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A day that was already nearly picture-perfect, the end result of Saturday's boys golf sectional at Stonehenge also put a smile on the face of coach Ben Barkey and his Warsaw team.
Playing on their home course and under sunny skies, the Tigers rallied from a third-place effort on the front nine to win their third sectional championship in four years.
Warsaw, which trailed Wawasee by five strokes and Plymouth by one stroke at the turn, finished with an 18-hole score of 315.
Wawasee, which won last year's sectional, finished second, three strokes back while Plymouth shot 322 to finish third.
"We did the opposite of what we did last week, we kept our composure and were confident," said fourth-year Warsaw coach Ben Barkey, who said his team had been in a slump but was coming out of it. "We played the way we need to play on the back and everything fell into place."
The top three teams, as well as the top three indviduals not on an advancing team, will play in the regional Thursday at Orchard Ridge Country Club in Fort Wayne.
Triton shot a four-man score of 344 to finish fourth, followed in the 12-team field by Culver Academy (345), Southwood (349), Manchester (349), Wabash (366), Tippecanoe Valley (379), Culver Community (391), Bremen (393) and Northfield (401).
Triton sophomore T.J. Carpenter finished 3-over par and was the medalist with his score of 74. Wawasee's Curtis Coverstone and Andy Wolf both shot 75 to finish second, but will play in the regional with their Warrior teammates.
Also advancing to the regional as individuals were Culver Academy's Thomas Bradford, who shot a 79, and Southwood's Josh Tuelker, who finished with an 80.
After the first nine holes, Wawasee was in the lead with a 149, while Plymouth shot 153 and Warsaw 154.
On the back nine, however, the Tigers shot 161 while both Wawasee and Plymouth shot 169.
"Wawasee was ahead by five strokes at the turn," said Barkey. "On the back they just hit some shots that cost them. The course played tough today and we were fortunate."
To go with the 75s turned in by Wolfe and Coverstone, the Warriors got an 83 from Michael Jenkins, and 85 from Jordan Dawes and an 86 from Andy Custer.
Wolfe and Dawes both shot 36 on the front.
For Warsaw, Skyler Scott shot a 76 while Grant Slater carded a 77, Tad Nieter turned in a 79 and Jared Nifong finished with an 83. Warsaw's fifth man, Ryan Marose, finished the day with an 85.
Scott, playing in the fourth spot for the Tigers, was the picture of consistency Saturday. The senior turned in a 37 on the front and 39 on the back to finish with the third-best individual score in the sectional.
"That's probably the most important fourth-man score since I've been here," Barkey said of Scott's 76. "His average is right at 80 for the year, but he's a better player than that. This will give him confidence. I was pleased with the play of everybody. We're happy to be sectional champions."
Other scores for Triton included Reggie Davis' 83, William Keel's 92, Blake Schori's 95 and Jacob Everett's 98.
Manchester got an 81 from Doug Hayden, an 85 from Alec Williams, a 91 from Kennedy Bracken, a 92 from Andrew Chinworth and a 100 from William Rhudy.
Brandon Stavedahl led Valley with a 91, followed by Trey Stoll's 92, Adam Martin's 93, Matt Felgenhauer's 103 and Kenny Campbell's 109.
Team scores - Warsaw 315, Wawasee 318, Plymouth 322, Triton 344, Culver Academy 345, Southwood 349, Manchester 349, Wabash 366, Tippecanoe Valley 379, Culver Community 391, Bremen 393, Northfield 401
Warsaw - Skyler Scott 76, Grant Slater 77, Tad Nieter 79, Jared Nifong 83, Ryan Marose 85
Wawasee - Andy Wolfe 75, Curtis Coverstone 75, Michael Jenkins 83, Jordan Dawes 85, Andy Custer 86
Triton - T.J. Carpenter 74, Reggie Davis 83, William Keel 92, Blake Schori 95, Jacob Everett 98
Manchester - Doug Hayden 81, Alec Williams 85, Kenny Bracken 91, Andrew Chinworth 92, William Rhudy 100
T. Valley - Brandon Stavedahl 91, Trey Stoll 92, Adam Martin 93, Matt Felgenhauer 103, Kenny Campbell 109
