Boys golf: All-County team

Brody Holubar went through most of the spring just trying to hold onto a spot in Center Grove’s lineup. With more than a dozen players capable of playing even-par golf on a given day, and just five varsity spots available, nothing was ever guaranteed.

Late in the season, however, Trojans coach Matt Rodman put Holubar’s mind at ease. Just prior to a May 27 trip to the Providence Invitational at the same Champions Pointe layout that serves as the regional site each year, Rodman assured the sophomore that he was planning to stick with him from that point forward.

“He told me that unless I blow up again, I’ll be in the lineup; I’ll have my spot,” Holubar recalled. “And that really gave me confidence, going into the round and not playing defense and trying to hold my spot. Basically playing offense and being able to do what I can do.”

It turned out to be the right move. Holubar played his best golf of the year down the stretch, powering the Trojans to county, sectional and regional championships and a return to the state finals after a one-year absence, and he is the Daily Journal’s Player of the Year.

Holubar’s season-ending heater got started with a 2-under-par 70 in the Johnson County tournament — a round that he felt could have been even better had his putter gotten going. When he returned to The Legends just four days later for the Franklin Sectional, the putts were dropping, and Holubar turned in a career-best 66.

“The 70 at county was my first ever under-par tournament round,” he said. “After county, I was just thinking, ‘Sectional is at the same course, playing pretty similar; why can I not do the same thing?’”

In the regional, Holubar carded an even-par 72 to help Center Grove win its seventh championship in eight years. He stumbled through a first-round 82 in the state finals at Prairie View before regrouping with a season-ending 75 the next day.

Those were the first competitive rounds at Prairie View for Holubar and a few of his teammates. He’s confident that the experience will pay dividends in the future, now that he has a better idea of how to attack the course. Holubar pointed to the confidence of players from Westfield, who play there regularly, and hopes to arrive in that same comfort zone by next year.

“Those two rounds mean a lot,” he said. “I didn’t play the greatest my first day, but figured it out before the second day, and it really shows what you can do with that course.”

A spot in Center Grove’s postseason starting five next season can’t be taken for granted, though, so staying sharp is a must.

“It’s always competitive at practice — qualifying rounds all the time, and everything matters,” Holubar said. “It’s not just going out there to have fun and just stay the same; you’re going to get better every day at practice, and that’s different than every other place in the state.”

That competition might make some players a bit more tense, but Holubar found that the best way to stay in the lineup might be to not worry so much about staying in the lineup.

“I didn’t feel like I had very much nerves going into the postseason,” he said. “Just being confident in my game and going out, having fun and enjoying it while it lasts.”

ALL-COUNTY TEAM

The 2023 All-County team for boys golf:

James Beetz, Center Grove sophomore: A mainstay in the Trojans’ lineup, posting an 18-hole stroke average of 77.3 … Shot back-to-back rounds of 74 at county and sectional tournaments and 78 at regional … Totaled a 164 at state to help Center Grove tie for 10th.

Kadin Gibson, Franklin sophomore: Averaged 78 strokes per 18 holes to lead a balanced Grizzly Cub lineup … Carded a career-best 70 at the sectional tournament to help Franklin to a second-place finish … Shot 74 at county and 77 at Mid-State Conference tourney.

Brody Holubar, Center Grove sophomore: Closed season on a roll, earning medalist honors at county (70) and sectional (66) before carding a 72 at regional and tying for 43rd individually at state after shooting a final-round 75 to finish at 157 … Averaged 74.8 per 18 holes.

Noah Parsetich, Center Grove sophomore: Finished the spring with a 77.5 stroke average … Shot 73 at county , 77 at sectional and 78 at regional out of the No. 5 spot in the lineup … Tied for 64th individually at state with a total score of 162, including a first-round 76.

Ian Reed, Greenwood Christian senior: Led the Cougars with an 18-hole average of 75 … Tied for third individually at the sectional tournament with an even-par 72 … Shot rounds of 76 at county and regional, narrowly missing out on a return to state.

Brady Schier, Center Grove senior: Manned the top spot in Trojans’ lineup, posting a 75.3 stroke average for the season … Fired a 1-under-par 71 at regional … Shot 73 at county and 77 at sectional … Totaled 167 at state to help Center Grove finish in a 10th-place tie.

Nathan Springer, Center Grove freshman: Led the Trojans with a 74.6 stroke average on the season … Shot 71 at both sectional and regional to help lead team to victory … Tied for 18th individually at state, turning in rounds of 73 and 77 for a 150 total.

Honorable mention

Davis Arthur, Greenwood; Luke Bechert, Franklin; Max Blandford, Edinburgh; Jahlen Burton, Greenwood; Connor Chase, Greenwood; Reid Davidson, Franklin; Jake Lock, Franklin; Brayden Paterek, Whiteland; Noah Reed, GCA; Will Smith, Whiteland