Plymouth golfers take invitational title

The Plymouth varsity kept the pedal down Saturday morning at the Wawasee Invitational played at South Shore pacing the entire field by 6 shots.  The Pilgrims record-setting season shifted into a higher gear despite Saturday’s blustery and wet conditions.  Winds in excess of 20mph gained strength early and gave way to a saturating rain on the second nine.   The quintet of seniors: Micah Calhoun 75, Grant Clady 76, Hudson Yoder 78, John Gerard 79, and Trevor Danielson 84 put their best foot forward against the season’s toughest competition to date.  Today’s big win marks the second 18 hole invitational victory in as many events and the first time the Pilgrims have won the Wawasee Invitational.

Team Totals
Plymouth	308	1
Homestead	314	2
Warsaw	316	3
Chesterton	318	4
Northwood	325	5
Columbia City	327	6
CMA	340	7
Fairfield	342	8
Northridge	343	9
Manchester	349	10
Elkhart Central	369	11
Wawasee	371	12
Lakeland	385	13
Goshen	416	14
Whitko	418	15

Grant Clady got hot early and stayed hot.  Starting on #10 Grant made pars on 10 & 11 and quickly birdied 12.  Grant’s turn score of 39 was his best turn score of the season.  After a double at #2, he rebounded to make par on 3, birdie 4, par 5, and birdie 6.  A three-putt on 7, his only of the day, was the only blemish as he parred out to seal a 37 second nine score and a career-best 76!  I was proud and excited for Grant as he’s worked his tail off this winter to prepare for moments like today.  Grant had never broken 80.  His ability to come down the stretch with back to back pars to seal a career round says a lot about his toughness.

Micah Calhoun lead the team with a disappointing 75.  Micah played steady the majority of the day.  His turn score of 36 lead the team.  On the front he dropped a shot on the tough par 3 #5.  Micah fired right back on 6 with a birdie.  After a par on 7, Micah was sitting even par on the day with two holes to play.  A poor tee shot on 8 lead to a double bogey and a similar bad break on 9 lead to a bogey.  Three dropped shots closing his round was certainly not the way Micah wanted to close.

Hudson Yoder had a bounce back round Saturday firing a 78.  I was proud of Hudson’s ability to shake off a round from Friday, the likes he’d not seen since his freshmen year, to play steady and smart.  Hudson’s turn score of 40 was higher than hoped.  At the turn, he reset opening with 3 consecutive pars until a bogey at 4 and double at 5 created concern.  Hudson bounced back on 6 with a birdie and went on to close with three consecutive pars.

John Gerard continued his momentum from Friday evening’s match getting out of the gate turning in 38.  His second nine when the rain came proved challenging as he closed in 41 for a 79.  Rounding out the scoring for Plymouth was Trevor Danielson with an 84.

– vs Saturday opponents, we’re now 26-0

– vs 9 hole opponents, we’re now 6-0

– Homestead – we defeated today – #10 in State coaches poll

– 308 – lowest team total (this early in the season)  – school record is 301 (2006 Regional)

– 4 scores in the 70’s – first time since 2006 Regional

– Have bested all NLC teams via Invitationals

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Both the JV and Varsity are back in action on Monday – weather permitting – at Pretty Lake vs LaPorte and Winamac starting at 5:30.