Bennett hoping to climb state finals ladder today

Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Jake Bennett knows he needs to improve his putting to move up on the leader board at the IHSAA boys' golf state finals.
Banner Graphic file photo/JOEY BENNETT

Greencastle’s Jake Bennett did not have the kind of day he had hoped on Tuesday in the IHSAA boys’ golf state finals at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel, but is looking to bounce back today.

Bennett stands in a six-way tie for 54th among the 100 golfers in the field after shooting a 10-over-par 82 on the first day of competition.

He will tee off from hole No. 10 today at 9:48 a.m., playing in a group with New Castle junior Brady Wheeler and South Bend St. Joseph’s senior Michael Anthony.

Bennett has no doubt which part of his game needs improving as he seeks to reach his goal of finishing in the top 10.

“Off the tee I hit the ball well,” he said Tuesday evening. “I only missed two fairways all day, and I hit a couple of good shots into the greens.

“I struggled with my putting,” Bennett added. “The big, undulating greens caused a lot of three-putts and missed opportunities for birdie.“

Bennett shot a 41 on both the front and back nines, getting four pars on each side. He had his lone birdie on hole No. 3 with a four on a par-five hole. He had a double-bogey on No. 9 with a six on a par-four hole.

Greencastle coach Steve Paquin thought Bennett shot a “very deceiving” score of 82.

“The deceiving part of his round was how well he hit the ball,” he said. “His driving was very solid, missing only a couple of fairways out of the 14 possible; his iron play was also very good on the wet course, where lift clean and place in your own fairway was being played, missing only a few greens in regulation.”

Paquin agreed that Bennett’s problems came on the greens.

“They were very fast with tough pin placements, and large sloping surfaces. Not making excuses, but during the season we did not play greens that left long uphill and slick breaking putts downhill, so Jake was really out of his comfort zone and caused him to three-putt six times during the round, which made his score at least 6-8 shots higher than he would normally shoot.”

Paquin noted that Bennett’s playing partners were also bothered by the tough conditions.

“They experienced the same problems,” he noted. “Jake does get another try today, and I’m sure he will improve his score from Tuesday. Getting to the State Finals is a real accomplishment and shows how much talent Jake has in his golf game.”

Bennett got to work quickly to help his putting.

“I went back to the hotel and took a nap, and I’m here now putting,” he said Tuesday evening. “Hopefully I can clean it up and move up the leader board.

Mitchell Davis of Chesterton is the individual leader with a 68 going into today’s competition. Defending champion Noah Gillard of Center Grove is tied for third with an even-par 72.

Also tied for third is Seeger’s Peyton Snoeberger, the medalist at the Attica Sectional.

Jay Williams of Jeffersonville, who will play with Bennett at Marian University this fall, is tied for 17th with a 75.

Among the players tied with Bennett for 54th place is Cascade’s Jackson Franchville.

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).

IHSAAtv.org will provide a live videostream today 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.