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Tiger Cubs keep eyes on the prize
CLOVERDALE -- A young Greencastle golf squad charged to the front and won the Putnam County Tournament Thursday night at Clover Meadows. Greencastle finished the night with 167 points and two golfers making all-county, with one taking top honors.
"I can't be more proud," GHS coach Donovan Wheeler expressed.
For most of the night, Greencastle fought its way around the course but never gave in. With Eric Davis back on the team, GHS looked poised to make a run at county and that's exactly what they did.
Davis scored a tournament-low 36 to help propel the Tiger Cubs into the championship.
"What a difference Eric Davis made," Wheeler said. "He's simply decisive. He knows what he's gonna do. If you ask him, he'd say he didn't play well."
With nine players receiving all-county honors, the participating schools were almost equally represented.
Greencastle had two players with Davis and David Lilly receiving the honor, and South Putnam also had two in John Weaver and Tyler Newby. Cloverdale added two more with Michael Glassburn and Kevin Gregg, and North Putnam had three players with Austin Malayer, J.J. Burns and Jeremy Redman.
Seven of the top nine players on the night were underclassmen, which means the future looks bright for each of the schools. The only seniors to make the all-county squad were Lilly and Gregg.
The night belonged to Greencastle as it mixed good approach play and continued its impressive performance on the greens.
"We live and die on the greens," Wheeler commented.
The course played tough for all four schools but Wheeler was impressed by his team's drive and refusal to quit. And even on a tough day, Wheeler always looks for a lesson.
"We struggled. Obviously the course was tough for everybody and everybody struggled, but that's the lesson," Wheeler commented. "You've got to keep playing as if you're fighting for something because everytime you think you're not -- you are."
The host Cloverdale Clovers had a tough night finishing fourth, and coach Doug Wokoun didn't hide his frustration.
"I was very disappointed," Wokoun acknowledged. "I know we can play better. It just wasn't our night.
"I'm really happy for Michael (Glassburn) and Kevin (Gregg). They (shot) scores today they've been playing and they were very solid. We've just got to find more guys."
Throughout the season, Wheeler has commented on the youth of his team but, on Thursday the Tiger Cubs showed that age means nothing, it's the drive that defines the moment.
"I'm really proud of them because they just keep their heads in it, even when it's really ugly," Wheeler said.
Greencastle, North Putnam, South Putnam and Cloverdale will compete in the conference tournament Saturday at 11 a.m.
At Cloverdale
Clover Meadows Golf Course
Putnam County Tournament
Greencastle 167, North Putnam 169, South Putnam 175, Cloverdale 179
Medalist -- Eric Davis (GHS) 36
All-Putnam County Team -- Davis (GHS) 36, Tyler Newby (SP) 39, Michael Glassburn (CHS) 40, Kevin Gregg (CHS) 41, David Lilly (GHS) 42, John Weaver (SP) 42, Austin Malayer (NP) 42, J.J. Burns (NP) 42, Jeremy Redman (NP) 42.
Team Scores
Greencastle -- Davis 36, Lilly 42, Jacob Collins 43, Luke Crimmins 46, Nick Pritchard 48.
North Putnam -- Malayer 42, Burns 42, Redman 42, Eric Whitaker 43, Patrick Burns 43.
South Putnam -- Newby 39, Weaver 42, Ben Anderson 46, Cory Welty 48, Trea Boyce 52.
Cloverdale -- Glassburn 40, Gregg 41, Sean Rhine 49, Mike Wellington 49, Andrew Cofer DQ