CARMEL – The high school boys’ golf state meet is halfway home but there is a lot to be sorted out during Wednesday’s final round at Prairie View Golf Club.
Highlights from Tuesday’s first round of the state meet:
Center Grove leads team race
Westfield broke away from the field last year on the second day to finish with a record-setting 8-under-par 568 to win its fourth state title after three consecutive runner-up finishes.
To repeat, the top-ranked Shamrocks will have to overcome a four-shot deficit to first-place Center Grove. The Trojans, ranked No. 8 in the final coaches’ poll of the season, fired a 3-over-par 291 to take the lead into Wednesday’s final round. Westfield shot a 7-over 295.
Center Grove, which last won a state title in 2021, was paced by sophomore Drew Carlson’s 4-under-par 68. Carlson had birdies on three of his first four holes and just one bogey, which came on the 18th hole. Center Grove sophomore Jake Hardin (1-over-par 73) and senior Nathan Springer (2-over-par 74) are also in the top 15.
Several other teams remain in contention, including third-place Castle (9-over par 297), Guerin Catholic (13-over 301), Noblesville (14-over 302), Pendleton Heights (15-over 303) and Hamilton Southeastern (19-over 307).
Homestead (311), Warsaw (313) and Elkhart (316) round out the top 10.
Westfield shot even-par last year in the first round before going 8-under in the second day to win by 30 strokes over second-place Homestead.
Three-way tie for individual lead
There is a three-way tie for first place going into Wednesday with Center Grove’s Carlson, Castle freshman Alexander Cook and Westfield senior Hudson Kutchma all firing a 4-under-par 68 on Tuesday.
Kutchma finished with a birdie on the par-5 No. 18 to match Carlson and Cook. The Westfield senior was part of the Shamrocks’ state championship team last year. Kutchma tied for 34th last year with a 9-over 153 for the state tourney.
Bloomington South senior Colton Watson is alone in fourth place, three shots behind the leaders after his 1-under-par 71. Noblesville senior Tyler Marucci and Leo senior Caden Mattias are tied for fifth (even-par 72).
The rest of the top 20:
Johnny Leaman, Cathedral, 1-over 73
Jake Hardin, Center Grove, 1-over 73
Caden Baker, Homestead, 1-over 73
Brady Wagner, Guerin Catholic, 1-over 73
Hayden Fox, Pendleton Heights, 1-over 73
Eli Wessel, Guerin Catholic, 1-over 73
Elijah Lemmon, Mt. Vernon, 2-over 74
Max Steiner, Zionsville, 2-over 74
Nathan Springer, Center Grove, 2-over 74
Quinton Fifer, Warsaw, 2-over 74
Zach Kinzer, Hamilton Southeastern, 2-over 74
Jackson Mahan, Noblesville, 2-over 74
Ryan Cesare, Westfield, 2-over 74
Matthew Ferguson, Franklin, 2-over 74
Weather watch
Due to the potential for inclement weather on Wednesday, the first groups were moved up 30 minutes to start their round at 7:30 a.m. Rain fell in the afternoon on Tuesday at Prairie View, though play continued.
Notes
Parker Atkins is the first individual from Eastern Hancock to qualify for the state meet. Atkins shot a 13-over-par 85 on Tuesday. … Van Leininger was Springs Valley’s first qualifier in 60 years. The senior shot an 8-over-par 80.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Takeaways from first round of state golf: Center Grove leads, three-way individual tie
Reporting by Kyle Neddenriep and Marc Ray, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kyle Neddenriep and Marc Ray, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
