Greencastle advances to Center Grove Regional

Wednesday, June 6, 2012
The Greencastle golf team shot 289 to place third at the Martinsville Golf Regional to advance to Thursday's regional at Center Grove. The Greencastle squad (from left) head coach Steve Paquin, manager Katie Hedge, Alec Davis, Brad Haussin, Tanner Dean, Raymond Stinson and Luke Brotherton will tee off at 8:20 a.m. at Hickory Stick Golf Club.

MARTINSVILLE -- For the first time in a long time a boys' golf team will be making its way to the Center Grove Regional this year. Greencastle posted a 289 on Monday to finish third at the Martinsville Sectional.

The Tiger Cubs were led by the trio of senior Brad Haussin and sophomores Alec Davis and Luke Brotherton, who all shot even-par rounds of 71. Raymond Stinson shot a five-over-par 76 to round out the Tiger Cub scorers. Tanner Dean shot a 78 on the day.

Greencastle's 289 was just two strokes off the winning score of 287 posted by Avon and the GHS school record.

"This was an amazing round played by all five players," GHS head coach Steve Paquin said. "A 289 was our best 18-hole score and was only 2 shots away from the 18-hole record set in 1979 of 287. We had a very good chance of winning the sectional, but had a few problems on hole 18."

A few of the GHS golfers combined to go five-over on the final hole, but Paquin thinks if his team continues its strong play, it will have a good showing at regional.

"Brad, Alec, and Luke shot what they have been shooting all year and Raymond and Tanner played extremely well," he said. "This was probably the most consistent scoring this season. If we continue to play this well, we should be able to contend in the regional to advance to the state tournament."

Paquin noted that no GHS team has made the state tournament since the 1979 season.

South Putnam had a solid showing, finishing eighth overall with a score of 346.

Derek Chestnut led the Eagles with a six-over-par 77, with Alex Eickhoff adding an 83. Sam Gould shot a 92 and Justin Berry fired a 94.

Chestnut shot a 39 on the front nine and started the back nine with a birdie on No. 10. However, he went on to bogey the next three holes before being able to post par on the remaining holes to shoot a 38 on the back.

Cloverdale finished ninth on the day with a round of 366. The Clovers were the final Putnam County school to come to the clubhouse Monday.

The Clovers have struggled to put together a full round all season and Monday was no exception according to head coach Doug Wokoun.

"What you saw was the way the whole season has gone," he said. "Some really good holes, but one or two holes really -- it's not that we have a bad shot, it's like an avalanche. Our guys have really struggled mentally with coping with that. But I thought today, for the most part, we did a nice job with that."

Zach Hall led the Clovers with his round of 84, followed by Colte Tomlinson and Aaron Whitlock with rounds of 91. Freddy Fislar shot a 100 and Rylan Mattocks carded a 102.

"Zach Hall played a very, very good round of golf today. I'm very proud of him and very pleased. For our young guys this was a chance to kind of find out what it's going to take and what they've got to do and I hope they get serious about going to work," Wokoun said.

He said the team needs to get out three to four times a week during the off-season and more importantly do it as a unit.

North Putnam continued its improved play this season, posting a round of 370 to finish 11th at the sectional.

Mason Asher led the Cougars with a round of 87, followed by Daniel Smith and Robert Smith with a pair of 92s. Jon Willard shot a 99 and Emmett Holsapple finished the day with a round of 103.

The golfers had to battle changing conditions as rain continued off and on all day. However, despite the challenging conditions, every Putnam County golfer posted rounds under 50 on the front nine.

Looking forward to the regional, Wokoun praised GHS for its round and is looking forward to the outcome at Center Grove.

"I'm very proud of what Greencastle did to be able to represent Putnam County and the West Central Conference," he said. "They played a great round of golf today and it's been a good while since a team has gotten out.

"But what they did today was outstanding and we're looking forward to them doing well at the regional," Wokoun said.

South Putnam coach Brian McClure and North Putnam coach Linda Patrick were unavailable for comment following the round.

Greencastle will begin its day at regional at 8:20 at Hickory Stick Golf Club in Greenwood Thursday.

At Martinsville

IHSAA Golf Sectional

1. Avon 287, 2. Martinsville 288, 3. Greencastle 289, 4. Brownsburg 291, 5. Plainfield 297, 6. Mooresville 301, 7. Cascade 335, 8. South Putnam 346, 9. Cloverdale 366, 10. Danville 367, 11. North Putnam 370, 12. Tri-West 373, 13. Monrovia 376

Individual Results

(Putnam County only)

Greencastle -- Haussin 71, Davis 71, Brotherton 71, Stinson 76, Dean 78

South Putnam -- Chestnut 77, Eickhoff 83, Gould 92, Berry 94

Cloverdale -- Hall 84, Tomlinson 91, Whitlock 91, Fislar 100, Mattocks 102

North Putnam -- Asher 87, D. Smith 92, R. Smith 92, Willard 99, Holsapple 103