By KEVIN HARRIS
Kevin.Harris@newsandtribune.com
CLARKSVILLE —
The Providence boys’ golf team dealt with the pressure of playing in its own tournament, the Ron Veleta Invitational, on Saturday at Wooded View Golf Course and came out hoisting the championship trophy.
The Pioneers won the tournament by shooting a 311, defeating second-place New Albany (322) by 11 strokes.
“They got a lot of pressure from (Pioneer assistant coach Tex) Very that they were going to run laps on Monday if they didn’t win the tournament,” Providence head coach Dave Lobeck said about his golfers. “There is always a lot of pressure to win your own tournament.”
Three Pioneers fired scores in the 70s. Leading the way for Providence was sophomore Bryce Very with a 75. Very placed second in the individual standings, one shot behind medalist Andy Gladden from Scottsburg (74).
Providence senior Hunter Anderson fired a 77, while teammate Andrew Lobeck shot a 79. The Pioneers’ Michael Leist and Robert Spiller shot 80 and 82, respectively.
“We wanted to come out here and finish good. It’s good to win your own tournament,” said Andrew Lobeck, a senior and the head coach’s son.
Dave Lobeck was proud of the way his team persevered on a day where the wind picked up more and more as the tournament progressed.
“It was probably the first tournament this season that the guys didn’t gaggle over themselves,” he said. “I hope this is a confidence-builder. I was pretty happy with their showing.”
Anderson, Bryce Very and the younger Lobeck were not the only Pioneers to crack the 70s. Junior Ryan Barnes led the Providence junior varsity team with a 75, tying Very for medalist runner-up honors. Barnes has seen some action with the varsity squad this season.
“That’s the best round he’s had so far this year,” Coach Lobeck said. “When he has played varsity with the other guys, for some reason he has not had a good showing.”
Two Bulldogs carded 70s in their second-place effort. Senior Jace Moller paced New Albany with a 78, while the Dogs’ No. 1 player Logan Bensing fired a 79. Also for New Albany, sophomore Tyler Banet shot an 82, Tyrell Cunningham posted an 83 and Corey Embry had an 85.
Floyd Central’s second team finished third with a 331, as the Highlanders’ No. 1 squad was playing in the High School Spring Preview tournament at The Legends of Indiana Golf Course in Franklin.
All the second-team members recorded scores in the 80s. Alex Beyer led the Highlanders with an 80, followed by Devin Jenkins with an 81 and Glen Bertram with an 84. Floyd’s Austin Peckham and Sam Gesenheus each shot an 86.
The Providence JV placed fifth with a 339. Barnes’ teammate, Paxton Schowe, shot the squad’s second-lowest score with an 85. Also for the Pioneers, Cory Cahalan had an 89, Max Hupp shot a 90 and Nick Primavera carded a 93.
Senior Tony Holloway led sixth-place Jeffersonville (354) with an 86. Rounding out the scoring for the Red Devils were Jordan Lacy with an 88 and Cody Cunningham and Cody Watts each with a 90. Sophomore Zach Lovan added a 92.
Clarksville fired a 395 on its home course to place 12th. Freshman Nick Cappola paced the Generals with an 85. Rounding out the scoring for Clarksville were Chad Stepp and Alex Johnson each with a 100 and Austin Johnson with a 110.
Charlestown wound up 13th with a 419. Junior Jake Atkins was the Pirates’ top scorer with an 84. Also for Charlestown, Andrew Gregory had a 104, Alex Meredith a 114, Doug Wolfe a 117 and Dylan Stamp a 120.
RON VELETA INVITATIONAL
at Wooded View Golf Course, Clarksville, par-71
Team scores — Providence 311, New Albany 322, Floyd Central 331, Crawford County 336, Providence JV 339, Jeffersonville 354, Scottsburg 356, Salem 359, Paoli 361, Corydon 370, North Harrison 387, Clarksville 395, Charlestown 419.
Providence — Lobeck 79, Very 75, Anderson 77, Spiller 82, Leist 80.
New Albany — Bensing 79, Banet 82, Moller 78, Cunningham 83, Embry 85.
Floyd Central — Peckham 86, Gesenheus 86, Bertram 84, Beyer 80, Jenkins 81.
Providence JV — Barnes 75, Hupp 90, Primavera 93, Schowe 85, Cahalan 89.
Jeff — Cunningham 90, Lacy 88, Lovan 92, Holloway 86, Watts 90.
Clarksville — Cappola 85, Stepp 100, Al. Johnson 100, Au. Johnson 110.
Charlestown — Atkins 84, Meredith 114, Gregory 104, Wolfe 117, Stamp 120.
