IHSAA boys golf: Assessing Bloomington-area teams heading into sectionals
The postseason is here for boys high school golf.
All four Bloomington-area teams are competing in sectionals on Monday. Bloomington North, Bloomington South, and Edgewood are all in Sectional 26 at Cascades Golf Course in Bloomington, beginning at 8 a.m. Eastern Greene is in Sectional 22 at Phil Harris Golf Course, with a 9 a.m. tee time.
Here's a look at how each school is trending heading into this most important time of the season.
Midseason update: How Bloomington-area boys high school golf teams have played and their future expectations
Preseason goals: How Bloomington area teams could fare this spring
Bloomington South
The Panthers, ranked No. 3 in the IHSGCA rankings on May 28, are certainly the favorites to win this event. They’re the only ranked team in its sectional.
South recently won the Providence Invitational and the Zionsville Invitational. All five golfers broke 80 in both tournaments, and sophomore Landon “Happy” Gilmore shot a 68 in the former.
Water hazard: Bloomington North and Bloomington South boys golf washed out
Gallery: Bloomington North, Bloomington South boys golf face off before rain prevails
On May 21, South finished just one stroke behind No. 2 Guerin Catholic while defeating No. 1 Westfield and No. 6 Carmel in a four-team match. The Panthers shouldn’t just be favorites in this sectional — they’d likely have a strong chance at advancing to the state finals.
Gilmore has emerged as perhaps the team’s strongest golfer. He shot 68 three times in May.
But it’s not just him. South’s entire lineup has been strong all season. Sophomore Connor Byon and senior Jacob Paine posted season-lows at Providence, junior Nick Bellush entered the year as the team’s No. 1 and has played well, and senior Dylan Barkley has improved as well.
Bloomington North
The Cougars have trended in the right direction as the season has developed, and they have a real shot to move on from this sectional.
While it would take a letdown from South as well as a very strong performance from North for the Cougars to finish first, they just need to finish in the top three to get to regionals. Head coach Harrison Carmichael previously hoped his team would be in position to do that. He’s now expecting it.
Carmichael thinks his team will compete with Bedford North Lawrence for second place in the event.
North won the Shelbyville Invitational on Wednesday, with senior Charlie Nicholson finishing second individually. Junior Simon Deliyannis has been reliable for the Cougars this season, especially in the second half of the year. He picked up all-conference honors at the Conference Indiana Tournament in mid-May.
Edgewood
The Mustangs have searched for consistency for much of this season. It's largely eluded them.
This sectional will present a tough task for Edgewood. With only three spots in the regional out of the 12 in the sectional field, the Mustangs will need to be on their game if they're to advance as a team for the first time since 2012.
Unfamiliar territory: Edgewood boys golf travels to Monrovia for non-conference match
Edgewood hfared decently of late when they've been able to play. The team won its last two matches of the season — a three-school match against Bloomfield and Clay City, and a dual against Eastern Greene. But bad weather forced off their scheduled dual against Brown County. Come sectional play, the Mustangs will be two weeks removed from their last competitive golf.
Sophomore Luke Garrett has played well recently, limiting his mistakes. He could have a chance at individual regional qualification.
Eastern Greene
The Thunderbirds made some real strides as a program this year compared to where they were entering the season.
Head coach Jacob Carmichael anticipated another rebuilding year for Eastern Greene, but saw notable progress from much of his roster in the first half of the season. EG was ahead of schedule and envisioned surprising some people down the road.
At the sectional tournament, though, Eastern Greene will be challenged. The Thunderbirds have played just one match since May 17 — the loss to Edgewood. They had one match rained out and another called off due to a scheduling misunderstanding. And the back end of the schedule was intentionally lighter, as is. So EG will have to shake off any rust from that overall lack of competition.
The Thunderbirds practiced at Phil Harris Golf Course last week to prepare for the tournament.
Eastern Greene would need a lot of things to break its way to have a shot at moving on. If sophomore Logan Russell has a good day at sectional, he could find a way to individual regional qualification.
Follow Herald-Times sports reporter Seth Tow on Twitter @SethTow, or email him at stow@heraldt.com.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Assessing Bloomington-area teams heading into boys golf sectionals
