Playoff brought out the best

Editors note: In more than six years, Chris Schanz has seen his fair share of individual performances, whether in a single contest or over the course of a career. In this “Exceptional Efforts” series, he will take a look back at some of those standout games or careers.

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The Patriots had completed their round more than an hour earlier.

Led by a 76 from senior Evan Mathias and an 83 from classmate Zach Fullenkamp, the Jay County High School boys golf team finished their sectional tournament with a team score of 338.

It was June 6, 2014.

After finishing their round, the Patriots were one stroke behind Bellmont and sitting in third for the final regional qualifying spot.

But Marion was still on the course, and the Patriots were awaiting the score of the Giants’ Zach Seeler.

Seeler’s round of 77 vaulted the Giants into second place, pushing the Patriots into fourth place and denying them a regional berth.

Mathias, however, the double amputee who went on to golf for the Marian Knights, had secured a regional berth for the third consecutive season and back-to-back years as an individual.

“It’s a rough feeling,” he said of not having his team go with him like it did in 2012. “I know Zach (Fullenkamp) and Austin (Wendel) really wanted to make it. I feel bad they were never able to have the chance to play.”

The Patriots’ season ended that day, but Mathias’s round was not over. He tied for second overall with Cal Clouser of South Adams. They were two strokes back of the individual champion, Oak Hill’s Cody White.

IHSAA rules mandate the top three individuals not on advancing teams cannot tie, therefore Mathias and Clouser were forced into a sudden-death playoff to determine who would officially finish second.

Mathias and Clouser, both even-keel leaders of their respective schools, relished in the opportunity to get to play some “free” golf. At the same time, however, they just wanted to get the tournament completed.

The par-4 first hole at Timber Ridge Golf Club in Bluffton didn’t determine a winner, as both players made par. The second hole, also a par 4, again wasn’t able to allow either Mathias or Clouser to get the advantage and end the tournament.

During their regular 18-hole rounds, both Clouser and Mathias — who were grouped together — made bogey on the first hole and birdied the second.

The playoff then jumped over to the par-4 17th hole.

Clouser’s second shot from 108 yards hit the green and rolled a foot past the cup. He tapped in for birdie to beat Mathias.

“It was pretty fun,” Clouser said of the three-hole playoff. “We both knew we were already making it (to regional) so we didn’t put too much pressure on it.

“We kind of just went out there and played a few holes of golf just as buddies.”

Mathias had similar thoughts following the bonus play.

“It was for second, we didn’t really care,” he said. “It was just a fun extra three holes.”

For young golfers, especially at the high school level, it takes a certain level of stamina to make it through an 18-hole round. The temperature can be high in early June, and the sun can exacerbate the fatigue.

The gravity of the situation, a sectional tournament that is the last event of the season for many, can add to the stresses of the day as well.

To play as consistently well as Mathias and Clouser did that day — they shot 5-over-par and combined for seven birdies — takes great effort. Pushing through three more holes while also not putting any added pressure on themselves is what made the day exceptional for both of them.

A couple friends having fun along the way was icing on the cake.