Golfers sixth at Regional, Calhoun headed for State tourney

Plymouth was led in scoring by senior all-state candidate Micah Calhoun who carded a 74 and advanced to State as an individual for the second consecutive season!  Fellow senior Hudson Yoder saw his season and career come to a close with a 79.  Younger brother, sophomore, Chapman Yoder fired a career-best 81.  Seniors John Gerard 86 and Grant Clady 95 had rough days.

Starting on the back nine, Chapman Yoder got off to a superb start, not his norm, parring 3 of his first four holes.  His turn score of 42 was highlighted by an excellent birdie on the downhill par 3 #17. John Gerard and Grant Clady got off to rough starts as both of their first shots of the round sailed out of bounds.  Consequently, both started their round hitting 3 from the tee on a par 4.  After both put their subsequent shots in play both made triple bogey to start and regaining their poise was tough.  John turned in 48 and Grant in 53.  To their credit, both guys fought through and on the second nine both posted wildly better nine-hole scores.  Grant came home 11 shots better with a 42, John improved 10 shots with a 38.  Playing behind these guys Hudson stayed steady in the ball striking department hitting 5 of 9 greens in regulation and finding every fairway.  If not for the putts that didn’t fall, his 41 would’ve surely been a 30-something.  Micah, as expected, started solid – all pars – till a dropped shot on 14.  He smoothly parred 15 before a badly pushed ball out of bounds coughed up a double bogey on the long par 4 #16.  After a calming par on 17 a lost ball on 18 cost him another double bogey!  Micah turned in his worst nine-hole score of the season a 41.  When completed our team first nine total of 172 was our worst of the season!

On the back guys regrouped and played their tails off!  Chapman had no penalties and nothing worse than a bogey to fire his season-best nine, a 39, to finish with a career-best 81.  John Gerard regained his ball striking – hit twice as many fairways and 5 of 9 greens – finishing with an 86.  Grant Clady’s ball striking evaded him today but he was able to finish strong with consecutive pars.  Hudson parred 3 of his first 4 holes, thanks in large part to 5 of 9 greens, the key putts simply didn’t fall today or his 79 would’ve been much sharper.

Micah pushed hard at the turn!  A big birdie putt fell on #1.  He parred the next four holes before a huge drive on the par 5 #6 lead to a chip for eagle, a birdie putt ensued and he was -2 (+3 total) with three holes remaining.  On #7 his tee shot served him a horrendous fried egg in the bunker.  His escape was a blast of sand with the ball trickling ever so gingerly onto the green.  His escape was spectacular but his toughness to stroke the bending par-saving putt was just as stressful.   Hole 8 was a challenge at every shot.  A flyer over the green from the right rough taxed his short game again.  A dropped shot ensued and with the par 5 #9 looming, his final hole, Micah needed a birdie.  An average tee shot forced a smartly played lay-up.  His wedge approach put him dangerously above the hole from 12 feet.  After getting good reads from two of his playing companions Micah brushed the birdie putt finding the cup for a -2 (33) second nine score.  His 33 was his best nine of the season at a moment when he needed it most.  After waiting over 2 hours for scores from later starting groups his 74 earned him a berth in the State Finals for the second consecutive season!

As a team our worst nine score 172 was coupled with our best nine score 148 to card a 320.  I was proud of the mental toughness and grit this group displayed today.  They represented themselves and Plymouth quite well!

Today draws a close to an exceptional season for our program.  While we have an individual continuing we will be sad to see our 5 seniors finish their careers.  Opportunities abound for a young group behind to carry on an expectation of toughness, character, and excellence on and off the course.

Micah Calhoun plays at Prairie View in Carmel on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Tee times and pairings for the 81st IHSAA State Finals are forthcoming.  All 5 Regional sites contested their events today.  The following 15 teams qualified (top 3 at each site):

296 Carmel

298 Zionsville

301 Westfield

298 Bishop Dwenger

304 Homestead

312 FW Carroll

288 Noblesville

311 Cathedral

315 Fishers * 5th man over Hamilton SE

292 Evansville North

303 Park Tudor

310 Castle

278 Center Grove

290 Columbus North

301 Bedford North Lawrence

5 Individuals from each site – 25 total individuals – advance to state.  The NLC Conference is well represented as Warsaw’s Sam Yeager 73, Northridge’s Luke Morrison 74, and Plymouth’s Micah Calhoun 74 advanced.

Micah is in the running for All-State honors.  His points total from the regular season and sectional play find him on the bubble.  Today’s Regional play, unfortunately, is a non-factor.  Micah can guarantee himself all-state honors with a top 10 finish in the two-day State Finals.  If outside the top 10, a filtering of players to decide the remaining 10 at-large positions will ensue.

Micah looks to improve upon last year’s rain sloughed State Finals.  Several rain delays lead to a struggling 83 in round one.  An 80 in round two was also marred by rain delays.  He looks to draw upon last season’s learning experience and go out with a bang