Wawasee golf coach Steve Coverstone was disappointed in his team’s play at its own invitational Saturday at South Shore. Coverstone, however, was all smiles Thursday evening after his Warriors won the Joe Harris Shootout at Rozella Ford, edging the host Warsaw Tigers by one stroke. Led by Tristen Atwood’s 2-over 72, which placed him second individually, the Warriors carded a four-man score of 308. Jeffrey Moore shot a 76, while Kaleb Perry carded a 79 and Cal Heinish finished with an 81. Maclain Herr rounded out Wawasee’s lineup with a 90, while Dustin Brown played as an individual and carded a 98. “It’s a great feeling,” said Coverstone, whose varsity team shot 331 and finished eighth out of 16 teams in the Wawasee Invite. “We played so bad in our invitational ... I didn’t really see this coming. For the most part, we didn’t really have many big holes today, and that’s what’s been holding us back. We hit the ball good, we just have too many 7s and 8s on the card, and tonight we didn’t have that quite as much.” Warsaw’s varsity squad, led by medalist Brandon Eckert’s 1-over 71, finished second with a score of 309, followed by Plymouth (312), NorthWood (317), Triton varsity (331), Rochester (334), Warsaw JV (340) and Triton JV (406). “He’s worked really hard,” Warsaw coach Ben Barkey said of Eckert. “He’s one of the reasons we’re having a successful season, the effort he’s put into it since the regional last year. Without that effort, the outlook wouldn’t be as great. Jonny (Hollar), Ryan (Cultice), Brandon, Reid (Cameron), those four seniors, without their effort the last 340 days, our outlook wouldn’t be as great as it is.” Hollar fired a 74 Thursday, while Cameron and sophomore Luke Johnson shot 82s and sophomore Michael Jensen carded an 87. Barkey was impressed with Johnon’s effort. Johnson was in the varsity lineup in place of senior Ryan Cultice, who was at a Business Professionals of America event. “That’s part of, I would imagine all high school sports, but with golf being toward the end of the school year, and with a lot of banquets, it’s typical to have different guys in your lineup for different reasons,” said Barkey, whose squad finished third in the 16-team Wawasee Invite Saturday. “We’re fortunate enough to have guys we can put in there and shoot 82. That was a good score by Luke Johnson, and also by Reid. That’s what you want from a guy in that position.” Sam Yeager led Warsaw’s second group Thursday with a 79, while Jacob LaLonde and Tim Rata shot 82 and 87, respectively. Andrew Gauger and Luke Delp carded a 91 and 94, respectively, for the Tigers. Competing individually, Tommy Meier shot 86 for Warsaw, while Trent Rapp shot 94. Greg Music led coach Jack Carpenter’s Triton Trojans with a 77, while teammates Braden Kreft and Jordan Anderson shot 80 and 81, respectively. Also for Triton, Bryce Swihart shot 93, while Gavin Eads finished with a 102. Triton’s JV team competed and was led by Spencer Johnson’s 93. Wawasee was scheduled to compete in Saturday’s Homestead Invitational, but pulled out of the event because of tee times changing and some of his players attending prom. The Warriors will be in action again Monday when they host LaVille and Penn at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club. Warsaw will play Saturday in the Spring Preview against some of the top teams in the state, while Triton will play in the LaVille Invitational Saturday at Sprig-O-Mint.
JOE HARRIS SHOOTOUT (Rozella Ford, par-70) Medalist – Brandon Eckert (Warsaw) 71 Team scores – Wawasee 308, Warsaw 309, Plymouth 312, NorthWood 317, Triton 331, Rochester 334, Warsaw JV 340, Triton JV 406 Wawasee – Tristen Atwood 72, Jeffrey Moore 76, Kaleb Perry 79, Cal Heinisch 81, Maclain Herr 90, Dustin Brown 98 Warsaw black – Brandon Eckert 71, Jonny Hollar 74, Reid Cameron 82, Luke Johnson 82, Michael Jensen 87 Waraw orange – Sam Yeager 79, Jacob LaLonde 82, Tim Rata 87, Andrew Gauger 91, Luke Delp 94 Warsaw individuals – Tommy Meier 86, Trent Rapp 94 Triton – Greg Music 77, Braden Kreft 80, Jordan Anderson 81, Bryce Swihart 93, Gavin Eads 102 Triton JV – Spencer Johnson 93, Marc Eads 98, Austin Howell 106, Isaac Wall 109, Brandon Damron 118
