PHS 8th at Invite
WEST LAFAYETTE — The Plymouth golf team opened its season with an 8th place finish at the 18-team Harrison Invitational Saturday, shooting a team score of 347 despite rain throughout the round. This is Plymouth’s best finish ever at this prestigious season-opening Invite.
“Managing the nuances of the weather would prove an extra challenge all day over the course of the five-hour round,” said Plymouth coach Ben Waymouth.
Saturday’s format, a team five-some, offered plenty of opportunities for guys to buoy each other throughout the round among the volume of water.
“Our guys’ ability to keep positive with each other, be supportive and keep the mood upbeat was great to witness,” Waymouth said. “Each player had their moments. Our seniors played like seniors in key stretches. Our juniors didn’t give up the fight.”
The team was led in scoring by junior Bennett Christy’s 84. Seniors Owen Yoder and Kyle Johnson provided plenty of leadership and bright spots, both firing season-opening 90s. It was Johnson’s career-best round by two shots. Juniors Eli Schramm (94) and Ashton Blalock (108) rounded out the team scoring. Also stepping into a varsity role were Juniors Eli Schramm (94) and Ashton Blalock (108). Blalock set a new career-best by two shots and Schramm was just a shot off his all-time best.
“Both guys have worked on their game,” Waymouth said. “Without a season last year due to Covid the jump from lower JV to top five varsity is a significant step up. Ashton’s wedge play was strong as was his putter. Eli’s scrambling and some key putts lead to success. Eli was our only player with nothing more than a two-putt on the day.”
Waymouth added, “At the end of the round, we all were ready for shelter and a place to dry out! The guys’ ability to stick together and scrap when the course and weather were unkind bodes well for the long season ahead.”
Next up for the varsity golf team is a trip to Monticello and Tippecanoe CC this Saturday for the Twin Lakes Invitational.
JV at Triton Invitational
BOURBON — The JV got its season started early Saturday morning in a mixed field at Rozella Ford in the
Triton Invitational. Two JV squads teed it up and all 10 guys gained valuable experience.
With a canceled season last year due to Covid, all of the guys got their first high school experience. Freshman Diego Gifford led the Pilgrims with a 107. As a team, the A group finished 8th and B finished 10th. Several of Plymouth’s golfers had not played a competitive match since their days at Lincoln. A few who didn’t play in Jr High got their first ever competitive match. Next up for the JV is a trip next Saturday morning to Round Barn in the Rochester JV Invitational.