Bennett tees off today in state finals

Monday, June 11, 2018
Jake Bennett tees off at 8:18 a.m. today in the IHSAA boys' golf state finals at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.
Contributed photo

Greencastle’s Jake Bennett will tee off at 8:18 a.m. today in the IHSAA boys’ golf state finals at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.

Bennett will be playing along with Brody McCoy of Muncie Central and Ethan Stanley of Bedford North Lawrence.

The Marian University-bound Bennett shot a one-under-par 71 at Country Oaks in the Washington Regional on Thursday, and was the highest finisher among players on non-advancing teams.

He is the first Tiger Cub to play in the state finals since Alec Davis in 2014 and Luke Brotherton in 2013.

All individual players and teams will play a full 18-hole round on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the two scores combined to determine the winners.

Center Grove senior Noah Gillard, the Trojans’ No. 1 player, is the defending state champion after his 72-66—138 effort at Prairie View a year ago. Should he repeat as champion, he would become just the fourth player in tournament history with two titles and the first since South Bend Clay’s Jeremy Wilkinson in 1994-95.

He will play collegiately at Illinois.

Top-ranked Center Grove is the defending team champion after winning its first crown a year ago, and will attempt to become the fourth school since 2000 to repeat as team champion — joining Floyd Central (2006-07), Brebeuf Jesuit (2010-11) and Westfield (2015-16).

The Trojans posted the second- and third-best scores of this tournament. The Trojans carded a 288 in winning their own sectional at Hickory Stick, while their 290 bested the field at Champions Pointe to win their fourth straight regional title.

This will be the team’s fifth consecutive state finals appearance.

Tenth-ranked Floyd Central posted the state tournament’s best score so far with a 284 in winning the Providence Sectional played at Covered Bridge Golf Club in Sellersburg.

The Highlanders are back in the state finals for the 18th time after missing out the last two seasons. They finished second to Center Grove in the regional.

Follow Jake online

To follow the golf state finals online, go to: www.birdiefire.com/tournament/47785/ or download the @birdiefiregolf app (go to high school events).

On Wednesday, IHSAAtv.org will provide a live videostream for the first time on the tourney’s final day.

Hosted by Brian Hammons, Will Haskett and Greg Rakestraw, coverage begins at 10 a.m. and continues through the awards presentation.