Senior staff writer
Center Grove finished third in the boys state golf finals June 14 and 15 at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.
The Trojans, led by runner-up medalist Noah Gillard, fired a team total of 592 strokes, seven behind runner-up Hamilton Southeastern and 11 behind state champion Westfield.
Gillard, a sophomore, shot a 70-69 – 139 and trailed medalist Cedric McAree of Hamilton Southeastern by only two strokes over the rain-interrupted 72-hole state finals. Gillard was 3 under par June 15. His 69 included three birdies and no bogeys on a consistent final day. McAree tied the course record with an opening-round 65.
Center Grove’s individual scores were: senior Jackson Williams, 80-74–154; junior Ethan Shepherd, 73-78– 151; sophomore Sam Jean, 77-75–152; and senior Tyler Rankel, 76-83 – 159. Williams had four birdies in his improved final round.
Perry Meridian junior Nick Osterburg fired 1-under 71s each day to finish in a fourth-place tie with Westfield senior Thomas Lewis.
Osterburg was the medalist at the Providence Regional with a 35-35 – 70 on the Champions Pointe golf course June 10 in Henryville and at the Southport Regional with a 33-34 – 67 on The Legends Golf Course June 3 in Franklin.
Center Grove claimed the Providence Regional with a 292: Jean, 35-36 – 71; Gillard, 36-36 – 72; Rankel, 38-36 – 74; Shepherd, 38-37 – 75; and Logan Anderson, 39-37 – 76. Perry Meridian missed the team cutoff by finishing eight strokes behind third-place Bedford North Lawrence.
The Trojans won the Southport Sectional with a 287, seven strokes ahead of Perry Meridian. Roncalli (313) and Southport (344) were fourth and fifth, respectively.