FRANKLIN – Ryan Rapp admits he shies away from attention. With his play at The Legends in Franklin, however, the soft-spoken Triton High School senior was certainly among those in the spotlight during the 77th annual boys golf state finals. Rapp, who will play next season for Marian University, fired a 70 on both Tuesday and Wednesday and finished fifth in the 100-person tournament. “This is a great way to end it,” said Rapp, who was 6-under for the tournament and in second place at one point Wednesday. “It’s kind of hard to wrap my mind around this right now. There’s so many good players here.” Zionsville junior Adam Wood won the state championship by shooting 68 in both rounds, finishing at 8-under 136. Wood’s 36-hole score was just one stroke off the record set by Brownstown Central’s Chris Baker in 2003. Floyd Central senior Devin Jenkins (69-68 137) finished second, while Westfield sophomore Timmy Hildebrand (70-68 138) and Jasper senior Will Seger (71-67 138) were third and fourth, respetively. “Just being here was the highlight for me,” said the humble Rapp. “I didn’t have any expectations when I showed up Tuesday. I just wanted to have fun. Everything else was just icing on the cake.” As a team, the Trojans finished 14th out of 15 teams in the state finals after shooting 313 and 304 for a two-day total of 617. Their score was two strokes better than that of the 10th-ranked Warsaw Tigers, who shot 306 Tuesday and 313 Wednesday. The 15-team field at the state finals included teams ranked No. 1 through 11th, as well as 15th and 16th. Triton and Terre Haute North were the only unranked teams in the state finals. “I’m proud of my guys,” said long-time Triton coach Jack Carpenter, whose team advanced to state for just the second time in the program’s history. “They gave me all they had, and that’s all you can ask for. I figured it up, there were 360 teams that started the tournament in the sectional, that’s 1,700 kids. For a program our size to finish in the top 15 in the state and have two players in the top 25, we’re very proud.” Senior Quentyn Carpenter, who will play collegiately at Ball State University, shot 74-73 147 and tied for 24th. Other players for Triton included junior Tanner Shepherd (85-82 167), junior Lucas Shafer (84-79 163) and freshman Greg Music (95-103 198). Fourth-ranked Westfield shot a new 36-hole state record of 575 to win the team championship, beating top-ranked Columbus North by two strokes. Floyd Central (292-288 580), Jasper (295-296 591) and Noblesville (309-287 592) rounded out the top five. Rather than be disappointed in the 15th-place finish, Warsaw coach Ben Barkey chose to focus on his team’s successful season. “I have a great group of guys,” said Barkey. “At the end of the season, you have to be a big-picture guy, and we had a great season. If you had told me at the beginning of the season we’d win the sectional and then win the regional on a walkoff eagle by Jon (Schram) after graduating Tyler (Ostrom) and Bennett....I’d have said sign me up. “It’s a little frustrating that we shot higher than our average (Wednesday),” added Barkey. “But I’m not disappointed. Disappointed sounds like a long-term thing. We’re frustrated, but we had a great season. I’ve got a group of guys who work hard, and three seniors who were a joy to coach. That’s what high school athletics is all about.” Senior Jon Schram, who will join Carpenter and former Warsaw teammate Tyler Ostrom at Ball State, led the Tigers with a 9-over, 36-hole score of 153. Other players for Warsaw included senior Tim Ahlersmeyer (76-78 154), senior Evan Cultice (78-78 156), sophomore Jonny Hollar (80-79 159) and junior Will Petro (83-78 161).
STATE FINALS The Legends (Franklin, par 72) The tournament was a 36-hole event Team scores – Westfield 291-284 575, Columbus North 290-287 577, Floyd Central 292-288 580, Jasper 295-296 591, Noblesville 209-287 592, Avon 294-300 594, F.W. Dwenger 302-302 604, Hamilton Southeastern 304-300 604, Evansville Memorial 300-304 604, Pendleton Heights 308-300 608, Carmel 306-305 611, Valparaiso 300-312 612, Terre Haute North 311-304 615, Triton 313-304 617, Warsaw 306-313 619 Top 5 individuals – Adam Wood (Zionsville) 68-68 136, Devin Jenkins (Floyd Central) 68-69 137, Timmy Hildebrand (Westfield) 70-68 138, Will Seger (Jasper) 71-67 138, Ryan Rapp (Triton) 70-70 140 Triton – Ryan Rapp 70-70 140, Quentyn Carpenter 74-73 147, Lucas Shafer 84-79 163, Tanner Shepherd 85-82 167, Greg Music 95-103 198 Warsaw – Jon Schram 72-81 153, Tim Ahlersmeyer 76-78 154, Evan Cultice 78-78 156, Jonny Hollar 80-79 159, Will Petro 83-78 161
