The top-ranked Center Grove boys golf team was not only battling No. 11 Franklin and the conditions on Thursday.
After nine holes, Center Grove trailed Franklin by one stroke in the Johnson County tournament at The Legends Golf Club. There was a possibility the tournament would be called because of darkness — in which case the nine-hole team scores would have decided the winner.
“We were concerned with three holes to go,” said Center Grove coach Matt Rodman, who said the golfers didn’t know they were trailing after nine holes. “We were iffy with the time so we got on carts and started getting them going and getting the next shot. We knew by the time we got to 17 we were finishing no matter what. It would have been the Legends and the Whiteland athletic director’s (Ken Sears’) call.”
The Trojans made it, finishing as darkness set after 9 p.m. The defending state champions won with 294 strokes, 12 better than the Grizzly Cubs. Whiteland finished third, and Indian Creek edged Greenwood Christian via a tiebreaker for fourth.
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“We definitely played a really solid back nine,” Rodman said. “We were one over par as a team. The kids turned it on the back nine and started hitting good. We played with quite a bit more wind so it made the course a little tough on the front nine.”
There was a 30-minute rain delay, which began approximately half an hour after the teams teed off.
The Grizzly Cubs played without No. 1 golfer Javan Johnson, who had been trying to play the season with a knee injury but had to shut it down. But they still had the day’s low round, as freshman Damon Dickey was the medalist with a two-under-par 70. He shot a 33 on the first nine holes.
“I made a lot of putts and hit good shots,” Dickey said. “A couple things didn’t go my way on the back nine. … It was hard to see the ball towards the end. I played well overall. I know no idea how they were doing. I knew they were close and I had to hold on to what I knew was the lead.”
Dickey’s teammate, Matt Jordan, and Center Grove’s Noah Gillard each shot 71.
“It’s nice to win the county tournament all four years,” Gillard said. “It’s quite an accomplishment. After nine, we weren’t playing that hot. Franklin was playing really well. We had to go on the back nine and fire some good numbers and that’s what we did.”
Gillard actually shot better on the front nine but he was the only one on the team that did.
Logan Anderson 74 and Luke DeHaven each shot a 74 for the Trojans, while Sam Jean had shot 75 and Alex Heck had a 77.
Rodman said his team has been playing well as a team.
“Any time you can get a win before sectionals on Monday, it’s always good to keep that momentum going,” Rodman said.
