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Indiana high school boys golf: 20 IHSAA golfers to watch this spring

Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star
·7 min read

The high school boys golf season is underway. It should be a great spring, finishing with the state meet June 11-12 at Prairie View Golf Club. A look at 20 golfers to watch this season:

Last year’s state meet

  1. Guerin Catholic 589

  2. Westfield 591

  3. Hamilton Southeastern 600

  4. Bloomington South 607

  5. Evansville North 612

  6. Zionsville 614

  7. Noblesville 618

  8. Leo 626

  9. Valparaiso 626

  10. Center Grove 629

Top golfers to watch

Peyton Blackard shoots for the 15th green during the fourth and final round of the Evansville Men's City Golf Tournament at Evansville Country Club Sunday afternoon, July 24, 2022. David Mills came out on top by eight strokes (-17) over the second-place Blackard and lead wire-to-wire in the tournament.
Peyton Blackard shoots for the 15th green during the fourth and final round of the Evansville Men's City Golf Tournament at Evansville Country Club Sunday afternoon, July 24, 2022. David Mills came out on top by eight strokes (-17) over the second-place Blackard and lead wire-to-wire in the tournament.

Peyton Blackard, Gibson Southern, Jr.: The Notre Dame commit has been a standout since his freshman year, finishing tied for 12th at state. He was inducted into the GolfWeek Junior Tour Hall of Fame as a high school sophomore after earning 15 tournament victories. Blackhard won the Donald Ross Junior Championship at Pinehurst in December. His team is currently ranked No. 6 in the state. Blackard figures to be one of the favorites in the hunt for a state title.

Westfield's Jake Cesare competes in the Ulen Invitational on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at Ulen Country Club in Lebanon.
Westfield's Jake Cesare competes in the Ulen Invitational on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at Ulen Country Club in Lebanon.

Jake Cesare, Westfield, Jr.: The Indiana recruit tied for 10th at the state meet as a freshman and tied for seventh as a sophomore as Westfield took second place both years as a team. Cesare is already off to a good start to this season with a pair of victories and a third-place finish with a pair of 68 rounds. The two-time all-state performer should be in the mix for an individual state title and his team is currently ranked No. 2 in the state.

Bloomington South’s Happy Gilmore hits a shot during the golf match against Edgewood at Cascades Golf Course on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.
Bloomington South’s Happy Gilmore hits a shot during the golf match against Edgewood at Cascades Golf Course on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

Happy Gilmore, Bloomington South, Sr.: The Ball State commit has the game to match his name (his first name is Landon but started going by Happy early in his life). Gilmore helped Bloomington South to a fourth-place finish at state last year as he finished tied for seventh for the tournament with an even-par. He finished tied for 17th as a sophomore.

Yorktown sophomore Christian Groves in the IHSAA Muncie Central boys golf regional tournament at The Players Club on Thursday, June 8, 2023.
Yorktown sophomore Christian Groves in the IHSAA Muncie Central boys golf regional tournament at The Players Club on Thursday, June 8, 2023.

Christian Groves, Yorktown, Jr.: Groves won the sectional tournament each of the past two seasons and also won the Hoosier Heritage Conference title last year as a sophomore.  Groves fired an even-par 72 earlier this spring, including six birdies, at Yorktown Invitational at The Players Club.

Valparaiso's Aidan Gutierrez pushes his clubs along the course at hole 10 on the first day of IHSAA boys golf state finals Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.
Valparaiso's Aidan Gutierrez pushes his clubs along the course at hole 10 on the first day of IHSAA boys golf state finals Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.

Aidan Gutierrez, Valparaiso, Sr.: The Baylor commit was the individual state champion as a sophomore when he won on the third hole of a playoff against Cathedral’s Ryan Ford. Gutierrez was in the hunt again last year as a junior after a firing a 5-under par 67 in the first round. He finished in fifth place. Gutierrez tied for 29th at the Pete and Alice Dye Junior Invitational. Gutierrez won the Don Dicken Classic at Stonehenge earlier this month with a 3-under par 68.

Westview's Silas Haarer places his ball on the green at hole 18 on the second day of IHSAA boys golf state finals Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.
Westview's Silas Haarer places his ball on the green at hole 18 on the second day of IHSAA boys golf state finals Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.

Silas Haarer, Westview, Jr.: Haarer fired a 6-under par 66 on the second day of the state meet last year to finish in a tie for second at 3-under. He shot a 69 to win the regional.

Will Harvey, Westfield, Jr.: Harvey, a Purdue recruit, tied for 10th at the state meet last year as a sophomore after tying for 17th as a freshman. The Shamrocks were state runner-up as a team both seasons. The second-team all-conference basketball player had a big summer after his sophomore year, including firing a 68 and 70 (2-under) in Kentucky to be the first alternate for the U.S. Amateur.

Leo's Justin Hicks moves from hole 18 on the second day of IHSAA boys golf state finals Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.
Leo's Justin Hicks moves from hole 18 on the second day of IHSAA boys golf state finals Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.

Justin Hicks, Leo, Sr.: The Purdue Fort Wayne commit tied for second last year at the state meet, firing a 3-under par for the tournament. Hicks also earned all-state honors as a sophomore as he tied for seventh. Leo is ranked No. 13 in state.

