After Trinity Academy shot a 321 to finish day one of the IHSAA boys golf state finals at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel Tuesday in 12th place, head coach Jerry Janowski and the Titans set two new goals for Wednesday, June 17.
All five participants should shoot in the 70s, and Trinity should finish in the top 10. The Titans nearly accomplished both, with four of their five golfers shooting in the 70s to claim 10th place of 18 teams.
Trinity’s 10th-place finish is the highest by a South Bend Tribune area team since Penn placed eighth in 2021. However, the Titans’ plus-54 over par is the lowest score for an area team since Penn finished 50 strokes over in 2018.
“It was a very successful day,” Janowski said in a phone interview. “Being able to come down, play as well as they did and improve from day one to day two, it’s a big step. I’m very proud of these boys.”
Trinity’s top four all finished within four stokes of one another across the two-day state finals, with junior Dane Sweikar shooting a +12, sophomore John Paul Bernardy shooting a +13, junior Nathan Palmer shooting a +14 and freshman Gabe Palmer shooting a +15.
This capped off the most successful season in program history, as the Titans set a school record by winning the J.H. Ganger Invitational April 24 with a 294 and won the first regional championship in school history June 11 with a 299. With all four returning to the Titans next season, don’t be surprised to see one of the smallest schools in the IHSAA back on boys golf’s biggest stage in 2027 as well.
“They’re always working on their game,” Janowski said. “I have it easy. I don’t ever have to wonder if they’re going to show up to practice, because they’re already out there before I can get there. They’re all fully committed, and they’re all pulling for each other.”
Elkhart sophomore Ben Divido’s +4 over par was the best individual score by any area athlete, and it was the sixth-lowest score despite ranking tied for 12th on the leaderboard. However, the Lions finished 13th out of 18 teams at a +57.
Last season, Elkhart also finished 13th at 74 strokes over par. Head coach Todd King noted that the Lions’ run in 2025 and 2026 marks the first time making to the state finals in back-to-back seasons in program history.
Freshman Brendan Divido shot nine strokes over, junior Cameron Miller finished with a +24 and sophomore Ryan Molyneaux finished just one stroke over Miller with a 25. Just like Trinity, all of Elkhart’s top four return next season, which King said will be invaluable heading into next season.
“It wasn’t exactly the finish we were looking for, but the course showed its teeth,” King said in a phone interview. “All in all, I’m really proud of how they played as a team … When you’re used to the nerves and the pressure, you get familiar with things. In golf, the more you play a course, you start understanding strategy.”
Plymouth finished 15th, shooting 71 strokes over par. Senior Dan Nguyen led the way with a +14, while junior Ben Nguyen wasn’t far behind with a +15. Junior Bryce Busse shot 18 strokes over par, and junior Mac Holm and senior Caleb Harland tied with a +28.
South Bend Saint Joseph finished 17th, shooting 81 strokes over par. Senior Tate Guyton finished with a +11, senior Joe Kloska shot 15 strokes over, junior Zach Matthys finished at +20, as did senior Max Germann.
Kyle Smedley is a sports reporter at the South Bend Tribune. Contact him via email at ksmedley@usatodayco.com or follow him on X @KyleMSmedley.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Trinity Academy, Elkhart’s Ben Divido stand out at IHSAA boys golf state finals
Reporting by Kyle Smedley, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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By Kyle Smedley, South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
