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North, Mater Dei and Castle advance from IHSAA boys golf sectional at Helfrich

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North, Mater Dei and Castle advance from IHSAA boys golf sectional at Helfrich

EVANSVILLE — Not much has gone wrong for the North High School boys golf program the past eight years.

A lot of this can be quantified in championships. For example, the Huskies recently won their fourth straight Southern Indiana Athletic Conference title. They set a new state record for consecutive regional crowns a year ago. All opportunities to assert their dominance.

North did itself one better on Thursday.

More: Survive and advance: Four SW Indiana softball teams win regionals, advance to semistate

The No. 7 Huskies shot a 287 at Helfrich to win their eighth straight sectional title. The closest challenger finished 32 shots behind with North securing five of the top 13 individual spots. It’s the best sectional score from the program in this eight-year run.

“We always focus on playing our best golf late in the year,” said North coach Keith Bagby. “That’s what the kids did today. (287) almost exceeded my expectations. We’re battle tested and play in Indianapolis three weekends in a row. It prepares us for this right here.”

It’s the cohesion of a talented group that pushed the Huskies to another championship. Luke Johnston won his second straight individual sectional title with a 2-under 69, his third round in the 60s in the past five 18-hole rounds. Brody Sorrell and Peyton Butler were close behind with 72. The former did so while fighting strep throat.

Luke Price shot a 74 and Griffin Sohn posted a 78. Eliminate Johnston’s round and North still wins by 23.

“Luke works hard at it,” Bagby said. “He’s just mentally tough. He comes here to compete and accepts the challenge. A good bunch of kids with great parental support.”

The potential was always there with this group. At least four will play college golf when all is said and done. They’re also focused on the task ahead rather than any big picture goals. Those could come. This round does prove North is in another strong position.

“My confidence is definitely there,” said Johnston. “The last couple of tournaments I’ve been under par. We’re definitely peaking at the right time. A veteran group and experienced. We all know how to play the game and play it right. We definitely all play for the team.”

This was the most competitive Evansville sectional in some time

The champion became obvious quickly. All focus then turned to who would secure the other two tickets to the regional. The final scores second through fourth? Mater Dei 319. Castle 320. Boonville 321. It was that close.

There have been lower scores in the past – a 312 didn’t advance last year at Helfrich – but not a margin this thin in some time. You must go back to 2018 at Eagle Valley when it went 300 (second), 301 (third) and 301 (fourth) with the final spot determined on a fifth-score tiebreaker.

It proves once again the old golf proverb: every shot matters.

“We knew it was close,” Mater Dei coach Joe Herrmann said. “It was basically telling the kids, don’t give any shots away. Every golfer matters even if you think you’re the fifth golfer. It’s like a lot of sports. You have to keep grinding.”

Mater Dei posted one of its better scores this spring and still didn’t feel confident. Conner Frey and Tyler Vanover led the Wildcats with 77. Josh Fenwick (81) and Jim Doepker (84) wrapped up the scoring as the program advanced to its fifth straight regional.

Castle proved to be the last team standing for the final spot. It believed to be in good position but stumbled to the finish. The Knights were 17-over as a team on the last three holes. Brayden Lamborne and Jacob Eble led the way with 77, followed by Carson Cook (82) and Jack Fiester (84).

Getting one of the three spots is the objective though. Survive and advance indeed.

“That’s golf sometimes,” said Castle coach Josh Kain. “I was trying to tell them to stay calm and pars are good. I didn’t really know if we did enough. By the grace of God I guess, we’re living to fight another day.”

Get ready for an even better regional at Country Oaks

This is part prognostication since not every sectional has played yet. The Washington Regional field should still be one of the best around.

There are six or seven teams capable of posting a number to earn a spot in the state championship. North is beginning to peak and Castle was ranked for multiple weeks. Mater Dei showed its potential in the tournament yet again. Jasper continued its sectional dominance at Sultan’s Run. Gibson Southern, ranked for most of the season, and Vincennes Lincoln should advance on Friday at Cypress Hills. No. 3 Bloomington South is the favorite at Cascades on Monday.

Joining them from non-advancing teams at Helfrich were Grayson Coughlin of Memorial (72), Cash Willis of Boonville (74) and Matthew Mills of Boonville (76). All talented players in their own right.

“We’ve done it before and we can do it again,” said Kain. “I think these guys do believe in themselves. It’s going to take a good day and, luckily, we’ve done it this year.”

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