Warsaw Golfers Claim Share Of Conference Championship
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Dale Hubler-dhubler@timesuniononline.com
GOSHEN – Coach Ben Barkey has said a number times, the strength of his Warsaw boys golf team is 18-hole matches. That was evident Saturday, as the 12th-ranked Tigers won the eight-team Northern Lakes Conference Championships at Maplecrest in Goshen. Warsaw, which has won or finished second in each 18-hole tournament it has played in this season, shot a 308 and beat No. 8 NorthWood by two strokes. “Our team is built for 18-hole matches,” said Barkey, whose team hosts the 12-team, 18-hole Bob Turner Classic today at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club. “NorthWood beat us by two strokes on the front, and we beat them by four on the back. That’s part of our strength. We know that if we’re down at the turn, we still have nine holes to play. The mental game is a big part of golf.” Northridge finished third with a 316, followed by Elkhart Memorial (321), Concord (328), Wawasee (331), Plymouth (335) and Goshen (341). NorthWood went 7-0 in NLC regular-season matches, while Warsaw was 6-1. As a result of the teams’ flip-flop finish Saturday, the Tigers and Panthers share the overall conference championship. Warsaw was vying for its fourth-straight outright NLC title. The Tigers have won at least a share of the conference crown in five straight seasons. “To be a conference champion five years in a row, and to do it with different kids, that’s pretty special,” said Barkey. “Ask any coach in the NLC, in any sport, it’s tough to win a championship in this conference.” While Jonny Hollar’s consistent play – he had the best nine-hole average in the conference – helped the Tigers to a 6-1 record, Will Petro’s 18-hole round was equally important Saturday. Petro led the Tigers with a 73, finishing in a tie for the match’s lowest score with Northridge’s Will Erekson and NorthWood’s Dylan Gessinger. Erekson won a one-hole playoff against Petro and Gessinger and earned medalist honors. Jon Schram fired a 75 for Warsaw, while Evan Cultice and Tim Ahlersmeyer shot 80s and Hollar carded an 85. Hollar, Schram and Petro were named all-conference, while Ahlersmeyer made the honorable mention list. Luke Jackson was the only Wawasee player to make the all-conference list, earning himself an honorable-mention nod. Jackson led the Warriors with an 80 Saturday, while Dylan Cousins and Jeffrey Moore shot 83s, Cal Heinish carded an 85 and Tristen Atwood finished with an 88.
NLC CHAMPIONSHIPS (Maplecrest G.C., Goshen) Team scores – Warsaw 308, NorthWood 310, Northridge 316, Elkhart Memorial 321, Concord 328, Wawasee 331, Plymouth 335, Goshen 341 Medalist – Will Erekson (NR) 73 (won playoff) Warsaw – Will Petro 73, Jon Schram 75, Evan Cultice 80, Tim Ahlersmeyer 80, Jonny Hollar 85 Wawasee – Luke Jackson 80, Dylan Cousins 83, Jeffrey Moore 83, Cal Heinish 85, Tristen Atwood 88 All-Conference – Will Erekson (NR), Jon Schram (War), Will Petro (War), Alex Hartsough (Gosh), Dylan Gessinger (NW), Payton Grubbs (NW), Frank Iauagnillo (EM), Jonny Hollar (War) Honorable mention – Logan Kauffman (NW), Luke Jackson (Wawa), Brandon Sherwood (EM), Tim Ahlersmeyer (War) Coach of the Year – Brad Duerkson (NW)
