Colton Watson and Carson Gady realize it’s their time now.
Now seniors and the leaders of the Bloomington South’s boys golf team, they look back at themselves four years ago and the comparison is that of a old-fashioned guttie and a brand new Titlist Pro V1.
Each of them confidently carded 73s to lead the Panthers back to the IHSAA state finals on June 16-17. For Watson, it will be his fourth trip and for Gady, his third. They’ve come a long way and accomplished much, maybe more than they ever imagined as freshmen and sophomores.
“I was definitely more reserved and scared,” Watson said. “When I went up there freshman year, I was definitely nervous. I got on that first tee and I was shaking a little bit.
“I think I’ve opened up more. I’m more social and made a lot of new relationships. And all the friendships that I’ve made through this golf team have brought out the real me, I guess.”
While Watson was an accomplished junior golfer who jumped right into the lineup, Gady spent most of his freshman year trying to break 100.
“It’s been crazy,” Gady said. “Sophomore year, I remember I was the 5 man. I didn’t honestly really feel like I belonged on that team very much. They were all so much better than me. I felt like I was there to fall back on if someone blew up.
“But I never felt like I could go out there and put up much of a score for those guys. At state, I shot 91 the first day. First tee I couldn’t feel my legs. Even the week leading up to it, more nervous than excited. Now, it’s completely different. I’m just excited to go out there and play.”
That’s the confidence gained from three years worth of sweat and swings.
“You look at the growth he had from freshman year to now, it shows the work ethic that he has and the talent that he has,” South coach Dustin Carver said. “You can put in all the work but you have to understand what needs to be developed.”
Follow the leaders
Their journeys started by following the lead of that year’s seniors and a junior standouts Happy Gilmore and Connor Byon, who were four-year state players.
“My freshman year, Nick Bellush took me under his wing,” Gady said. “I think I broke 90 once my freshman year. I was not good. He kind of taught me to go out there and play and taught me a good bit of work ethic. Just seeing him, he was the guy always at the golf course, always practicing.
“I think that’s what I took from him mostly and Happy and Connor. Like we say, play fearlessly, we got it from them.”
That was one of the few parts of Watson’s game that was missing when he entered the lineup four years ago.
“Connor Byon taught me a lot,” Watson said. “Freshman year, sophomore year, there were times I was scared to hit a golf shot. And now it’s like, why would you be scared? Just got to trust and commit to it. Where I’ve grown is trusting myself and committing to my golf swing.”
South coach Dustin Carver has been pleased with how each set of seniors have passed down the Panther Way during his run as head coach, which is ending next week. From Joe Weiler, Nick Burris and Drew Todd to Gilmore, Byon and Bellush, Gady and Watson have taken the reins of this year’s team.
“Colton, he’s been there for four years and expects to put up a decent score every time he walks out,” Carver said. “Now that’s on both of their shoulders. This year as seniors, to be leaders, they’ve done a great job.
“I consider myself a players’ coach. I listen to what they have to say. They’ve both done a good job helping with the young kids and understanding what the expectation is within the program. So two special seniors who will be highly missed.”
Leaving their own legacy
It’s now a run of six state appearances in a row for South (2020 tournament was cancelled due to COVID), second only to the Panthers’ run of seven from 1996-2002. Only Columbus HS/North (43) has more team appearances at state than BHS/South’s 40.
“It means a lot,” Watson said. “We were going into regionals and if we didn’t make it out, I was going to be pretty upset.
“Going to state with the guys, it’s a whole experience. But the experience and the relationships really brings you closer to those guys that you’re playing with. And it’s an awesome experience. For Karl (Bailey) and Easton (Bellini) it’s their first time and if they didn’t get to go with me, I would have been very upset.”
And South was upset, with the way they played at sectional that allowed Brownstown Central to come in and sneak off with the first title in school history. But every round starts from scratch. 0-0 as basketball and football coaches like to say, and it was a chance for the Panthers to reset and refocus.
The regional is where they had to be their best and that goes for just about every season. South is now just one of 18 teams left in the state, an elite group they’re proud to be a part of again.
“Everyone says the year builds up to state,” Gady said. “I almost feel like it builds up to regionals. Because state, you’re going to state, it’s just have fun, enjoy the moment. You want to play well, but enjoying the moment is the most important thing.”
On to DePauw
When that moment is over, Gady and Watson will head to DePauw to reunite with Byon and play for former IU coach Clint Wallman. Gady committed first.
“I grew very close to Connor last summer,” he said. “I went on some other visits and as soon as I went to DePauw, I kind of knew. It felt like home when I went there. Especially having Connor there, too.
“And knew there was a chance he’d be going with me. I love coach Wallman. It seemed like a very easy decision for me”
Watson added up his scorecard and came to the same conclusion.
“I’ve talked to Wallman for a while,” Watson said. “Then he committed first a couple months before. I was still talking with other teams and it didn’t work out.
“Connor was there. I’m close to the coach, I can room with (Gady) at DePauw. If I go anywhere else, I’m not going to know anybody. So why not?”
State finals, what to know
The state tournament will take place at Prairie View in Carmel.
Each team will play 36 holes, 18 on Tuesday, 18 on Wednesday. South will begin Round 1 on the 10th hole at 8:30 a.m. paired with Floyd Central, Homestead and South Bend St. Joseph.
The field of 18 teams will include six regional champs: Castle, Trinity Academy, Plymouth, Guerin Catholic, Pendleton Heights and Center Grove. Noblesville and Hamilton Southeastern (both at Players Club), South and Evansville Memorial were the only non-champions to break 300 at regional.
Westfield, runner-up to Guerin Catholic at regional, is the defending state champ and graduated it’s top two players after winning by 30 shots with a collective 8-under effort.
Tickets are $15. A livestream of hole 18 only on the second day starting at noon will be available at ihsaatv.org. Live scoring all tournament will be available at bluegolf.com.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Senior leadership above par for Bloomington South boys golf
Reporting by Jim Gordillo, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jim Gordillo, The Herald-Times | USA TODAY Network
