Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Saturday's boys golf sectional at Rozella Ford is so full of talent, two local coaches said it may be the toughest sectional in the state.
Only the top three teams advance to the regional round of competition.
Warsaw, Wawasee, Culver Military Academy and Tippecanoe Valley figure on paper to be the teams that will challenge for the team title. A year ago Warsaw took the team title, with Wawasee and CMA also advancing to the regional round. Tippecanoe Valley missed the cut by one stroke.
"Three of those four teams will get out," Warsaw coach Bob Turner said. "It's anybody's game, and I think you have to throw Manchester in there. It's probably one of the best sectionals in the state. You can't predict this one."
Said Valley mentor Roger Moriarty: "Those three teams (Warsaw, Wawasee, CMA) are outstanding. CMA beat us by two strokes (earlier in the year). I think this is one of the toughest sectionals in the state."
Rounding out the rest of the field is Argos, Bremen, Culver Community, Northfield, Plymouth, Southwwood, Triton and Wabash.
The Tigers won the sectional a year ago en route to advancing to the state match. This year Warsaw has gone 13-2 and 6-0 in the Northern Lakes Conference. And yet Turner doesn't consider his team to be the favorite.
"When you get to this point, no one's the favorite," Turner said. "We don't look at anybody else. We know what we have to do. There's no target on our back. We've had a super week of practice, we just have to go out and play our game and see what everyone else shoots."
With the top three teams advancing, Turner says a 318 will get a team to the regional round.
"It's gonna be a low number," Turner said. "I think if you shoot a 318 you'll get out. I've looked at the records for the last 11 years, and a 318 should get you out. First place will be lower."
Moriarty said a 315 would advance a team to the regional and that it would take a 307 or 308 to nab the team title.
Differing from Turner, Moriarty says there might be a team that has to be considered the favorite.
"Right now you have to favor Wawasee," Moriarty said. "They beat Warsaw at the NLC match. We're glad to be on our home course, it just depends on how we play. CMA and Wawasee are really quality teams. Wawasee has been there before. They have some kids that are getting older now, but they still have some freshmen with a lot of experience. They've always got good golfers. They've posted some outstanding numbers."
Valley is not to be forgotten though. The Vikings went through the regular season with a 12-4 mark and a first-place finish in the Three Rivers Conference. Like it is for Warsaw, Rozella is Valley's home course.
"We're kind of on a roll right now," Moriarty said. "We won our last two invitationals (LaVille Invite, TRC) and we won our last eight duals and triangulars. If we keep things rolling we have a chance to crack the top three. It all comes down to your three, four and five players."
The Vikings last advanced to the regional in 1993.
Including teams Valley has finished in front of or behind in all matches, including invitationals, Moriarty says the Vikings are 72-13 this year.
Action at Rozella Ford tommorrow begins at 11 a.m. Golfers from Triton and Manchester will tee off between 12:20 and 12:52 p.m. with Plymouth. Valley, Warsaw, Wawasee and CMA will tee off together between 1 and 1:40 p.m.
2000 BOYS GOLF SECTIONALS
WARSAW SECTIONAL
When - June 3. First tee time 11 a.m.
Where - Rozella Ford Golf Course
Who - Argos, Culver Community, Culver Military Academy, Manchester, Northfield, Plymouth, Southwood, Tippecanoe Valley, Triton, Wabash, Warsaw, Wawasee
Local tee times - Triton, Manchester 12:20-12:52 p.m.; Tippecanoe Valley, Warsaw, Wawasee 1-1:40 p.m.
CHURUBUSCO SECTIONAL
When - Today
Where - Eel River Golf Course, Churubusco
Who - Angola, Carroll, Central Noble, Churubusco, Columbia City, DeKalb, East Noble, Eastside, Fremont, Garrett, Hamilton, Homestead, Leo, West Noble, Whitko
Local tee times - Whitko 9:40 a.m.
NORTHRIDGE SECTIONAL
When - June 3
Where - Spring Meadow Golf Course, Middlebury
Who - Bethany Christian, Concord, Elkhart Central, Elkhart Memorial, Fairfield, Goshen, Jimtown, Lakeland, Northridge, NorthWood, Prairie Heights, Westview
Local tee times - NorthWood 12:15 p.m.
