Though Center Grove steamrolled the field last June on the way to its first state championship in boys golf, the experience wasn’t quite what Luke DeHaven had hoped it would be, at least from an individual standpoint.
DeHaven was a valuable part of the Trojans’ lineup throughout his sophomore season; he had the team’s lowest score during last year’s sectional. But his rounds of 77 and 80 at Prairie View Golf Club wound up not counting toward the team’s championship total.
Perhaps a bit overwhelmed in his first state finals experience, DeHaven should be better equipped to handle the moment when top-ranked Center Grove begins its title defense this morning.
“Last year, I think I learned a lot about my game,” the junior said, “and I’ve just worked on some stuff since then.”
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
That work has been apparent so far this postseason, especially on the back nine at last week’s Providence Regional, which DeHaven played at 1 under par to finish his round with a 73, second on the team to medalist Noah Gillard’s 74.
He expects to embrace the moment in similar fashion over the next two days.
“I think now that I’m a little bit older,” DeHaven said,
“I can handle the pressure a little bit better than I could last year, and I think it’s going to be a good tournament.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
IHSAA STATE FINALS
Where: Prairie View Golf Club, Carmel
When: Today and Wednesday, 8 a.m.
Live scoring: https://www.birdiefire.com/tournament/47785
Admission: $12 (good for both days)
Spectator carts will be available for rent on a first-come, first-serve basis.
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Scouting the state finals” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Top teams by regional score (relative to par): Center Grove (+2), Carmel (+6), Brebeuf (+10), Evansville North (+10), Zionsville (+10), Penn (+13)
Players to watch: Center Grove — Logan Anderson, Luke DeHaven, Noah Gillard, Alex Heck, Sam Jean; Brebeuf — Nick Frey, Drew Wrightson; Carmel — Nicholas Dentino, Cole Harris, Luke Prall, Curtis Robertson, Clay Stirsman; Evansville North — Stewie Hobgood, Mitchell Johnson; Zionsville — Lucas Beck, Joey Ranieri
Outlook:Â There’s a pretty significant drop-off after the top five or six teams. The top three teams in the state rankings (Center Grove, Carmel and Zionsville) were the three best regional performers, and while there’s a possibility that Brebeuf, Evansville North or Penn could crash the party, the battle for the crown will likely come down to the Trojans, Greyhounds and Eagles. Center Grove is capable of losing to either of those teams if it stumbles a bit, but even a middling effort should be enough to keep the reigning champs in contention. If the Trojans have their “A” game, everyone else will just have to fight for second.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
