Brotherton wraps at three-over, places 24th at state

Thursday, June 13, 2013
Greencastle junior Luke Brotherton launches a shot from the sand during his round at the IHSAA state finals on Wednesday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

FRANKLIN -- Greencastle junior Luke Brotherton wasn't satisfied with a first-round score that left him in the middle of the pack at the Indiana High School Athletic Association boys' golf state finals, so he came out focused and aggressive.

The effort paid off as he shot a one-under 71 to finish the event at plus-three and in a tie for 24th.

"He did great," GHS coach Steve Paquin said. "It was a great tournament for Luke. He had good ball striking, good putting and kept the ball in play."

Brotherton's individual qualification was the first in school history, making his finish in the top quarter of the field an impressive accomplishment.

He came out firing on all cylinders and lasted the first 10 holes before misplaying a single shot. This contrasts Tuesday's opening round when he tripled to start his day.

Brotherton teed off on the par-five 10th to start the final round on Wednesday and hit a long drive that landed in the first cut. He went on to reach the green in regulation and opened with an easy par.

His tee shot on the par-three 13th put him in good position to get his first low score of the day and he capitalized by sinking his putt.

He added another birdie on 17 to finish his first nine holes at two-under. The tough competition at the state finals motivated him to pick up his game.

"It drives you to keep doing better because everyone around you is doing well," Brotherton said. "You've got to do the same to keep up. ... I was trying to hit it in the fairway, keep it close and make putts."

He parred the first to start his final nine holes, then ran into his first trouble of the day on the par-five second.

His tee shot landed in a bunker on the right side of the fairway, forcing him to layup instead of going for the green in two.

The approach shot missed the green and eventually led to his first bogey of the day.

Brotherton responded quickly with brilliant shots from the tee and long putts on the next two holes, both birdies. He added another birdie on six, putting his score for the day at four-under and his tournament score to even par with just three holes to play.

His tee shot on the par-three seventh landed behind the green and led to a bogey that stopped his momentum.

With two holes left -- both short par fours -- he had a choice to make: go big or get conservative. He went for it.

Instead of hitting a long iron off the tee and giving himself a long approach chance, he went to his driver. And he missed and, eventually, bogeyed.

Then he did the same thing on the ninth.

"If I would have hit it in the fairway, that would have been a great shot," Brotherton said. "I would have been really happy about that."

Despite the disappointing finish, Paquin said he was pleased with Brotherton's round and performance at the finals.

"He'll continue to get better and he'll remember these rounds," Paquin said. "He'll take the good things out of it and improve on the bad ones."

Placing in a tie for 24th in the 100-player field of the top golfers in the state puts the Greencastle junior in exclusive company.

Simply qualifying for the state finals gave him a chance to compete with several top-ranked players, not just in the state but in the country.

"You learn how to handle things," he said. "What not to do, and what to do in certain situations."

Reaching the finals took a great deal of talent, but Paquin said it also shows how hard he worked to get there.

That will help the young golfers and the Greencastle program going forward.

"It's really important because it gives the other guys the incentive to work as hard as he has worked," Paquin said. "It takes a lot of hard work to get to where he's at. They'll all work a little bit harder, hit more balls, play more rounds and hopefully, when they see his name in the paper, we'll be able to get some more kids out.

"He puts the time in, and that's what it takes. You've got to do it on the range; you've got to do it on the putting green; you have play different courses; you have to be involved and play lots of tournament golf."

After getting his beak wet this year, Brotherton said he is looking forward to having another chance to compete next year, and he has his sights set high.

"I'd love to come back and win," he said. "That would be nice."



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  • His second day score was top five of all the underclass men in the field. A good off season of work and next year could be great.

    -- Posted by conffool on Thu, Jun 13, 2013, at 10:33 PM
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