HENRYVILLE — Center Grove’s hopes of repeating as state boys golf champion came and went Thursday, but the Trojans didn’t come away empty-handed when it came to state qualifiers.

Senior Drew Rowen advanced to state as an individual after finishing with an even-par 72 at Champions Pointe. He will be joined by Greenwood Christian junior Ian Reed, who shot a 75 and then survived a playoff for another individual spot.

The sixth-ranked Trojans carded a 307, one shot behind Jasper, which claimed the third and final team qualifying spot. No. 2 Bloomington North won with a 292, and No. 11 Silver Creek finished second with a 304.

“I definitely wanted to go with the guys next to me,” Rowen said. “It’s a little bittersweet for it to end like this and end so sudden, not being able to go with them. But to be able to go and still compete for an individual title, it’s still a great honor to be able to have and something I’m going to look to compete for the next few days. To be able to have that experience from last year is really nice. I’ve played that (Prairie View) course a million times, so I know it like the back of my hand. But to be able to have that tournament experience in a state finals situation, it’s completely different than any other tournament you can ever prepare yourself for.”

Center Grove coach Matt Rodman was happy to see Rowen, who tied for the day’s second-best score, advance.

“We’ll go out there next week and have some fun playing 36 holes just to see what he can do,” Rodman said. “He’s riding a little hot streak right now, playing really well. He’s a team-first kind of guy, so it’s a little bit of a sad joy for him right now because he wanted the team to get out. But he is excited to play next week, and we’ll look forward to doing the best we can do.”

James Beetz carded a 76 for the Trojans, missing the individual playoff by one shot. Brady Schier added a 78, Drew Hardin shot 81 and Luke Beetz had an 82.

“Of course, our No. 1 goal is to survive and advance as a team and get all five guys there,” Rodman said. “But the kids played as hard as they could today. Our attitude was great. We put forth a good game plan. We went out and played the best that we could possibly play, and the chips didn’t fall our way today. But that’s just what happens with golf sometimes.”

Meanwhile, GCA finished seventh with a 319. Reed posted his 75, then waited as the final waves of teams finished to see if that score could hold up.

As it turned out, Reed found himself in a three-way playoff for the final two individual spots with Whiteland’s Will Davis and Willy Davis of Columbus North. Starting on the par-4 10th, Reed was the only one to reach the green in two, but he left his birdie putt short and tapped in for par.

Willy Davis hit his second shot over the green, then chipped on and one-putted for par. Will Davis was to the right of the green with his second shot and chipped to within six feet, but slid his par putt past the hole, leaving Reed and Willy Davis as the last two to advance as individuals on non-qualifying teams.

“I was happy to even have the chance of getting in a playoff,” Reed said. “Although it was nerve-wracking, it was really exciting and something I was excited to be a part of. I haven’t really had time to process it, but it’s really exciting. You tell yourself you have the possibility of doing it, but to really be here knowing I’m going to state is a special feeling.”

Coen Bauschek carded a 78 and Noah Reed added a 79 for the Cougars. Sutton Piercefield shot 87, and Parker Satre had a 97.

“We’re one of the smallest programs out there going, so hats off to our entire golf program, who’s went where we were a long time ago to now having the opportunity to play in state tournaments,” Greenwood Christian coach Gary Hamilton said. “Kudos to our entire team. It shows golf is an entire team effort … if the team didn’t advance (out of sectional), Ian wouldn’t have been here today.”

Franklin put all five of its golfers in the 80s and finished 11th with a 338. Kadin Gibson led the Grizzly Cubs with an 82, while Will McGuiness carded an 84, Jake Lock and Reid Davidson each shot 86 and Luke Bechert had an 87.

“When you look at the makeup of our team, we had three sophomores and a freshman,” Franklin coach Ted Bishop said. “I had four players that had never played in a sectional before this year and never played in a regional. We fully expect to be back here the next two years, so I came into this really just thinking this is just another great opportunity to see this golf course and to start getting comfortable. We’ve played here three times in the last three weeks, and if we’re going to accomplish some of the things that I think we can with this group of players the next two years, then we have to be able to play here. So I’m not disappointed at all.”

Two other golfers from Johnson County competed as individuals on Thursday. Greenwood’s Jackson Watkins carded a 77, missing the playoff by two shots, and Indian Creek’s Braxton Christie had a 79.

IF YOU GO

Midwest Meet of Champions

When: Saturday, 11:30 a.m.

Where: Indiana Wesleyan University

Local competitors: Conner Burries, Kylie Crum, Bella Hodges and Raef Sauer, Center Grove; Dylan Mayhew, Greenwood; Drew Mallory, Whiteland