DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
MUNCIE – It was a three-way shootout for the regional title Thursday morning at the Players Club in Muncie and it was the Arabians of Pendleton Heights capturing the first golf regional title in school history with a three-stroke win over Noblesville to steal a spot away from Cathedral and advance to the State Finals along with perennial powerhouses Noblesville and Hamilton Southeastern.
Locally, the Bellmont Braves took a big hit when last week’s top scorer at sectional, sophomore Jacob Binegar, went home too ill to play, leaving coach Ty Razo’s team with just four players. The Braves were happy with a finish ahead of Bluffton by three strokes. The Tigers had beaten Bellmont by six strokes at sectional at Timber Ridge.
Kade Cutler got better as the day progressed and gave local golf fans a glimpse of just how good the Bellmont team could be next year by firing an 80 to lead the way for the Braves at the No. 3 spot.
Two Adams Central players also competed, with Maverick Becher (see gallery above) coming in with a better finish on the back nine ahead of the 18th tee to outpace teammate Drew Johnson. Becher shot 87 and Johnson 89, although Johnson nearly caught his teammate with a birdie-three on the 18th hole, while Becher struggled at the end of the long day.
Bellmont No. 1 Chase Baker (see gallery below) was hot out of the gate, draining a long putt on his first hole (No. 10) to save par. His Back Nine was spoiled with a pair of doubles on No. 13 and No. 14, but he played the final four holes before his turn at +1 for a 41. Baker’s second nine (the Front Nine) never quite took shape, but he did finish his day with a great birdie on the ninth hole to finish the Braves’ season with an exclamation mark.
Cam Summers (see gallery below) struggled by his own standards on the Back Nine to start, carding a 44, but he showed his capabilities on the Front. Next year’s senior leader for the Braves wrote down eight pars on his card for a great round of 38 to finish with an 82.
Cutler was consistent throughout, relying on solid iron play and good distance with his driver. He played the twelve Par Fours at just +4 on the day. The sophomore had just one double and still led the Braves despite not making a birdie on the day.
The Braves also had a change in the lineup from last week, with Sam Shifferly (see gallery below) reprising his role at No. 5. (The late scratch of Binegar meant the threesome of No. 2s in the grouping played as a twosome, with Summers Cutler and Shifferly keeping their spots at 3, 4 and 5, respectively.)
Shifferly struggled a bit out of the gate and was also in just a twosome with Heritage Christian playing without a No. 5, but his front nine was much better, shooting a bogey-45.
Coach Razo will be chomping at the bit to get his team back on the course next March with all of his varsity contributors set to return for a run at the program’s first sectional title since back-to-back wins in 2021 and 2022.
The State Finals will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday at Prairie View in Carmel.
Top Overall Individuals: Elijah Lemmon-Mt. Vernon 67, Hayden Fox-Pend. Heights 67; Parker Atkins-Eastern Hancock 70; Johnny Leaman-Cathedral 71; Jackson Mahan-Noblesville 71
Advancing Teams: Pendleton Heights 294, Noblesville 297, Hamilton SE 298
Other Local Scores: 9th-Eastbrook 323, 14th-Bellmont 340, 15th-Bluffton 343
Advancing Individuals: Elijah Lemmon-Mt. Vernon 67; Parker Atkins-Eastern Hancock 70; Johnny Leaman-Cathedral 71
Bellmont Scores: Chase Baker 84, Cameron Summers 82, Kade Cutler 80, Sam Shifferly 94
Bluffton Scores: Rafe Gerber 80, Reid Abbett 80, Declan Grieser 95, Gibson Grieser 88, Eli Sonnigsen 98
Area Individuals: Maverick Becher (AC) 87, Drew Johnson (AC) 89, Dawson Goldsworthy (Jay Co.) 92
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