Center Grove boys golf finishes fifth at state finals

CARMEL

The logjam of state championship contenders gradually dispersed on Wednesday at Prairie View Golf Club, leaving Center Grove with one of two directions to go.

To their credit, the Trojans left spike marks on the more desired path — one that led directly to a fifth-place finish in the team standings.

Center Grove followed a first-round total of 310 with a 303, a score that slowly inched it up the team leaderboard as the day progressed.

Considering his lineup is comprised of four juniors and a sophomore, eighth-year coach Matt Rodman couldn’t help but be impressed with the manner in which CG’s players performed on the most pressure-packed days of the season.

“We made a good fight back. Played a good round today,” Rodman said. “Being in chase mode, I think, helped a little bit. Made them be a little hungry. Putting a good number up (Tuesday) gave us confidence that we could go in and play pretty well today. They were a little bit more relaxed.”

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Zionsville captured the team championship with a two-day score of 600, followed by Westfield (605), Hamilton Southeastern (606) and Noblesville (611).

Fairfield junior Brayden Miller won medalist honors with a final tally of 68-71—139. He won by four strokes over three other players: Valparaiso senior Aidan Gutierrez, Leo senior Justin Hicks and Westfield junior Jake Cesare.

Center Grove’s Brody Holubar shot 79 in the opening round but rebounded with a 73 on Wednesday to tie for the 18th spot individually. He was tied with two other players, one being sophomore teammate Nathan Springer (76-76–152).

Next for Center Grove were James Beetz (77-78–155) in a tie for 28th, and Noah Parsetich (78-81—159) and Drew Hardin (83-76–159) part of a five-way deadlock for 50th.

“This back nine is pretty difficult, and I shot 37, 38 on the back the two days,” Beetz said. “The front nine is pretty gettable here, and I just didn’t take advantage of it.”

In the nine years Prairie View has hosted the state finals — the 2020 season wasn’t played due to the COVID-19 pandemic — a Hamilton County school has placed either first or second every season. On four occasions, the county produced both the champion and runner-up.

In short, familiarity helps.

“I’d say some rounds up here would really help get some confidence. We’re not familiar with this place as much as Westfield and Zionsville,” Hardin said. “In the postseason, (we) get hot sectionals and regionals and just come in with some confidence and play good.”

Also on par to be a force locally — and perhaps statewide — next season is Greenwood Christian junior Noah Reed, who finished in a nine-way tie for 39th after chasing a first-round score of 80 with a 77.

This despite Reed carding a triple bogey on his final hole, the par-4 ninth.

He knows the state finals experience will only motivate him more as he prepares for his final prep season.

“It was set up great today. This course is a great venue for state,” Reed said. “It’s definitely cool playing with the best players in the state, so that’s always helpful. This will definitely help me for next year.

“My goal is to make it back next season, of course, and hopefully put up a better score. I was just as determined as I always am. I was going to try to move up the leaderboard as much as I could.”

Given the amount of talent scheduled back next spring, the 2025 season could shape up to be one of the best in recent memory in Johnson County. One that may or may not conclude with Center Grove in the hunt for its third state championship.

Rodman, who guided the Trojans to state titles in 2017 and 2021 and second-place trophies in 2018 and 2019, says the wheels are already turning in anticipation.

“As a whole team, we’re already looking ahead, planning some things and talking about being hungry for next year,” he said. “I would say that any of the other underclassmen, any incoming person, if they’re not working hard and hungry trying to crack the top five, then they better because that’s what we want to have.

“We’ve got some sophomores, some freshmen … they’re going to want to give these guys a run for their money.”