Fifth vs. strong field

WINCHESTER — Luke Fugiett competed in all nine of the Patriots’ matches before Saturday.

All of his scores were scratched as he shot the highest out of the five varsity players.

In the 10th match of the season, he finally broke through with a career-best 90 on 18 holes to contribute to the team total for the first time.

Fugiett’s career-best was part of the Jay County High School boys golf team’s fifth-place finish on Saturday at the Winchester Invitational at Winchester Golf Course.

The Patriots shot 334 on the day, 38 strokes behind first-place and 14th-ranked Noblesville (296).

“I feel good. We came in top five against teams like Noblesville and Westfield,” coach Dave Haines said. (Westfield is ranked first in the state.) “I’m really happy with Luke Fugiett’s play today. He brought up the anchor really well for us and helped us place in the top five.”

Fugiett had a strong start to the day, shooting 44 on his first nine holes. He had five pars through his first nine, including the 475-yard, par-5 seventh on the Beeson nine, 145-yard, par-3 Beeson No. 9, 330-yard, par-4 Willow No. 1, 458-yard, par-5 Willow No. 3 and the 345-yard, par-4 Willow No. 5.

“It feels pretty good,” Fugiett said. “First time (scoring), so just proud of myself.”

His best hole of the tournament came on the 440-yard, par-5 Willow No. 8. He started by hitting a laser with his driver that landed in the middle of the fairway, just over 200 yards from the flag. His second shot sailed too far to the right, landing him in the middle of some trees, but it didn’t phase him as he chipped the ball next to the flag on his third stroke. He then tapped the ball in from a couple of feet away to secure his only birdie of the day.

“I just pictured the trees not there so I hit it like I normally would, not thinking about the trees,” Fugiett said.

He had one final par on the third hole to finish with a score of 90.

Like Fugiett, Gage Sims also set his career best for 18 holes, shooting 82.

“I just felt comfortable,” Sims said. “I was sick all last week and just felt uncomfortable in my own skin. I just woke up this morning and it was a really nice day out and everything was clicking.”

The highlight of Sims’ day came on the 172-yard, par-3 Beeson hole No. 3.

His first shot hit the green, but rolled off the back. His second shot was also too hard, sending the ball past the cup before he hit a 17-foot putt to save par.

The hole was the final of five straight pars.

Caleb DeRome was the team leader for the Patriots, shooting a 1-over-par 73.

“I’ve played this course a few times so I feel pretty comfortable here,” DeRome said. “Most things went my way today … I was putting really well today.”

DeRome had three birdies, coming on holes Beeson eight, Willow one and the 369-yard, 4-par Beeson hole No. 1. He also added 11 pars, leaving only four holes where he shot bogies.

Drew Werkley of Noblesville was the match medalist with a 67. Werkley’s score did not count as he was golfing as an individual outside of his team. Cooper Claussen of Noblesville had the lowest score that counted toward the team total with 71.

Rounding out the Patriots’ score was Liam Garringer who shot an 89. He finished with six pars.

While the Patriots still have to work on their short game, Haines was pleased with the progress the team has made thus far.

“I just think the putting was better. I didn’t see many three-putts so not many pushups are happening today,” Haines said. “Some three-puts but I saw some long puts that were left within a foot.”

Freshman Cody DeHoff struggled for the Patriots but still stayed in double digits as he finished with a 98.