NAPPANEE – Warsaw’s varsity boys golf team has done a lot of things over the past four years, and losing a regular-season match to a Northern Lakes Conference opponent wasn’t among them. That is until Tuesday evening, as the Tigers’ streak came to an end at McCormick Creek in Nappanee. Three days after beating sixth-ranked Warsaw by one stroke in the 15-team, 18-hole Culver Military Academy Invitational, the No. 11 Panthers beat the Tigers by 10 strokes in a nine-hole match. On the front side at McCormick Creek, NorthWood turned in a four-person score of 151, while Warsaw shot 161 and Goshen 171. “We ran into a really good team on their home course,” said Warsaw coach Ben Barkey. “They took care of business, and they should, this is their home course.” The Tigers and Panthers have met three times this season, with NorthWood coming out on top each time, but Tuesday’s loss was Warsaw’s first regular-season setback since 2009. “All of that is in the past,” Ben Barkey said of his program’s win streak. “It’s a great past, and the guys wanted to be undefeated, but if we take care of business Thursday that’s only one loss for the year. That’s still great.” Jonny Hollar led Warsaw Tuesday with a 3-over 39, while Tim Ahlersmeyer carded a 40 and Evan Cultice and Will Petro turned in 41s. Jon Schram rounded out the Tigers’ lineup with a 45. NorthWood’s Payton Grubbs was the match medalist after firing a 36. Teammates Logan Kauffman and Dylan Gessinger shot 37 and 38, respectively, while Ryan Thompson finished with a 40 and Brayden Glaser turned in a 43. Michael Chupp led Goshen with a 39. The Tigers are 4-1 in NLC action, while NorthWood improved to 6-0 and Goshen fell to 0-5. Warsaw hosts Elkhart Memorial and Plymouth Thursday at Stonehenge for senior night. The Panthers and Tigers will see each other again Saturday in the Northern Lakes Conference Championships at Maplecrest in Goshen. Warsaw is looking for its fourth-straight outright conference title, an accomplishment that is still very possible. “Nothing is said and done,” said Barkey. “We still have to take care of business Thursday, and they have to take care of business Thursday. Then then there’s and 18-hole tournament at a neutral site. I’ve been a part of a lot of unique finishes in the NLC. Anything is possible.” Warsaw won Tuesday’s JV match by shooting a 157, beating the sixth-ranked varsity team by four strokes. NorthWood shot 177 in JV action, while Goshen’s JV team shot 210. Josh Ahlersmeyer led the the JV Tigers with a 38.
NORTHWOOD 151, WARSAW 161, GOSHEN 171 (McCormick Creek, front nine, par 36) Medalist – Payton Grubbs (NW) 36 Warsaw – Jonny Hollar 39, Tim Ahlersmeyer 40, Evan Cultice 41, Will Petro 41, Jon Schram 45 NorthWood – Payton Grubbs 36, Logan Kauffman 37, Dylan Gessinger 38, Ryan Thompson 40, Brayden Glaser 43 Goshen – Michael Chupp 39, Alex Hartsough 41, Joel Moyer 43, Quin Albin 48, Jake Pries 62 NLC records: NorthWood 6-0, Warsaw 4-1, Goshen 0-5 JV – Warsaw 157, NorthWood 177, Goshen 210 Warsaw – Josh Ahlersmeyer 38, Ryan Cultice 39, Jacob Foster 39, Brandon Eckert 41, Reid Cameron 44
