“I love competing in this sectional. It’s such a good test of golf.”
LEBANON — Guerin Catholic won its first sectional in boys golf on Monday.
Yes, you read that correctly. The back-to-back state champions are a first-time sectional champion.
The goal here is survival. A top-three finish in the treacherous sectional field at Ulen Golf and Country Club is a ticket to the regional and a likely chance to play in the state final June 11-12 at Prairie View Golf Club.
“We’re always focused on Ulen because it is such an always-competitive sectional,” said Guerin Catholic senior Leo Wessel, the defending individual state champion. “Getting only three teams out is crucial. But I feel like we played really well (Monday) and think this might be what we needed to jump start our postseason.”
Wessel fired an even-par 70, which was matched by teammate Owen Nielsen. Eli Wessel and Gabe Berglund each shot a 74 to account for Guerin Catholic’s team score of 288. Zionsville, ranked second in the state, was paced by Andrew Wall’s 2-under par 68; the Eagles were four shots off fourth-ranked Guerin’s pace to finish in second place with a 292.
Top-ranked Westfield and No. 13 Carmel battled for the final spot, each recording a 298. Westfield’s No. 5 golfer, Hudson Kutchma, shot an 81, which was two shots better than Carmel’s No. 5 golfer to break the tie.
Westfield’s Jake Cesare fired a 2-under-par 68 and then won a two-hole playoff with Zionsville’s Wall to earn medalist honors.
“I knew on the back nine I needed to rally a little bit,” said Cesare, who added he had no idea what the team scores were. “I could just tell. Fortunately, I birdied 16 and my buddy Will (teammate Will Harvey) birdied 17 and we got the job done. I love competing in this sectional. It’s such a good test of golf.”
Even as competitors both Wessel and Cesare said they were sympathetic to Carmel, which did advance three individuals — Noah Husk, Noah Johnson and Ethan Hoagland — to the regional at Coyote Crossing Golf Course in Lafayette on Friday. Guerin Catholic, Zionsville and Westfield — three of the top-four ranked teams in the state — will be favored to advance as teams to the state finals next week.
“I know a couple of the Carmel guys,” Wessel said. “They practice where I practice. I’m happy they were able to advance as individuals but I do feel for Carmel.”
Results from IHSAA boys golf Sectional 12 at Lebanon
At Lebanon
Team: Guerin Catholic 288; Zionsville 292; Westfield 298; Carmel 298; Lebanon 354; Frankfort 359; University 361; Bethesda Christian 380; Sheridan 391
Individual: Jake Cesare, Westfield, 68 (won playoff); Andrew Wall, Zionsville, 68; Max Steiner, Zionsville, 70; Leo Wessel, Guerin Catholic, 70; Owen Nielsen, Guerin Catholic, 70; Noah Husk, Carmel, 70; Noah Johnson, Carmel, 73; Eli Wessel, Guerin Catholic, 74; Will Parenteau, Guerin Catholic, 74; Will Harvey, Westfield, 75; Brycen Tisch, Zionsville, 75; Ryan Cesare, Westfield, 75; Ethan Hoagland, Carmel, 76.
Other Central Indiana boys golf sectional highlights:
At Harbour Trees Golf Club at Noblesville (Monday)
Hamilton Southeastern’s Mattingly Upchurch fired a 5-under par 66 to win medalist honors by six strokes and lead the Royals to the sectional title.
Teams advancing: Hamilton Southeastern 292; Noblesville 301; Fishers 315
Top three individuals: Mattingly Upchurch, HSE, 66; Gavin Hare, Tipton, 71; Tommy Klinker, Fishers, 71.
Individuals advancing without a team: Gavin Hare, Tipton, 71; Ryan Davis, Pendleton Heights, 73; Hayden Fox, Pendleton Heights, 73
At Attica (Friday)
Landon Gardner shot a 1-under par 71 to lead Tri-West to a three-shot victory.
Teams advancing: Tri-West 321; Parke Heritage 324; North Montgomery 342
Top three individuals: Landon Gardner, Tri-West, 71; Brayden Luce, Parke Heritage, 73; Neal Jeffery, North Montgomery, 77
Individuals advancing without a team: Austin Foley, South Montgomery, 78; Tanner Gilland, Crawfordsville, 80; Coye Ferguson, Covington, 85.
At Maple Creek Golf Club (Friday)
Cathedral’s Sam Kinnett shot a 2-over par 74 to lead Cathedral to a seven-shot victory.
Teams advancing: Cathedral 310; Heritage Christian 317; Park Tudor 330.
Top three individuals: Sam Kinnett, Cathedral, 74; Zachary Klipsch, Heritage Christian, 75; Peter Machado, International, 76.
Individuals advancing without a team: Peter Machado, International, 76; Evan Johnson, International, 79; Colin Kirchgessner, Bishop Chatard, 79.
Will be updated
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.