BLOOMINGTON
From his freshman to sophomore year, Owen Marshall shaved 12 strokes off his scorecard at the Bloomington North Sectional.
The Seymour High School sophomore shot a six-over-par 78 to keep his season alive Monday at Bloomington Country Club.
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The top three teams, and individuals on non-advancing teams at the sectional, moved on to Thursday’s Providence Regional, which will be hosted by Champions Pointe Golf Club in Henryville.
Bloomington South won the 11-team tournament by shooting 306, Bedford North Lawrence were runners-up at 322 and Bloomington North placed third at 326. Seymour finished fifth (364), Trinity Lutheran was sixth (367) and Brownstown Central was ninth (430).
South’s Drew Todd shot one-under to earn top medalist honors.
Marshall shot 40 on the front and 38 on the back to lead SHS.
“I was hitting the driver really well, but struggled with my irons a little bit. I was just good enough on the greens,” Marshall said. “I was confident coming in and shot a good score. Making (regional) was my goal from the start this year. Now, we’ll just see what we can do.”
Owls coach Jim Hoffman said that Marshall is playing his best golf right now.
“I’m really excited for him. He’s playing well and peaking at the right time,” Hoffman said. “He came out with a 75 this past Tuesday and shot a 79 two weeks before. He hit the ball well and was able to stay away from the big numbers. His worst number was a bogey. He’s staying consistent and striking the ball well.”
Conner Hinton, playing in the No. 5 spot, was next for the Owls with a 91. Tom Hoffmeir scored 96 and Chayse Shell had 99 for the Owls. Ethan Dippold, the Owls’ No. 2 golfer, played three holes before withdrawing from the field competition of a wrist injury.
The Owls aren’t graduating any golfers from this year’s team.
“The future is really bright for us,” Hoffman said. “It’s exciting for us. I know it wasn’t the scored we wanted. After losing Ethan on the third hole, we still had guys out there competing.”
Trinity senior Ryland Nierman missed the final regional-qualifying score by two strokes, leading the Cougars with an 89 on the day. Mark Shoemaker and Jacob Sabotin both carded 91s, Jacob Keith totaled 96 and Josiah Foster had 107 for the Cougars.
“The top two guys, the greens got to them,” Trinity coach Greg Personett said. “Ryland stayed steady and didn’t make a lot of huge mistakes to almost make it. I’m really happy for him: he did a really good job. Jacob Sabotin, a freshman, came in and had 91 strokes, which is solid. He didn’t have any major mistakes, and that’s what it takes at this golf course.’
The Cougars graduate Foster, Keith, Nierman and Shoemaker.
“They have improved every year,” Personett said of his seniors. “They provided leadership all the way through. They have been really unique and good young men. They have met a lot to this program.”
None of Brownstown’s golfers had played in a sectional before yesterday’s round.
Cooper Wolka shot 102 to top the Braves’ scorecard. Liam Kreis was next for BCHS with a 107, Caden Clodfelder shot 108, Lucas VonDielingen had 112 and Luke Darlage scored 116.
“Overall, I’m not disappointed,” Braves coach Brandon Allman said. “Cooper Wolka tied his round record with a 102 on the most difficult golf course we’ve played this year and went 59-43. He had a 16-shot improvement and had his first-ever birdie. Watching him get that was just priceless. Liam Kreis played well. He had a few pars and just had a couple holes that really got him.
“I thought they carried themselves well and I’m proud of their effort.”
Crothersville’s lone golfer, Will Amick, finished his senior season with a 97.
“It was good to see Will progress they way he has for the past four years,” Tigers coach Greg Kilgore said. “His freshman year, I believe he was in the 120s. This year he was at 97. I think he’s improved, enjoyed it, and had a pretty good career.”
