Southsider Voice correspondent
The golf teams from Center Grove, Perry Meridian and Roncalli have advanced to regional action Thursday and Friday at Henryville’s Champions Pointe Golf Course, which was co-designed by Fuzzy Zoeller, a former Masters and U.S. Open champion.
Center Grove captured Friday’s competitive Southport Sectional at the par-72 Heartland Crossing Golf Course by defeating Perry Meridian in a one-hole playoff. The teams had tied with 293 strokes a piece. Roncalli was third with 316. Team scores are based on the best four rounds by their players.
Franklin Central’s Brady Vaughan shot a 5-over 77 to be among the top three individual qualifiers.
The Falcons’ Nick Osterburg took Southport Sectional medalist honors with a 2-under-par 70 (33-37). He had three birdies on the front nine and started the back nine with a bogie and double bogie before recovering to finish with two birdies and five pars.
Osterburg’s fast start netted him a one-stroke margin over Hayden Martin (35-36), Zach Carrabine (36-35) and teammate Brad Sprinkle (34-37). Osterburg’s challengers closed on the back nine but couldn’t close the gap.
Center Grove’s golfers included Christopher Heck (75) Austin Crowder (76) and Wes Kennell (77).
The Falcons’ team included basketball sharpshooter Dylan Windler (76) Landon Price (76) and Justin Bowman (77).
Roncalli will be represented in regional play by Chase Harker (76), Michael Zedrick (77), David Doyle (81), Brayden Stegemiller (82) and Trevor Jacob 83.
Sectional results and each team’s top golfer: fifth, Franklin Central 323, Vaughan, 77; sixth, Southport 331, Alex Cawthorne, 79; seventh, Greenwood 346, Spencer Jackson, 81; 10th, Beech Grove 304, Mike Trebing and Austin Colin, each 93; 12th, Lutheran 450, Austin Kemple, 97; and 13th, Greenwood Christian 493, Destin Schreiner, 85.
The top three teams from each regional plus the top five individuals from non-team qualifiers advance to the state finals June 17 and 18 at The Legends Golf Club in Franklin. championship.