culver Military; Nathan Fritz, Greenwood; Konrad Guernsey, Henryville; Drew Hatton, Washington; Mark Hirleman, West Lafayette; Greg Krupinski, Munster; Brent Liter, Madison; Jeff Moulder, Kokomo; Ketan Patel, Anderson Highland; Jason Reddington, Evansville Central; Mike Schumaker, Columbia City; Jason Schwerdt, Valparaiso; Derek Sinclair, Blackford; Ryan Steele, Rochester; Mark Weghorst, Brebeuf; Justin Wenger, Warren Central; Kevin Wiseman, South Bend Riley.
Note - The top nine teams and individuals as well as those teams who are within 20 strokes of the leader, and those individuals who are within six strokes of the leader will advance to Thursday's round of competition.
