By KEVIN HARRIS
Area boys’ golf teams have put together an impressive run the past five years.
In each of those seasons, one squad has represented the Clark-Floyd region at the IHSAA State Finals.
But this year, the area has a great chance to do something that has occurred only once — get two teams to state.
No. 15 Providence and No. 19 Floyd Central will both attempt to reach the state finals at 8 a.m. on Friday when they compete in the Seymour Regional at Shadowood Golf Course.
The lone time two local teams played in the state finals was in 1993, which were coincidentally the Pioneers and the Highlanders.
“I think it could happen,” said Floyd coach Mike Cason, who guided the Highlanders to four consecutive state finals from 2004-07 and back-to-back state championships in ‘06 and ‘07. “We’ve got depth and that always helps because if one player doesn’t do well, then you’ve got somebody else to rely on. I think Providence’s strength is that their No. 1 and 2 men are very good players. If they play well, then Providence will do well.
“It would be neat for both of us to go to the state tournament.”
Providence coach Dave Lobeck, who led the Pioneers to the state finals last season, would like nothing more than to see Providence and Floyd at state together.
“We’d be disappointed if it didn’t happen,” Lobeck said.
If both teams are to qualify for the state finals, they must finish in the top three in the team standings at regional. Like in past regionals, Floyd and Providence will face a formidable field, which includes No. 11 Bedford North Lawrence, No. 27 Edgewood and perennial power Columbus North.
“There are going to be some good teams coming into the regional,” Lobeck said. “It’s a deeper field obviously. We’re going into (the regional) wanting to do what we wanted to do this week (at sectional), which is win. We set a goal at the beginning of the year that we’re not going to just squeak through these things. We wanted to take home the trophies.”
Cason thinks the regional field is not as tough as in past years. But he says his troops must come with their “A” games on Friday because the competition will still be solid.
“I don’t think it’s quite as strong this year as it has been in past years. I feel really good about our chances of getting out,” Cason said. “It’s going to be a battle again with Providence. Columbus North won their sectional and shot a pretty good score. Bedford will be there and they’re pretty good. It will be about a four- or five-team race.”
One player who will be defending a title at Seymour is Providence senior Trey Pfund.
The Marian College signee captured medalist honors last year at Shadowood with a 1-under-par 71. He enters the regional on a roll after being the medalist at Monday’s Floyd Central Sectional at Valley View Golf Club with a 71.
“I think the keys are just hitting fairways and greens. But that’s easy to say and not necessarily easy to do,” Pfund said. “I just keep that in my mind. Normally if I do that, I come out with a good score. I’m looking forward to it. It’s probably one of my favorite courses around here.”
Teammates Ben Rose, Andrew Lobeck and Robert Spiller each will be making return trips to Seymour. Joining them will be Providence’s No. 5 player, Hunter Anderson.
Floyd’s probable regional lineup is the one Cason used at sectional in David Frank, Chase Cadle, Brad Baumann, Jared Sturgeon and Jay Holderman. Each player shot in the 70s on Monday to help the Highlanders win their seventh consecutive sectional title.
Two area seniors return to regional after falling just a stroke shy of qualifying for state last season. The top three individuals on non-advancing teams at regional will advance to state.
Silver Creek’s Brandon White and Jeffersonville’s Matt Thompson each carded a 78 at the 2008 regional. However, three players — Bedford’s Dustin Fender, Jennings County’s John Paul Hyden and Columbus North’s Daylan Mueller — all posted 77s to place third in the standings for players on non-advancing squads.
Veteran Silver Creek coach Joe Ledbetter says that narrow margin has been a motivating factor for White this season.
“He’s talked about it and talked about it plenty of times,” Ledbetter said. “His chances are excellent. He’s got a strong driver and a great short game. He knows the course well and he’ll be ready. I’ve got complete confidence in him.”
Thompson made bogey on each par-5 at last year’s regional. But Jeff head coach and Thompson’s father, Kelly Thompson, thinks his son must play well on each hole to reach state.
“It’s not going to be just the par-5s. He needs to play all the holes well,” the elder Thompson said. “He’s just got to concentrate. He’s an excellent golfer.”
White and Thompson both finished in the top five at sectional. White was second with a 72, while Thompson placed fifth with a 74.
White is the first golfer in Ledbetter’s 18 years as Dragons coach to qualify for back-to-back regionals. White will continue his golf career next season at NCAA Division II Lewis University, while Thompson will play at Hanover.
