FRANKLIN - Wawasee boys golf coach Steve Coverstone wasn't overly excited about how his team played at the state finals Tuesday and Wednesday, but he was able to point out that the Warriors accomplished their three goals this year.
"I wouldn't say I'm happy, but at the beginning of the year our goal was to be playing on the second day of the state finals, and we did that," said Coverstone, whose team shot a 36-hole score of 619 to finish ninth in the 72nd annual boys golf state finals at Legends of Indiana in Franklin. "We wanted to win the sectional, win conference and make it to the second day at state, and we did those things. I'm proud of the guys."The Warriors, who were ranked sixth in the final poll of the season, shot a 301 Tuesday and were in fifth place after 18 holes of play, but were 27 strokes behind Indianapolis Cathedral, which shot a blistering 5-under as a team.
The top nine teams, as well as any team within 12 strokes of the leader, qualified for the second day of action. The top nine individuals, as well as any individual within four strokes of the leader, qualified for Wednesday's round.
On Wednesday, Wawasee struggled a bit and put up a four-man score of 318.
Cathedral turned in the best score of the nine team that advanced to Wednesday's round, turning in a 288 to capture the state championship with a two-day total of 562.
"That's unbelievable," Coverstone said of Cathedral's score. "To shoot 274 Tuesday, that's unbelievable."
Avon (289-295 584) finished second, followed by Lafayette Jeff (299-292 591), Northridge 300-301 601), Hamilton Southeastern (304-299 603), Mishawak Marian (302-308 610), Noblesville (303-311 614), Chesterton (303-313 616) and Wawasee.
"The last month or so, we haven't gotten off to a great start," said Coverstone. "We've had to fight back. But I'm proud of the guys."
Cathedral junior Corey Ziedonis won the individual state championship by beating Delta senior Chase Wright with a birdie on the first playoff hole.
After 36 holes of play, Ziedonis and Wright were tied at 137, but Ziedonis, who shot a 5-under 65 on Tuesday, birdied the 513-yard par 5 No. 11 to claim his championship.
Columbus North senior Tyler Duncan won the Fred A. Keesling Mental Attitude Award.
For the Warriors, junior Curtis Coverstone led the way with a 36-hole score of 147 (74-73).
Other scores for Wawasee included Jordan Dawes' 152 (73-79), Michael Jenkins' 156 (74-82), Rees Woodcock's 164 (80-84) and John Kirkwood's 166 (81-85).
"We didn't play particularly well," said Coverstone. "We've definitely had better days, but we met all three of our goals, I'm proud of the guys. I'd liked to have had a better day, but that didn't happen. You don't have class (sports) in golf, so, to finish in the top 10 of all the schools is a good accomplishment."
Team scores - Cathedral 274-288 562, Avon 289-295 584, Lafayette Jeff 299-292 591, Northridge 300-301 601, Hamilton Southeastern 304-299 603, Mishawaka Marian 302-308 610, Noblesville 303-311 614, Chesterton 303-313 616, Wawasee 301-318 619
