Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
FORT WAYNE -ÊThe desire of any coach would be to have his team playing its best come tournament time and it would appear that Tiger boys golf coach Ben Barkey has done just that. His Tigers finished atop a 12-team field Wednesday at the challenging Chestnut Hills Golf Course in Fort Wayne.
The Tigers were in Fort Wayne to play in the Homestead Invitational, originally scheduled for May 10 but rained out. It was just recently rescheduled for Wednesday, which was good news for the teams involved as Chestnut Hills will host the local regional, making Wednesday a practice round for the regional.
The Homestead Invitational has always attracted a strong field, and that was the case again this year.
Concord and Blackhawk Christian have both been ranked this year. Homestead came in as one of the area's hottest teams, but the strongest team there was the No. 1 squad from Wawasee.
None of that intimidated the Tigers as they went out and fired a score of 300, just one shot off the high school record for the Chestnut Hills course, a 299 set by Wawasee last year at the regional.
Good play at Chestnut Hills is nothing new for the Tiger golf team as this is the second year in a row the Tigers have won the prestigious Homestead event.
This year they did it with all new faces, behind patient play and a balanced effort as both Ben Brodhead and Chris Hanson fired one over-par 73s. Jake Brodhead wasn't far behind at 75 while Jon Clevenger shot a 79. Jeremy Nieter fired a 94 as the low four scores count toward the team total.
"I am more than pleased with our play today," said first-year coach Barkey. "I am ecstatic. These guys played great today, they finished very strong and that was the key for us. We got three or four birdies on the last few holes. That seemed to do it for us."
The excellent finish was indeed important for the Tigers as they beat out Wawasee for the title by just two strokes. Blackhawk Christian was close behind at 310 with Marion at 312 and Homestead at 314.
The Tigers avenged losses to both Wawasee and Concord in Northern Lakes Conference championships.
"I think this gives us some much-needed confidence heading into tournament play," said Barkey. "To continue to shoot around 300 or better is just great. There were a lot of tough teams here so to come out here and beat them is excellent.
"Ben and Chris both played great with 73s. Chris finished with birdies on his last two holes. That's what we wanted. Those two birdies really brought it home for us."
While the Tigers might have been the hottest team on Wednesday, Wawasee's Stephen Conrad showed why he might be the hottest player in the state right now.
Conrad was 6-under par as he finished with a 66, the competitive course record at the Fuzzy Zoeller-designed course. Just Monday, the recent graduate Conrad fired a five-under round of 67 at the Cobblestone course in Kendallville as he participated in the State Amateur qualifier held there.
The Tigers will host the sectional Saturday at Stonehenge Golf Course. Warsaw will again match up against the Wawasee team, along with the team from Culver Military Academy. Those three teams are considered Saturday's favorites. The low three teams as well as the low three individuals not on an advancing team will qualify for regional play at the Chestnut Hills course June 12.
HOMESTEAD INVITATIONAL
Team Scores - Warsaw 300, Wawasee 302, Blackhawk Christian 310, Marion 312, Homestead 314, Plymouth 315, Concord 316, Culver Military Academy 321, Homestead (II) 324, Huntington North 324, Northridge 352, Goshen 365
Top 5 Individuals -ÊStephen Conrad (Wawasee) 66, Erich martin (Homestead) 69, Brandon Pike (Huntington North) 70, Adam Gifford (Plymouth) 71, Pat Kelley (Blackhawk Christian) 72
Warsaw scores-ÊJake Brodhead 75, Ben Brodhead 73, Chris Hanson 73, Jon Clevenger 79, Jeremy Nieter 94
Wawasee scores -ÊStephen Conrad 66, Joel Bickel 78, Evan Gerard 79, Darrin Cripe 79, Casey Weade 81
