IHSAA boys golf sectional takeaways: North wins; Memorial, Mater Dei advance
EVANSVILLE — Although what transpired at the top of the leaderboard was expected, it didn’t make the result any less impressive.
The IHSAA boys golf sectional at Helfrich Hills has belonged to one program in recent memory. That group was the prohibitive favorite yet again. But it’s one thing to say something will happen.
North backed up the talk on Thursday.
The No. 5-ranked Huskies shot a 294 to win their seventh straight sectional championship. Five of the top 14 individual scores belonged to North. It played 2-over par as a team on the front nine.
The field was tougher compared to the past two years. But the takeaway remains the same: this sectional still belongs to the Huskies.
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“They’re shooting scores better than any team I’ve ever had,” said North coach Keith Bagby. “They play year round and work so hard. I have a saying I always use for them, ‘I can guarantee if you don’t put in the time you won’t be rewarded.’ We did what we’ve been doing all year.”
This team, all sophomores or juniors, has played 10 tournaments this spring against some of the stiffest competition in the state. North has five wins with no finish lower than fourth.
Luke Johnston was the sectional champion with a 4-under 67. But his teammates also impressed to keep this sectional dynasty rolling. Peyton Butler shot a 73 to finish fifth overall. Griffin Sohn (76), Brody Sorrell (78) and Luke Price (79) were all in the 70s.
It begs the question: How low could this team go? Or how high could it finish at Prairie View during the state tournament in two weeks? One step at a time. Next up is arguably the toughest regional in the state at Country Oaks next week. The competition there will presumably include No. 4 Bloomington South, No. 12 Jasper and No. 19 Gibson Southern.
North has won six straight regional titles, tied for the longest streak in state history.
“These kids deserve what they got (today),” said Bagby. “In the state tournament, everything changes. Not all the favorites win it. We have our hands full next week. We control what we can control. We’ll be ready to roll.”
Luke Johnston showcased the 'it factor'
The final group off the first tee was something to behold. It featured the top three individual scorers.
Johnston took the prize with another splendid round. His 67 featured four birdies (Holes 4, 7, 12 and 15) plus an eagle at the par-five 11th. Much like his team, this was what the sophomore has done all season. Across 10 tournaments, Johnson has a scoring average of around 73. He also had the low score in the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference Tournament at Sultan’s Run on Tuesday but lost in a playoff.
“I hit the ball well and putted well,” said Johnston. “A lot of energy taken out of me. I’m keeping my score pretty low and the team is playing well. (Medalist) means the work is paying off. A lot of work put in.”
Bagby has seen this potential all season. Johnston played other sports growing up but has fully committed to golf. This was his third straight top-three overall finish including a second-place at Champions Pointe last weekend.
According to his coach, what separates him right now is his demeanor.
“No fear in him,” said Bagby. “He comes out here and puts the hammer down. He expects to win. He has that it factor you can’t coach. He’s a believer. What he did today, he earned it.”
Memorial responded to the challenge on the back nine
Collin Brinker let his team know exactly what was needed.
Memorial was unofficially fourth at the turn. That came arguably on the easier side of the course at Helfrich. Their coach didn’t sugarcoat it. It would be a grind to advance from the sectional.
How the Tigers responded shows how far this group has come. Memorial finished second with a 303 to earn a spot at Country Oaks. It was a season-low score to surpass the other contenders.
“I told them we’ll have to play some grind-it-out golf and see what happens,” said Brinker. “We knew Castle and Mater Dei had scores throughout the season that were good enough to get out. Happy the ball fell our way today.”
Thomas Broshears was again the star with a 3-under 68 to finish second overall. The depth was a nice touch with Reed Johnson (77) and Grayson Coughlin (78) both in the 70s on a hot, long day. Jack Brackett also provided a solid 80 to keep the Tigers comfortably in second.
Broshears continues to impress. He’s always had length and talent – the senior had five birdies and shot 33 on the back – but this mental game has taken leaps forward. Broshears, who finished one shot out of a playoff in the SIAC Tournament, will be among the contenders at the regional.
He was tied for 17th at the state championship last spring.
“He’s really matured in his game,” said Brinker. “In the past, I used to be worried during the rounds and check on him. This year has been different. I always know where he’s going to be. A solid foundation for our team.”
Mater Dei played to its potential this week
These were the scores Mater Dei coach Gabe Rohleder hoped to see all season.
The Wildcats opened some eyes with a fourth-place finish in the SIAC Tournament. This performance was better, both in score and importance. Mater Dei fired a season-best 307 to earn the final spot in the regional at third place.
Its two best scores in the two biggest tournaments of the season. The same week. Rohleder couldn’t script it better.
“They brought it when it mattered,” he said. “They have a ton of game but needed to trim down a few small mistakes and show up on the same day. They earned this one.”
Josh Fenwick led the Wildcats with a 1-over 72 that included three birdies. Kurt Denning (75) and Tyler Vanover (77) also broke 80. Each of those scores was individual career bests in a high school tournament.
It was encouraging to see considering the Wildcats’ number two, Jim Doepker, ran into bad breaks on the back nine. Caden Willett rounded out the scoring with an 83.
“High school is a different animal,” said Rohleder. “There’s a lot of pressure. Josh showed up. Kurt was as clutch as it comes. Tyler Vanover, that's his best. It really good to see it come together like you think it can.”
Brayden Lamborne showed why his future is bright
The rest of this sectional needs to be ready because if Brayden Lamborne continues on this trajectory, watch out.
The Castle freshman finished third overall with a 1-under 70. He earned one of the three individual tickets to the Country Oaks regional from non-advancing teams. How Lamborne went about it was equally as impressive as his competition.
Here was his start: birdie, par, birdie, birdie, birdie. He came close to having five circles on the card in his first five holes. A double-bogey at the ninth and three more bogeys on the back nine brought him back to earth. But Lamborne remains a player to watch moving forward.
Boonville's Matthew Mills (75) and Central's Hunter Riggs (78) earned the other individual tickets. Castle finished fourth as a team at 312. The Knights were followed by Boonville (327), Reitz (358), North Posey (359), Mount Vernon (363), Central (373), Harrison (409), Evansville Christian (414) and Bosse (482).
Follow Courier & Press sports reporter Kyle Sokeland on Twitter @kylesokeland.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Takeaways from the IHSAA boys golf sectional at Helfrich Hills