Brody Holubar, Center Grove, Jr.: Holubar tied for 43rd at last year’s state meet as a sophomore after finishing tied for fourth at the regional to help his team to a regional title. Holubar was red-hot at the sectional last year, firing a 6-under par 66 to win at The Legends. He also won the Johnson County individual championship.

Evansville North's Luke Johnston competes in the Ulen Invitational on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at Ulen Country Club in Lebanon.
Evansville North's Luke Johnston competes in the Ulen Invitational on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at Ulen Country Club in Lebanon.

Luke Johnston, Evansville North, Jr.: Johnston was a sectional champion as a sophomore and played well at state, finishing tied for 18th with a two-day 6-over par. Johnston’s Evansville North team is ranked No. 6 in the state after taking fifth last year.

Castle’s Brayden Lamborne wait for their tee on the eighth green during the IHSAA boys golf sectional at Helfrich Hills Golf Course in Evansville, Ind., Thursday morning, June 1, 2023.
Castle’s Brayden Lamborne wait for their tee on the eighth green during the IHSAA boys golf sectional at Helfrich Hills Golf Course in Evansville, Ind., Thursday morning, June 1, 2023.

Brayden Lamborne, Castle, Soph.: Lambourne was one of the best freshmen in the state last year, finishing third in the sectional with a 1-under par 70. He shot a 73 in the regional but did not advance to state. Lamborne tied for second earlier this month against a tough field at Sultan’s Run, firing a 1-under par 71.

Fairfield's Brayden Miller putts at hole 18 on the first day of IHSAA boys golf state finals Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.
Fairfield's Brayden Miller putts at hole 18 on the first day of IHSAA boys golf state finals Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.

Brayden Miller, Fairfield, Jr.: Miller, a Cincinnati commit, is in the mix as one of the top contenders to vie for a state championship in June. Miller finished sixth as a sophomore to earn all-state honors, shooting a 1-under par for the state meet. He was also one of the top players in the state as a freshman, finishing in a tie for 12th at the state meet. Miller shot a 4-under par 68 to win the Manchester Invitational last week.

Ryan Parker, Homestead, Jr.: As a sophomore, Parker was finished tied for 64th at the state meet after a tough first day. He finished fifth in the sectional with a 1-under par 71. Parker’s team is ranked No. 9 in the state after coming in 12th last season.

Carmel's Mason Price moves his clubs along the course at hole 18 on the first day of IHSAA boys golf state finals Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.
Carmel's Mason Price moves his clubs along the course at hole 18 on the first day of IHSAA boys golf state finals Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.

Mason Price, Carmel, Sr.: Price was an all-state golfer as a junior after he tied for 10th at the state meet at 1-over par. Price advanced out of the sectional and the regional as an individual. His team is ranked No. 14 in the state this spring.

Evansville North's Brody Sorrel competes in the Ulen Invitational on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at Ulen Country Club in Lebanon.
Evansville North's Brody Sorrel competes in the Ulen Invitational on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at Ulen Country Club in Lebanon.

Brody Sorrell, Evansville North, Sr.: The Ball State commit tied for 18th last year at the state meet with a 6-over for the tournament. He helped his team to a fifth-place finish at state. The Huskies are ranked No. 6 in the state this spring.

Nathan Springer, Center Grove, Soph.: Springer finished tied for 18th at the state meet as a freshman with a 6-over par for the tournament after finishing tied for second at the regional with a 71. He fired a 5-under 67 to win the Yorktown Invitational earlier this month. Center Grove is ranked third in the state behind Hamilton Southeastern and Westfield.

Andrew Wall, Zionsville, Sr.: Wall finished tied for 47th at the state meet last year. He won the Pfau Invitational earlier this month in Bloomington. Zionsville is ranked No. 4 in the state.

Kai Warner, Hamilton Southeastern, Jr.: Warner tied for 14th last year at the state meet with a 4-over par for the tournament as a sophomore. He fired a 72 at the sectional to tie for second and help his team to a sectional title. HSE finished third at state. The Royals are currently ranked No. 1 in the state.

Guerin Catholic's Eli Wessel
Guerin Catholic's Eli Wessel

Eli Wessel, Guerin Catholic, Soph.: Wessel fired a 68 to win the Circle City Conference championship two weeks ago and was second overall with a 68 at the Yorktown Invitational at The Players Club. He was part of Guerin Catholic’s state championship team as a freshman and was named the GolfWeek Junior Tour 14-15 summer/fall golfer of the year after winning four of the seven meets he competed in last year.

Leo Wessel, a junior at Guerin Catholic, celebrates at the 18th hole as he clinches the IHSAA individual state title Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel. Wessel finished 6 under par in the two-day tournament.
Leo Wessel, a junior at Guerin Catholic, celebrates at the 18th hole as he clinches the IHSAA individual state title Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel. Wessel finished 6 under par in the two-day tournament.

Leo Wessel, Guerin Catholic, Sr.: The Cincinnati recruit is the defending individual state champion and has helped the Golden Eagles to back-to-back team state titles. Wessel fired a final round 5-under-par 67 at last year’s state meet to finish 6-under for the tournament. He won the Indiana Golf Hoosier Junior Championship last fall. Cincinnati’s roster includes former Guerin Catholic standouts Connor McNeely and Ty Gingerich and Ryan Ford of Cathedral.

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school boys golf: 20 IHSAA golfers to watch this spring