July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Gray advances to regional
JCHS boys golf
Gray advances to regional
FARMLAND - Adam Gray will make his second trip to the regional. He only wishes he could be taking his teammates with him.
Gray's even-par front nine carried him to a third place finish at Monday's boys golf sectional tournament at Hickory Hill Golf Club. His 77 was third overall and the best score from a player not on an advancing team, earning him a trip to Friday's regional tournament at The Players Club.
On a windy day, Jay County High School shot 338 as a team, finishing in fifth place in the 13-team field. No. 14 Yorktown easily won the title at 301 followed by Wapahani (329), Muncie Central (332) and Monroe Central (337).
The top three teams, and the top three individuals not on an advancing team, move on to the regional round.
"It's not the way I wanted it to end for the seniors as a team," said JCHS coach Butch Gray, whose team was trying for its first regional berth since 2003. "And I'm sure it's not the way they wanted it to end.
"We didn't start very well. That kind of set the tone for everything."
While Gray opened his outstanding front nine with a par, the rest of the Patriot team struggled on the 493-yard, par-5 opening hole. Chase Wellman bogied the hole, and the remaining three Jay County golfers played it at a combined 9-over-par.
The Patriots recovered and were fourth after nine holes, just two strokes out of third place at 167, but shot 171 on the back to drop to fifth.
Gray was strong on the front nine, starting with back-to-back pars before getting his first birdie of the day on the 305-yard, par-4 third. He went back-to-back by putting in another birdie on the 321-yard, par-4 fourth at Hickory Hills to sit 2-under-par early in his round.
The senior, who earned his first regional berth last season, dropped back to 1-over with a double-bogey on the eighth hole. However, he pulled even again with a birdie on the 414-yard, par-4 ninth to finish the front nine in a tie for first place with Yorktown's Joe Gasser.
The back nine did not go as well, with Gray managing just three pars and closing with a double bogey on the 570-yard, par-5 18th.
Still, his round of 7-over-par was good for third place.
"His front side was great," said Butch Gray, complimenting the way his son fought back from the difficult eighth hole to birdie the ninth. "I don't know if he started pressing (on the back) ... trying to make birdies."
Yorktown's Derek Kundenreich surpassed his teammate to earn medalist honors with a 72. Gasser finished at 74, and another Tiger, Jacob Hopper, matched Gray at 77.
The other two players to advance to the regional individually were Cowan's Matt Vandam (78) and Monroe Central's Rhett Braun (79).
"I was hitting my wedge really close on the front," said Adam Gray, noting that the wind made the second half of his day more difficult. "It was playing tough on the back. I just lost it there for a few holes."
Wellman turned in the second-best score for the Patriots as he put together a run of good holes to close out his round. He parred the 172-yard, par-3 15th, the 503-yard, par-5 16th and the 18th to finish with an 84.
"Chase really didn't start very well, but he gathered it back together and gave us a nice 84," said Butch Gray, saying the senior's calm demeanor helped him recover. "That was nice to see."
Adam Horn, also a senior, got his first par on the seventh hole as he shot 45 on the front nine. But, like Wellman, he put together a run of three pars in four holes on the back and came in with an 86.
Drew Houck and Adam Mescher, each playing in their first sectional tournament, shot 91 and 92 respectively. Houck birdied the 181-yard, par-3 eighth hole, and Mescher had a birdie on No. 3.
"I think I could see the nerves with them a little bit in the beginning," said Gray of his two players who will return to lead the team next season "I know they wanted to do well."
Adam Gray will head to the Players Club Friday for the regional tournament at 8 a.m. Last season it took a round of 76 at TPC to earn a state berth.
He shot 75 at The Players Club May 30 during the Muncie Central Invitational. He had rounds of 84 (regional) and 80 (Central invite) at the course last season.
"I just want to play well," said Gray. "I want to put up a score and see what happens."
[[In-content Ad]]
Gray's even-par front nine carried him to a third place finish at Monday's boys golf sectional tournament at Hickory Hill Golf Club. His 77 was third overall and the best score from a player not on an advancing team, earning him a trip to Friday's regional tournament at The Players Club.
On a windy day, Jay County High School shot 338 as a team, finishing in fifth place in the 13-team field. No. 14 Yorktown easily won the title at 301 followed by Wapahani (329), Muncie Central (332) and Monroe Central (337).
The top three teams, and the top three individuals not on an advancing team, move on to the regional round.
"It's not the way I wanted it to end for the seniors as a team," said JCHS coach Butch Gray, whose team was trying for its first regional berth since 2003. "And I'm sure it's not the way they wanted it to end.
"We didn't start very well. That kind of set the tone for everything."
While Gray opened his outstanding front nine with a par, the rest of the Patriot team struggled on the 493-yard, par-5 opening hole. Chase Wellman bogied the hole, and the remaining three Jay County golfers played it at a combined 9-over-par.
The Patriots recovered and were fourth after nine holes, just two strokes out of third place at 167, but shot 171 on the back to drop to fifth.
Gray was strong on the front nine, starting with back-to-back pars before getting his first birdie of the day on the 305-yard, par-4 third. He went back-to-back by putting in another birdie on the 321-yard, par-4 fourth at Hickory Hills to sit 2-under-par early in his round.
The senior, who earned his first regional berth last season, dropped back to 1-over with a double-bogey on the eighth hole. However, he pulled even again with a birdie on the 414-yard, par-4 ninth to finish the front nine in a tie for first place with Yorktown's Joe Gasser.
The back nine did not go as well, with Gray managing just three pars and closing with a double bogey on the 570-yard, par-5 18th.
Still, his round of 7-over-par was good for third place.
"His front side was great," said Butch Gray, complimenting the way his son fought back from the difficult eighth hole to birdie the ninth. "I don't know if he started pressing (on the back) ... trying to make birdies."
Yorktown's Derek Kundenreich surpassed his teammate to earn medalist honors with a 72. Gasser finished at 74, and another Tiger, Jacob Hopper, matched Gray at 77.
The other two players to advance to the regional individually were Cowan's Matt Vandam (78) and Monroe Central's Rhett Braun (79).
"I was hitting my wedge really close on the front," said Adam Gray, noting that the wind made the second half of his day more difficult. "It was playing tough on the back. I just lost it there for a few holes."
Wellman turned in the second-best score for the Patriots as he put together a run of good holes to close out his round. He parred the 172-yard, par-3 15th, the 503-yard, par-5 16th and the 18th to finish with an 84.
"Chase really didn't start very well, but he gathered it back together and gave us a nice 84," said Butch Gray, saying the senior's calm demeanor helped him recover. "That was nice to see."
Adam Horn, also a senior, got his first par on the seventh hole as he shot 45 on the front nine. But, like Wellman, he put together a run of three pars in four holes on the back and came in with an 86.
Drew Houck and Adam Mescher, each playing in their first sectional tournament, shot 91 and 92 respectively. Houck birdied the 181-yard, par-3 eighth hole, and Mescher had a birdie on No. 3.
"I think I could see the nerves with them a little bit in the beginning," said Gray of his two players who will return to lead the team next season "I know they wanted to do well."
Adam Gray will head to the Players Club Friday for the regional tournament at 8 a.m. Last season it took a round of 76 at TPC to earn a state berth.
He shot 75 at The Players Club May 30 during the Muncie Central Invitational. He had rounds of 84 (regional) and 80 (Central invite) at the course last season.
"I just want to play well," said Gray. "I want to put up a score and see what happens."
[[In-content Ad]]
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD