For guys like Bloomington South’s Colton Watson, Edgewood’s Teigan Hulbert and Bloomington North’s Ryan Decker, golf season never ends.
They are not alone, but the senior, sophomore and freshman, all in different stages of their careers, put in the work long before April, and their scores reflected it with top three finishes at the first ever County Meet on Tuesday, April 14 at Cascades.
Watson was the medalist, shooting a 72 to lead the Panthers to a 305 and the team win over North (316) and Edgewood (333).
“I hit it pretty well today, but my short game was not there on the front nine,” Watson said. “I could not make a birdie putt to save my life. But on the back, I started to roll it a little better. I still missed a few, but I got it going on the back with four birdies.”
His offseason included a number of high-profile tourneys, such as the State Am and Golfweek events.
“I wanted to keep myself in a tournament mindset,” Watson said. “I’m also a member of the IU (Pfau) Course, so I was also out there a ton until November, trying to stay in that rhythm.”
Given the area’s climate, the ability to play close to home becomes impossible at times, so the opening of the golf simulator business at College Mall by his swing coach, Craig Bowden, was a nice benefit to keep his game in shape when the snow and cold are around.
“Sometimes if you go without playing a tournament for a while, you can lose that focus,” Watson said. “So, I want to keep playing. It gets you more ready to get back into it, start of the season, that first match, maybe help you calm the nerves a little bit on that first tee, because you know you’ve been there.”
Hulbert likes the start he’s gotten off to this season. His round at Cascades, not so much, but he dug himself out of the early hole.
“I started off double-bogey, bogey, had a rough start there,” Hulbert said. “But I continued to fight through the front nine. Got it back to 3-over and got some confidence going on the back nine.
“Lost it for a little bit, but overall, really, really happy with the score, my effort and the perseverance.”
For Hulbert, a regional qualifier as a freshman, it was matter or re-setting his priorities and mental approach to the game. His summer started well, but things took a turn.
“Later on in the season, I actually started to get in my head,” Hulbert said. “I really started to overanalyze, and I didn’t play too well in my fall tournaments. But over the winter, I read a lot of books, changed my mindset towards the game.
“Instead of thinking so critical and serious about the game, just having the opportunity to play the game is such a blessing. Going out with friends, making memories, that’s what it’s all about. So, in the offseason, I definitely wanted to have a different view on golf. I wanted to regain my love again. Continue to get better. So, I dug deep and focused on what needed to change.”
None of that meant backing off on challenging himself, whether that was playing different courses and against good competition, making swing adjustments or cleaning things up in practice.
“Just being patient and thinking about the things that you’re doing,” Hulbert said. “That’s how you get the most out of a range session for putting session.”
Ace in the cards for Decker
Decker pulled out his 8-iron for the 160-yard (add another five for the wind), par 3 No. 5 hole on the Quarry nine. His shot went a bit right, but the spin pulled it back toward the hole and in.
According to former North coach Brian Muehlhaus, it’s the first ace by a Cougar since 2013 when Quinn Smith had one at the old IU Course in the spring and Kaleena Abraham had another at Country Oaks in the regional that fall. Matt Bell also had another around the same era on the Ridge Course.
Of course, Decker still had 13 more holes to go in an important match.
“I was super excited,” Decker said. “Me and my coach celebrated and definitely one of the best golf experiences I’ve had, being my first one. I tried to move on. I was really proud. I made three pars the next three holes.”
I felt like I played the first eight holes about as well as I could. I was 4-under through eight. And then played the last 10 holes in 7-over, so I kind of let it slip there. I’m a little disappointed in that, but I’m still really happy to be out here.”
Decker’s offseason was well spent prepping for his first high school rounds, whether it was lifting or working with his swing coach.
“I’ve been playing in tournaments since I was 6,” Decker said. “So, I do think I’m at an advantage to other freshmen because I’ve had that opportunity. You’re always going to be nervous, but knowing how to handle those nerves, it just takes experience.”
How they stack up
The meet was an early chance for all three sectional contenders to see how they matched up and what needs to be done between now and their return to the same course for sectional on June 8.
South had a big opening weekend to go from unranked to No. 7 in the state and cranked out another solid score. Karl Bailey had a 74 to tie for third while Carson Gady had a 78 and Owen Wisely an 81. Easton Bellini was in at 85 and Lutz at 94.
Watson struggled a bit in the opener, but rounds like this one are where South hopes the four-year varsity standout is more often moving forward as they aim to keep their state streak going.
“We have high expectations,” South coach Dustin Carver said. “First time seeing the course in a while. It was in great shape. Green are tricky firm, so I thought we had to adjust throughout our round.
“But Colton, playing that 1 spot, that’s what we need out of him. We need that out of Carson and we need that out of Karl, in order for us to compete. So we come over and same as Seymour, we’ve got to make a statement. But we also have to focus on us, playing aggressive, rolling the putts and going from there. So pretty pleased with that 305.”
North was more closely bunched behind Decker as No. 6 man senior Coleman Boyd came through with a career best 79, earning a big round of cheers from his teammates once the card was added up. Rex Speer followed with an 81, Alec Freund an 82, Zayan Farzad 84 and James Johnson an 87.
“I was really optimistic,” North coach Harrison Carmichael said. “(Assistant) coach Ben EuDaly and I talked to all of our kids. It seems like they’re all working on something. Alec is coming off hockey and still working to find his swing. Zayan is working on things. James is working on things.
“So for us to be 11 shots off the seventh-ranked team in the state on a night where we felt like we really didn’t have everything put together … We are a work in progress and our team lives and dies by June 8. That’s the day that matters.”
Besides the ace, the first Carmichael’s witnessed as a coach, Boyd’s round certainly stood out.
“He’s worked his butt off,” Carmichael said. “Shooting a 79, he was through the roof. The whole team was excited for him. He’s a team captain in hockey and academic all-state. He’s a tremendous young man.”
Edgewood scored an 83 by Ike Wilkie and two 87s from Hank Ripley and Jaxton Collier. Caleb Garrett shot 90 and Aiden Bing a 106.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Watson, Bloomington South top North, Edgewood in county boys golf match
Reporting by Jim Gordillo, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
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