Yorktown boys golf wins 2nd straight sectional title, 24th in program history
FARMLAND, Ind. — For the second straight season, the difference came down to seven strokes.
Yorktown boys golf on Monday shot 321 to capture its second straight sectional title and 24th in program history. The Tigers again narrowly edged second-place Delta (328), and Winchester (335) rounded out the three teams that advanced to Thursday's Muncie Central regional at The Players Club.
Jay County's Celeb DeRome (77), Wapahani's Landon Rabenstein (81) and Monroe Central's Coltan West (84), who won a playoff hole against teammate Bentley Thornburg for the final spot, advanced individually to the regional tournament.
While Yorktown has been the favorite in each of the past two seasons and won the Delaware County match earlier this spring, the roster saw its fair share of turnover from a year ago.
Head coach Nathan McClung replaced three seniors from 2022 with underclassmen, yet the team's results have remained largely the same thanks to high chemistry between the newcomers and veterans.
"This is one of the most enjoyable teams I've ever coached," McClung said. "Last year was too, but this group of guys, they're very different. But a lot of them are unique in some really special ways and they're phenomenal young men, so it's a privilege that they call me coach."
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Leading the Tigers once again was sophomore Christian Groves, who matched his score (75) from last year's sectional performance to win back-to-back individual medalist titles.
There was a major difference, however, in how Groves felt afterward. Being the perfectionist competitor he is, Groves as a freshman felt immense pressure during the final few holes, so much so that he was short of breath after the match.
With another year of experience, Groves evolved into a much calmer presence during and after competition. The contrast was stark and it helped him get out of tough spots and be even-keeled as he shot a 37 on the front nine holes and a 38 on the final eight.
"It was more on the mental side. I haven't really done too much to my swing, it's just I feel a lot of trust in my abilities now," Groves said. "I feel comfortable over pretty much every shot I have. My heart rate didn't go up at all coming down the final hole, which is very different than last year."
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Groves also attributed his increased confidence before the match to helping ease his nerves. He'd already won the Hoosier Heritage Conference medalist title and a previous tournament at Center Grove, so he felt capable of winning the sectional field again if he simply played his game.
McClung agreed that his star has become an improved player in Year 2, citing not only Groves' improved mental approach but his creativity in not compounding mistakes, like when his drive on the 18th hole went wide right of the fairway, only for Groves to hit a beautiful second shot over the trees that landed right in front of the putting green.
"He's a special player, and everybody knows that," McClung said. "He's just better. He hits it so far. He was pretty unflappable out there today. He didn't have his best stuff. I think he bogeyed four holes in the back nine. But he's just a stud."
But Yorktown's victory was the result of more than just Groves. As it did in the county tournament, the team's depth, from the first to fifth spots, again made the difference.
The Tigers' three other scorers — Marshall Johnston, Gabe Reedy and Nate Matthews — all shot no higher than 83, and Ethan Darby posted a solid No. 5 score of 91 as well.
McClung cited the leadership of his seniors, Reedy and Darby, as major reasons why the entire lineup continues to excel.
"Ethan and Gabe, just their leadership is a big deal. It doesn't always show and what they shoot, they didn't have their best today, but they're great kids who do things the right way," McClung said. "So Darby and Reedy, I can't say enough about them. We're just thrilled that they're out there, just calm and they're good role models, they're good examples, they're great young men."
The Tigers are not satisfied with just another sectional title, though. They believe they're capable of advancing to the state meet as a team after finishing in fifth place last year, just 15 strokes shy of the third and final qualifying team spot.
McClung said his boys will need to finish their rounds better in order to have a shot. Only Groves parred the 18th hole, while other Tiger scores ranged from 7-9 strokes.
Groves, and likely Delta's Jake Bilby and Riley Bratton, who qualified for the state tournament with a score of 75 at last year's regional, and others will also compete for individual advancement. Groves said he's heard that the likely needed score will be around 72.
Yet Yorktown wants more than just one golfer on the big stage. McClung hopes his young group rises to the occasion.
"We didn't finish today. Thursday at Players Club, those last four holes are going to be the difference in us having a chance to advance as a team to state and not," McClung said. "You step up there on 18, you've got to finish. But survive advance is the name of the game in the postseason. So that's what we did and I'm really proud of my guys. They hung in there today.
"We're going to travel to Muncie Central's home course on Thursday and play through that last stretch of holes that all these guys have played hundreds of times. So if we can finish Thursday, I think we give ourselves a chance."
Final team scores
Yorktown (321)
Delta (328)
Winchester (335)
Jay County (347)
Monroe Central (355)
Wapahani (356)
Wes-Del (364)
Muncie Central (377)
Cowan (378)
Union City (440)
Muncie Burris (DQ)
Other sectional results
In the Greenfield-Central sectional, Shenandoah (343) placed fourth overall, narrowly missing regional qualification by three strokes. The Raiders' Ryan Craig, however, shot a 79 to advance as an individual.
New Castle (351) placed fifth, Blue River (383) tied for eighth and Union (434) finished in 11th place.
In the Noblesville sectional, Daleville finished in 11th place with a score of 412.
Gus Martin is a sports reporter at The Star Press. Follow him on Twitter @GusMartin_SP, and contact him at gmartin@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: IHSAA boys golf: Yorktown wins second straight sectional title
