SYRACUSE – The Wawasee High School boys golf team remained undefeated on the season following Thursday’s three victories at South Shore Golf Club. Improving to 7-0 on the season, the Warriors shot a 161 on their home course, while South Bend Riley (7-4) finished with a 180 and Manchester (2-6) and Whitko (1-7) each shot a 184. Manchester ended up getting the win over Whitko, thanks to a fifth-player tiebreaker. In Wawasee’s previsous three matches at South Shore, the squad shot a 171 each time. So, Thursday’s match actually saw low scorers despite a strong wind. “It was a good effort all the way around,” Wawasee coach Steve Coverstone said. The Warriors were led by senior Derek Zurcher’s one-over 37 on the course’s front nine, with freshman Tristen Atwood shooting a 39. Zurcher returns with the most experience for Coverstone, and he’s been leading a young, talented squad thus far. “We didn't have a lot of experience coming into the year,” Coverstone said. “Derek and (junior) Luke (Jackson) had quite a bit of high school experience, but beyond that, there wasn't a lot on the varsity level.” Freshman Maclain Herr also played well, finishing with a 42, followed by junior Dylan Cousins’ 43 and Jackson’s 44. In all, Wawasee features 11 freshmen on its roster, with Coverstone going with the hot hand from match to match. “We're rotating kids to see what they can do on varsity,” he said. “It's different playing on varsity compared to (junior varsity). It's a little more pressure.” Three freshmen were playing on the JV, as Chase Jacobs shot a 40, Zach Reiff finished with a 41 and Mason Germonprez wrapped his round up with a 43. “This freshman class is really good,” Coverstone said. “There's a lot of depth. We'll see. They'll have to get better. Whoever works the hardest will get the best.” In the showdown between the two Three Rivers Conference teams, Manchester and Whitko, the play of Tyler Watson pushed the Squires to the win. Watson’s 40, which included birdies at holes No. 4 and 7, helped force the tiebreaker, which the Squires won as their fifth score was Connor Eichenaur’s 50. His score bested Whitko’s Robbie Hopkins, who shot a 67. Also for Manchester, Aaron Johnson shot a 45, Xzavier Whitaker had a 49 and Austin Whitaker finished with a 50. “I'm not upset,” Manchester coach Tara Boone said. “It feels like it's winter, so if they keep doing what they're doing, I think they'll be just fine. I'd like to see them in the 170s, but with the weather, I'm not going to complain.” Whitko coach Don Zawlocki would have liked to see his guys shoot a little better, as the team was led by sophomore Colton LeTourneau’s 41. Also for Whitko, sophomore Daniel Zawlocki and senior Josh Busenbark both shot a 43, whilefreshman Cole Bechtold had a 56. “If we play average, we should shoot 180,” he said. “If we play well, we can break 170. It depends on (Daniel Zawlocki). He can shoot in the 30s and if (Bechtold) can break 50 and get near 45, we can have a very competitive golf team.” Manchester and Whitko return to South Shore Saturday for the Wawasee Invitational.
WAWASEE 161, SB RILEY 180, MANCHESTER 184, WHITKO 184 (South Shore GC, Par 36) Medalist – Derek Zurcher (W) 37 Wawasee – Zurcher 37, Luke Jackson 44, Dylan Cousins 43, Tristen Atwood 39, McClain Herr 42 Riley – David DePriest 50, Matt Toedt 45, Justin Tschida 44, Brant Dotson 44, Brad Sikorski 47 Manchester – Tyler Watson 40, Aaron Johnson 45, Austin Whitaker 50, Connor Eichenauer 58, Xzavier Whitaker 49 Whitko – Daniel Zawlocki 43, Josh Busenbark 43, Colton LeTourneau 41, Cole Bechtold 56, Robbie Hopkins 67 Records: Wawasee 7-0, Riley 7-4, Manchester 2-6, Whitko 1-7
