HENRYVILLE
One streak continued, and one long drought ended Thursday for Johnson County boys golf teams at the Providence Regional.
Center Grove extended its state-record regional winning streak to six with a five-shot victory over Bloomington South at Champions Pointe. Close behind in the third and final state qualifying spot was Franklin, which will head to state for the first time in 35 years.
“It’s amazing,” said Franklin senior Damon Dickey, who won tournament medalist honors with a 3-under-par 69. “I don’t know how much of this we were expecting, but we knew that if we threw our best scores together, then we’d probably do it.”
Center Grove’s advancement was never in doubt Thursday. The Trojans fired a 146 on the front nine and cruised home with a 295.
“Our game plan was very mentally focused,” Center Grove coach Matt Rodman said. “It was talking about slowing down, controlling their breathing and playing in the moment, and the kids stuck to it really well today and that’s why we get to move on to state next week. I told the kids this is probably one of the most stressful rounds of the year, and now our golf season is not going to get cut short.”
Center Grove was led by its No. 4 and 5 golfers. Senior Brandon Heffner tied for third individually with a 1-under 71.
“This is my first regional ever, so it’s kind of like a dream come true my first time ever playing here to shoot under par and be able to win it as a team,” Heffner said.
Drew Rowen tied for fifth with an even-par 72.
“It felt great just to be back out there in the regional and a tournament like this, and just be able to get out there and compete for a chance to go to a big tournament like the state finals — and to be able to it with these guys is awesome,” Rowen said.
Sam Slaughter added a 74 for the Trojans, and Luke Beetz rounded out the scoring with a 78. Sam Hord, who had Center Grove’s low score in the sectional, finished with an 83.
“We’ve been preaching how good our depth is all season,” Rodman said. “I actually told Sam Hord on 15 that he’s kind of carried us the last few weeks, and it’s time for our team depth to show up and pick him up when he wasn’t hitting it as good as he normally does. We came in a very inexperienced team at regional, only having one guy that’s played in a regional before, so I’m super proud of how we held it together and how we played really well today.”
Meanwhile, Franklin shot 307 to qualify for state for the first time since 1986, thanks in large part to the Butler-bound Dickey. Starting on the back nine, he shot 34 on that side and finished with a 35 on the front.
“I was just proud of how I hung in there,” Dickey said. “There were some things that probably didn’t go my way the entire day, but I just kind of hung in there, and whenever I made a mistake, just tried to make a conservative play and kind of save it. That’s kind of how it was all day.”
But Dickey wasn’t the only hero for the Grizzly Cubs. Will McGuiness carded a career-best 76, and Ian McCullough holed out a fairway shot for an eagle 2 on his last hole, No. 9, for a 79.
That shot was the difference in Franklin’s two-shot advantage over fourth-place Floyd Central.
“I don’t know which was more remarkable — McGuiness’ 76 or McCullough’s field shot on 9, and of course, Dickey wins the tournament,” Franklin co-coach Ted Bishop said. “Two weeks ago, Will was fighting to keep a spot in the lineup. He was having a hard time breaking 90. I could not be happier for him because he’s worked so hard the last year at his golf game.”
Quin Edwards rounded out the Grizzly Cub scoring with an 83. Nate Blackwell added an 87.
“We are extremely proud of them,” Franklin co-coach Crystal Morse said. “The guys put in a lot of effort. I was talking to one of the parents about how rewarding and how gratifying it is to see because we have a group of upperclassmen, and these guys have known each other for a long time and have played together for a long time. So it’s exciting to see them make it to state and be able to play on the biggest stage of high school golf together as a team.”
A third Johnson County team, Greenwood Christian, was making its first-ever regional appearance and finished eighth in the 18-team field with a 333. Ian Reed led the Cougars with a 78, while Coen Bauschek carded a 79, Sutton Piercefield added an 83, Evan Stinnett shot 93 and Parker Satre had a 99.
Greenwood’s Jackson Watkins, playing as an individual, finished with a 79. Roncalli’s Conner Wray shot 82 and Indian Creek’s Clark Haywood carded an 83.
“I take my hat off to Center Grove,” Bishop said. “I’m really proud of golf in Johnson County. For us to come down here in this regional with as many ranked teams as they were and have two teams from our county get out is pretty amazing.”