Brotherton heads to state finals, Tiger Cubs finish 6th

Friday, June 7, 2013
Greencastle junior Luke Brotherton blasts a tee shot past his opponent's bag during the boys' golf regional on Thursday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

WASHINGTON -- A string of birdies on his first nine gave Greencastle junior Luke Brotherton the nine-hole lead at the Indiana High School Athletic Association boys' golf regional on Thursday. He held on to finish his round with a two-under 70 and placed third overall and qualified for the state finals.

As a team, the Tiger Cubs finished sixth with a combined 309, missing the cut for state by just five strokes.

"I think all our kids played good," GHS coach Steve Paquin said. "I'm looking forward to next year already."

Brotherton is believed to be the first individual in school history to qualify for the IHSAA state finals. The competitor in him still wasn't satisfied.

"It's not that special," Brotherton said. "It's all right, but it could have been better. I could have won today, but it didn't go that way."

He begins his two-day quest for a state title on Tuesday.

The start of his day took an abrupt halt after his third hole.

GHS started on the back nine and the 13th hole at Country Oaks is a short par four with a water hazard and, for some, a drivable green.

Three full groups got backed up on the hole when Brotherton's group reached the tee box, meaning he had to sit and wait.

"I think it was probably 20 minutes," he said. "I was thinking, 'Man, this is taking a long time. I hope I hit a good shot."

His drive landed on the green, more than 290 yards away, setting him up for an eagle putt.

He ended up with a birdie, then added another birdie on the par-three 14th.

His hot round continued onto the front nine where he got as far as seven-under before cooling off.

The round of 70 left him in a three-way tie for second place. A one-hole playoff put him in third overall at the 98-player event.

"Two under par is a great round," Paquin said. "Luke had it going there for quite a while."

Brotherton wasn't the only Tiger Cubs' golfer to perform well at the regional meet.

All of the GHS golfers finished in the top half of the field.

Luke Brotherton watches nervously as the final scores are posted, hoping his team would finish in the top three.

Junior Alec Davis shot a 75, freshman Jake Buis an 81, senior Wataru Otaki an 83 and junior Tanner Dean, the 2013 Crawfordsville sectional champion, shot an 84.

The top three teams advance to the state finals, as do the top five individuals from non-qualifying teams.

Avon, at 296, won the meet and will be joined in the state finals by Evansville Memorial (301) and Terre Haute North (304). Brownsburg also finished at 304 but lost in a fifth-score tiebreaker.

Mooresville, at 308, finished fifth.

The Tiger Cubs lose just one golfer, Otaki, and should be in a good position next season to make a run in the state tournament.

"The first of the year, we only had three letter-winners and we were searching for two more players," Paquin said. "Jake, a freshman, stepped in, and Wataru, a senior, stepped in. We got better every week and this was our best score of the year."

Brotherton will tee off on Tuesday and Wednesday at The Legends in Franklin.

Tee-times have not yet been announced, but golfers begin taking the course at 8 a.m.

Greencastle junior Alec Davis chips onto the seventh green during the IHSAA golf regional at Country Oaks on Thursday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)



IHSAA Boys' Golf Regional
At Country Oaks (Washington)
Team results

1. Avon, 296; 2. Evansville Memorial, 301; 3. Terre Haute North, 304; 4. Brownsburg, 304; 5. Mooresville, 308; 6. Greencastle, 309; 7. Park Tudor, 314; 8. Castle, 316; 9. Vincennes Lincoln, 317; 10. Evansville North, 317; 11. Sullivan, 320; 12. Vincennes Rivet, 320; 13. Terre Haute South, 334; 14. Washington, 338; 15. Cardinal Ritter, 345; 16. Crawfordsville, 354; 17. North Putnam, 358; 18. Pike, 362.

Individual results
1. Dylan Meyer, EC, 69
2. Mark Whipple, AV, 70
3. Luke Brotherton, GC, 70
4. Landon Smith, EN, 70
5. Baylor Payne, MTV, 71
6. Brady Sapperfield, MOR, 72
T19. Alec Davis, GC, 75

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  • Good job Luke. Good luck at State!!

    -- Posted by jimjoyce1965@gmail.com on Fri, Jun 7, 2013, at 12:14 AM
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