Tiger Cubs, Kelley finish boys’ golf season at Lafayette Jeff Regional

LAFAYETTE — The boys’ golf season came to an end for Greencastle and Cloverdale golfer Eli Kelley Friday at the IHSAA Boys’ Golf Lafayette Jeff Regional held at Coyote Crossing GC.

The Tiger Cubs shot 352 to finish ninth overall among the competing teams. Westfield edged out Zionsville for the regional title after both teams shot 309; the Shamrocks claimed the title with a better fifth scorecard over the Eagles. Defending state champions Guerin Catholic also advanced, posting a score of 316.

Westfield’s Will Harvey shot an even-par 72 to earn medalist honors. Carroll’s Porter Dick, Benton Central’s Boston Pritchett and Carmel’s Ethan Hoagland advanced to the state finals as individuals.

Ben Zellers led Greencastle with a round of 83, followed closely behind by Bryson Worman on 84 and Zane Huber on 87. Cooper Grable shot 98 and Dylan Barcus carded a 105.

“It was a windy day making for tough conditions,” Greencastle head coach Rob Worman said. “The boys scored about what I expected.

“Coyote Crossing is a beautiful course that plays difficult from 6,800 yards, much farther than we play at most golf courses.”

Kelley shot 91, a stroke over his total from the previous year but in far tougher conditions.

“It was a little windy,” Kelley said. “It definitely helped knowing the course but I hadn’t played in that type of condition on the course before.

“The greens were super fast, having dried out quickly due to the wind. You definitely had to change your gameplan as you couldn’t go at every pin and you were shooting into the wind every shot it felt like.

“It didn’t help I didn’t play super good but it was nice to have another experience out on that course,” Kelley added.

With Huber the only senior among the five playing for Greencastle Friday, the experience would be valuable for the returning squad members according to Worman.

“Overall, this season went better than I could have imagined,” Worman said. “I am so proud of how the boys played and look forward to working with them in the offseason to get ready for next year.”

The round capped the Cloverdale career for Kelley, who said the season wasn’t quite the success of the previous year but was enjoyable all the same.

“We had a pretty solid year,” Kelley said about the Clovers as a whole. “Our No. 3, Noah Betz, came back in the middle of the year, which we didn’t think he would, and we had a pretty solid finish as a team.

“It was definitely a good experience and I had a lot of fun playing at Cloverdale. We had some pretty good seasons, which helped, but it was also good to be able to golf with my friends.”

Kelley, who will attend Rose-Hulman starting in the fall, added he might not be done on the competitive scene quite yet.

“I’ve been talking to Rose-Hulman about playing this upcoming year,” Kelley noted. “I had planned to talk to them but waited to make sure I got into the school first.

“Once I did that, I started messaging the coaches, who will watch me during some summer tournaments. If I don’t hear back from them, on a decision, I’ll go to the tryout they will hold at the beginning of the year.”