Trinity Lutheran senior Jacob Sabotin became the third player in school history to qualify for the golf regional earlier this month.

He was one of three Jackson County athletes to advance to the regional, and Sabotin had the best day of the three at Champions Pointe Golf Club, shooting an 83.

Sabotin had the best season average of any golfer in the county, as well, averaging 40 for nine holes and 81 for 18 holes. Due to his success this season, Sabotin has been named The Tribune’s Golfer of the Year.

Of all of the success and accolades Sabotin accomplished this past spring on the golf course, when he looks back on the season, his biggest takeaway had nothing to do with the scores.

“I would say overall that we just had fun this season,” Sabotin said. “We relaxed, it was just day after day, me and my friends playing golf. Then eventually, I got out of sectional, which was amazing. Had a lot of fun there and at regional, and it was just a great experience for me.”

Sabotin starting playing golf for Immanuel Lutheran in seventh grade, but he remembers being out on the golf course when he was 3 years old. Sabotin played other sports at Trinity, but golf was his favorite due to the mental challenge it presents.

Sabotin’s best score was a 36, which he carded four times during the season. He played alongside fellow seniors Kade Hill, Preston Kovener and Caleb Williams.

“We’ve all played together since seventh grade, so we’re all comfortable with each other, we can joke around, we can have fun,” Sabotin said. “We all want to see each other do great, get the lowest score we possibly can, so it’s awesome just to be able to go out there every day with them and just play golf.”

Sabotin also had his dad, Doug Sabotin, as his head coach over the last two seasons.

“It was great to have him as my coach the last two years,” Jacob said. “If I was playing bad in a match or anything, he could come up to me and we could just talk, kind of forget about golf in the moment and he could give me tips and advice. It was just awesome to have him out there.”

Sabotin felt he best improved at chipping and putting this season. He remembers going out to the holes at Shadowood Golf Course, dropping about 25 balls and trying to hit around the greens to get better in that area.

After graduating this past school year, Sabotin is going to Ball State University this fall to study property management. He said he plans to join the club golf team at Ball State and keep playing for fun.

Remaining members of the all-county golf team:

Oliver Kardos, Seymour, Jr.: averaged 42/83, three-time medalist, third at sectional, regional qualifier

Chandler Stahl, Brownstown Central, Jr.: averaged 42.1/86.3, regional qualifier

Kade Hill, Trinity Lutheran, Sr.: averaged 48 for nine holes

Ty Stuckwisch, Seymour, Jr.: averaged 44/90, one-time medalist

Caiden Gwin, Brownstown Central, So.: averaged 42.1/91.8

Andon Self, Seymour, Sr.: averaged 43/89, one-time medalist

Matthew Reedy, Brownstown Central, Fr.: averaged 44.5/88.4

Manny Fontanez, Seymour, Jr.: averaged 43/87