SOUTH BEND ― The magical season for the Elkhart boys golf team continues.
The Lions shot an impressive 297, edging Trinity at Greenlawn by two shots in winning the South Bend sectional title Monday, June 9, at Erskine Park Golf Course. Trinity was the defending champion.
The sectional victory was the first for any Elkhart school since Memorial won in 2012. Central’s last title was in 2000. The schools merged into one Elkhart with the 2020-21 school year.
Freshman sensation Ben Divido has been the catalyst for Elkhart. He shot an even-par 70 Monday, one stroke behind Trinity sophomore Dane Sweikar for medalist honors. Divido led the Lions to a Northern Indiana Conference title, being named conference MVP for his efforts as well.
Also scoring for Elkhart were Steven Webb (73), Cameron Miller (77), and William Cochrane (77). Benjamin Miller carded an 85, but the top four scores are the only ones taken for the team total.
“It’s great,” Divido said. “To know that not only I made it, but the whole team made it as well is great. We’re going to go down to regionals, have a fun time, and hopefully shoot pretty good.”
Trinity boys golf sets school record
Even though the Titans had to settle for the runner-up trophy, their team score of 299 broke the program record.
Sweikar led the way with his 69. Jackson Cressy had a 72, John Paul Tarsha 78, and Nathan Palmer 80 for the team score, with Colin Abbott also shooting an 86.
“It shows how much we’ve improved as a team,” said Sweikar of setting a new program record. “We didn’t even play our absolute best today – that just shows you how much we can improve by regionals and state.”
Who needs the putter anyway?!
Palmer might not have had his best round, but he had the best single shot of the day.
On the 11th hole, a 220-yard par-3, Palmer struck a five-iron for an ace. He had no idea it went in until he saw his older brother, Jake, jumping up and down near the green.
“I was playing a really bad round before ― one of my worst of the year,” Palmer noted. “I was feeling bad, and after hole nine, I just prayed to the Lord, ‘May I please get something to bring me peace?’ And it came. … I didn’t believe it at first because I hit it into the sun. Apparently, it trickled in. I didn’t expect it, but I was happy.”
Other area golfers advancing to regionals
South Bend Saint Joseph was third at Erskine with a 306, advancing them to the regional this Thursday, June 12, at Sandy Pines Golf Club in DeMotte. Tate Guyton and Zach Matthys fired 75s, Thomas Raster had a 76 and Beau Basney 80 for the team score, with Jake Hirschler also carding an 86.
The three individuals from non-advancing teams heading to regionals are Penn’s Joel Cocquyt (72) and Colten Donze (79), and Mishawaka Marian’s John Hahn (78).
One other South Bend-area sectional feeds into the Sandy Pines regional. Host La Porte won its sectional last Thursday, June 5, with a 343. Marquette Catholic also advanced as a team with a 366, while New Prairie’s Carson Sinka qualified as an individual.
Two other sectionals with area teams will head to the Warsaw regional Thursday, June 12, at Stonehenge GC. Northridge and Fairfield advanced their full teams out of the Northridge sectional this past Friday. Fairfield features defending state champion, senior Brayden Miller. NorthWood’s Caleb Vincent and Concord’s Lucas Prough also moved on.
The highlight of the Northridge sectional was Westview senior Silas Haarer setting a new IHSAA sectional round record with a 63. His younger brother, Luke, carded a 69 as well.
At the Warsaw sectional, the host Tigers claimed the team title on a fifth-score tiebreaker over Plymouth. Both teams, along with Culver Academies, advance to regional.
Follow Austin Hough on X (formerly Twitter) @AustinRHough and on Facebook at “Austin Hough – South Bend Tribune.” Hough can be emailed at ahough@gannett.com.
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