How South Bend Saint Joseph surprised Penn to win Riley golf sectional by a single stroke

SOUTH BEND — For most of the 2022 boys golf season, the Penn Kingsmen have been the standard bearer for the Northern Indiana Conference.

Until Monday’s South Bend sectional tournament at Erskine Park when the Saint Joseph Indians broke through for their first title since 1994.

With NIC most valuable player, freshman Thomas Raster, leading the way with a 5-over-par 75, coach Bret Bajdek’s Indians nosed out Tony Polizzotto’s 20th-ranked Kingsmen by a single stroke, 317-318, to capture the first-place trophy. Also advancing to Thursday’s regional at Swan Lake in Plymouth was coach Alex Stopczynski’s Marian Knights, whose 347 total was matched by John Glenn.

Marian got the regional spot with a lower score by its fifth player. Elkhart Christian Academy sophomore Aiden Hibbard shot a 2-over 72 to edge Trinity School sophomore Jacob Palmer for medalist honors, but both advanced as individuals to Swan Lake along with Elkhart freshman Steve Webb, who shot 82.

“We were 21 strokes behind Penn at Sandy Pines (in the April 23 Lake Central Midwest Classic), and we just chipped away,” Bajdek said. The Kingsmen finished ninth in that tournament with 332 strokes, 21 better than the 14th-place Indians. Then on May 2 at Juday Creek in an NIC triangular match with Bremen, Penn was still 21 strokes better, 155-176.

Behind Raster, who started the season as Bajdek’s No. 5 golfer but worked his way to the top spot in a matter of weeks, the Indians started to close the gap. At the Uebele Invitational May 13 at Beechwood won by now 10th-ranked Warsaw, fourth-place Penn edged fifth-place Saint Joseph 320-330. Eight days later at the NIC Tournament played at Pretty Lake, the margin was even closer but still in Penn’s favor, 305-310.

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Also consider that between that May 21 round in Plymouth and Monday’s round at the par-70, 5,940-yard Erskine Park, the Indians also lost two seniors to injuries – Zach Toul (leg ligament surgery) and Michael Kloska (back). But junior No. 2 Joe Swick and freshman No. 5 Beau Basney fought through Monday’s drizzle for rounds of 80, and senior No. 4 John Noak shot an 82 to nose out sophomore No. 3 Joe Borsodi’s 83 to complete the stunning victory.

“We didn’t have our best scores today, but they were the right scores today,” Bajdek added. “It’s the first time we’ve used this lineup all year. This was John’s first big tournament all year and he came through – he was awesome.”

Raster concurred. “I’m so proud of the team,” said Raster, who made three birdies on Erskine’s front nine to shoot even par but doubled the par-5, 585-yard 10th hole and had three consecutive bogeys starting at No. 14 for a 40 and 75. “I like the confidence we have going right now. Our chemistry has gotten a lot better.”

Raster’s 75 was matched by Penn senior captain Ryan Hahaj, whose 75 included two birdies but five bogeys and a double bogey.  Penn senior No. 2 Maddox Snyder carded a 78, junior No. 3 Jack Urbanski shot 81, junior Jack Stewart shot 84 and sophomore No. 4 Dylan Mounts shot 85.

“Ryan didn’t have his best today, but he hung in there pretty well,” Polizzotto said. “Maddox hit it pretty good but struggled putting today. (Nos.) 3, 4 and 5 didn’t play well today. But give credit to Saint Joseph – they’ve been playing very well the last few weeks.”

Sophomore No. 2 Jackson Horvath led Marian with an 82, one stroke better than senior No. 1 Max Christianson. Sophomore No. 4 Ben Padrnos shot 90, two strokes better than freshman No. 3 Charlie Tamashasky and No. 5 Jacob Padrnos. The second 92 was better than Glenn’s fifth-man score of 98 that prevented any of coach Preston Savill’s Falcons from making the six-mile trip southeast to Swan Lake. Senior No. 4 Jimmy Gouker led Glenn with an 83.

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Hibbard started his round with a birdie at the par-5, 475-yard 16th hole and finished it with a birdie at the par-4, 320-yard 15th. In between, the son of Elkhart Christian coach Chad Hibbard made two more birdies to help offset four bogeys and a double-bogey at No. 10. He was two strokes ahead of runner-up Palmer, who holed out from 90 yards for an eagle at No. 10 to make coach Jerry Janowski’s day. His improving Titans tied Elkhart at 351, which was nine strokes ahead of Elkhart Christian.

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“I drove it straight and kept it out of trouble for the most part,” Hibbard said. “I was then able to hit it near or on the greens and able to get up-and-down a lot. I went left (off the tee at No. 10) and then tried to hit a hero shot and didn’t pull it off.”

The heroics for the day at Erskine Park belonged to the Saint Joseph Indians.

SOUTH BEND RILEY SECTIONAL 7

Results from Monday’s tournament at the par-70, 5,940-yard Erskine Park Golf Course:

TEAM RESULTS (TOP THREE ADVANCE)

1. SOUTH BEND SAINT JOSEPH (317): Thomas Raster 75, Joe Swick 80, Joe Borsodi 83, John Noak 82, Beau Basney 80; 2. PENN (318): Ryan Hahaj 75, Maddox Snyder 78, Jack Urbanski 81, Dylan Mounts 85, Jack Stewart 84; 3. MISHAWAKA MARIAN (347): Max Christianson 83, Jackson Horvath 82, Charlie Tamashasky 92, Ben Padrnos 90, Jacob Padrnos 92; 4. JOHN GLENN (347): Mason Kobelt 89, Alec Slater 86, Nathan Taylor 89, Jimmy Gouker 83, Shane Gee 98; 5. ELKHART (351): Steven Webb 82, Jacob Windy 86, Will Cochrane 92, Mason Lymburner 98, Colin Krempec 91.

6. TRINITY SCHOOL OF GREENLAWN (351): Jacob Palmer 74, Max Cressy 84, Caleb DeLorenzo 91, Josh Rose 102, Gavin Cullinan 102; 7. ELKHART CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (360): Aiden Hibbard 72, Jacob Becker 90, Beau Cox 97, Travis Skaggs 101, Carson Hiler 105; 8. MISHAWAKA (362): Ben Pamachena 86, Andrew Smith 84, Bren Dickerson 93, Brady Fisher 112, Owen Holtsclaw 99. 9. SOUTH BEND ADAMS (378): Kurt Guzik 91, Owen Koehler 97, Liam Kinney 97, Joseph Kimer 93, Atticus Hunter 99; 10. LAVILLE (425): Kyle Walker 106, Karter Kaser 101, Caden Rush 124, Chase Schmidt 101, Jailen Heilman 117.

11. SOUTH BEND CLAY (479): Bobby Burns 110, Noah Stone 133, Julius Bagarus 105, Addison Nally 131; 12. SOUTH BEND RILEY (no team score): Gabe Stewart 101, Conor Fletcher 112; 12. SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON (no team score): Braydon Hudson 95, Lavier Smith 129, Tyrin Reed 136.

INDIVIDUALS ADVANCING

1. Aiden Hibbard (Elkhart Christian Academy) 72; 2. Jacob Palmer (Trinity School at Greenlawn) 74; 3. Steven Webb (Elkhart) 82.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: IHSAA golf sectional at Erskine Park: Saint Joseph tops Penn by stroke