Elkhart's Webb and Fairfield's Miller flash their golf games at Wawasee Invitational
SYRACUSE — South Bend Adams boys golf coach Andy Kern has a keen eye for talent.
“Elkhart’s No. 1 is solid,” Kern reported last Monday after his Eagles played Elkhart on a chilly and windy day at South Bend’s Elbel Park. “A (one-over) 35 in those conditions was solid.”
Longtime Lions coach Scott Sekal knows he has something special in 14-year-old freshman Steven Webb.
“Steven is the ultimate practice kid,” Sekal said. “His work ethic is monstrous. He loves golf. He’s a joy to coach.”
► More: Marian, Saint Joseph golfers hoping weather will start to cooperate
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Webb, who began golfing at age 5, offset two bogeys on Elbel Park’s front nine with three birdies at Nos. 2, 8 and 9. On Saturday at the par-72 Maxwelton Golf Club near Syracuse in the Wawasee Invitational, Webb shot a 77 to finish seventh.
Webb, whose right-handed swing has been honed by area teaching pros Mat Blair and Mark Hamilton, patterns his game after reigning PGA champion Phil Mickelson, who swings left-handed.
“When I was little, I’d watch (Mickelson) hit and then go out to the backyard and try to do what he did,” Webb said.
Also playing in the Wawasee Invitational Saturday was Fairfield freshman Brayden Miller, whose one-over 73 was two shots behind medalist Ben Keil of Lakeland. Earlier this season, Miller carded a five-under 31 on Maxwelton’s front nine in a match.
“Brayden’s the best young golfer I’ve had the privilege to coach,” said Fairfield’s John Kauffman. The 15-year-old Miller has been playing since he was three, almost as young as his favorite golfer.
“I admire Tiger Woods,” said Miller, whose best competitive round ever is a 9-under 63 at Purdue’s Ackerman-Allen Course.
Miller is one of 77 golfers who will attempt to qualify locally for this year's U.S. Open next Monday at Morris Park.
Tourneys
Seven area teams participated in Saturday’s 15-team Wawasee Invitational at the beautiful Maxwelton, designed by William Langford and opened in 1929. Chesterton totaled 320 to beat Goshen by six strokes and Warsaw by seven. Host Wawasee shot 333 for fourth, Fairfield had 340 for seventh. Also competing were Plymouth (365), Elkhart (380) and Jimtown (439). In addition to the 73 posted by Miller and the 77 by Webb, other individuals in the Top 10 included Wawasee’s Jay Finlinson (73), Goshen’s Chase Meyer (76) and Jacob Moyer (78), Warsaw’s Seth Hildebrand (79) and Plymouth’s Bennett Christy (79). Tatsu Gavender’s 100 led Jimtown. … Eight of the Indiana High School Golf Coaches Association top 20 teams played in Saturday's Hall of Fame Invitational at the par-72 Rock Hollow Golf Club in Peru. No. 16 Valparaiso (316) edged No. 13 Crown Point and No. 4 Silver Creek by a shot. Northridge led four area teams with a 325 total to finish seventh. Warsaw totaled 334, NorthWood (led by Earl Williams’ 77) had 353 and Concord totaled 394.
Indiana recap
Last Monday, No. 18 Penn (155) won a Northern Indiana Conference triangular involving host Saint Joseph (176) and Bremen (194) at the par-36 Juday Creek in Granger. Ryan Hahaj’s 38 led the Kingsmen, Thomas Raster led the Indians with a 39, and Joshua King and Seth Libey shot 47s for the Lions. … On the par-34 back nine at Eberhart-Petro, Marian (172) prevailed over New Prairie (179) and Jimtown (222). Max Christianson and Ben Padrnos shot 41s for Marian. Cole Shelton won medalist honors with his 40 for New Prairie. Kyle Clements shot 49 to lead Jimtown. … Led by Webb’s 35, Elkhart (187) won an NIC triangular at Elbel Park over Adams (191) and Washington (258). Joe Kirner shot 45 for the Eagles, while Braydon Hudson led the Panthers with a 52. … Northridge (158) won a triangular at Middlebury’s par-36 Meadow Valley involving Westview (176) and Trinity at Greenlawn (188). Silas Haarer led Westview with a two-under 34, three shots better than Northridge’s Brock Reschly. Jacob Palmer led Trinity with a 41. … Warsaw beat Triton 152-171 at the par-35 Rozella Ford. Cal Haskins and Aidan Bowell carded 36s for the Tigers, while Cole McKinney’s 39 led the Trojans.
On Tuesday, Saint Joseph visited the par-36 Bent Oak in Elkhart and took home a 159-177 victory from Concord. Zach Toul and Thomas Raster carded 38s for the Indians, while Charlie Deuel had a six-over round of 42 that included a hole-in-one with a 9-iron at the 153-yard eighth hole. … NorthWood (172) beat host Trinity (182) and Bethany Christian (211) in a triangular at the par-36 Knollwood East. Earl Williams led the Panthers with a two-over 38 which was matched by Trinity’s Jacob Palmer. Cameron Heinisch led Bethany with a 43.
On Wednesday, Marian and Elkhart each totaled 187 in an NIC triangular with Riley (232) at Eberhart-Petro. Jackson Horvath led the Knights with a 44 to match Elkhart’s Steven Webb. J.T. Riem led the Wildcats with a 56. … Host Saint Joseph (161) beat John Glenn (188) and New Prairie (201) in an NIC triangular at Juday Creek. Joe Swick led the Indians with a 38. Alex Slater led the Falcons with a 44, while the Cougars’ Hunter Zdyb carded a 43. … Bremen (193) beat Jimtown (224) and Washington (261) in another NIC triangular at the par-36 Elbel Park. Josh King shot 43 for the Lions, Kyle Clements led the Jimmies with a 52 and Braydon Hudson’s 55 led the Panthers. … Warsaw visited the par-36 Autumn Ridge Golf Club in Fort Wayne and beat Carroll 148-151 thanks to a one-under 35 by Cal Hoskins.
On Thursday, Trinity at Greenlawn beat host Elkhart Christian 192-197 at Bent Oak. Jacob Palmer and Max Cressy shot six-over 42s for Trinity, while Aiden Hibbard matched par 36 for Bethany. … Penn beat Adams 161-187 at Elbel Park as Jack Yewchuck shot 39 to lead the Kingsmen. Kurt Guzik led the Eagles with a 45. Clay also participated and Robert Burns shot 63.
On Friday, Marian beat Mishawaka 188-199 at Eberhart-Petro’s par-36 front nine. Charlie Tamashasky and Jacob Padrnos shot 44s to lead the Knights while the Cavemen’s Ben Pamachena carded a four-over 40.
Michigan recap
On Monday, Berrien Springs (200) won a Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference quadrangular at Eau Claire’s Pipestone Creek with South Haven (207), Buchanan (218) and Brandywine (238). Buchanan’s Aiden Mondschein won medalist honors with an eight-over 44. Miles Lemere led Brandywine with a 52. … Vicksburg beat host Edwardsburg in a Wolverine Conference match at Four Lakes Country Club. Andrew Kurowski and Ethan Emenaker carded 10-over 46s for the Eddies.
On Tuesday, Cassopolis (183) topped four other Southwest 10 Conference teams – Comstock (211), White Pigeon (231), Centreville (255) and Marcellus (289) – at the par-36 Klinger Lake Golf Course in Sturgis. Brayden Westrate of Cassopolis was medalist with a 42.
On Wednesday, host South Haven (203) beat Berrien Springs (210), Buchanan (228) and Brandywine (254) in a BCS Conference quadrangular at the par-36 HawksHead Links. Buchanan’s Aiden Mondschein was medalist with a 45, while Miles Lemere led Brandywine with a 61.
On Friday, Cassopolis beat host Bridgman 176-193 at Pebblewood Country Club. Logan Pflug shot 41 to lead the Rangers.
SEND YOUR HIGHLIGHTS: Area coaches in Indiana and Michigan are encouraged to send their results and highlights (holes-in-one, etc.) to this writer at flafinman@aol.com or sports@sbtinfo.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: IHSAA golf: St. Joseph County area high school golf news and notes
