After 3 straight runner-up finishes, Westfield enters IHSAA boys golf state final round up 6 shots
CARMEL – Eminem is Westfield's middle ground. When the Shamrocks can't decide between golf coach Josh Bryant's preference of Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre or the 'newer guys,' as Bryant called them, the players and coach settle with listening to the Detroit-based rapper.
However, after a team victory, there's no settling, no discussion. "Tsunami" by DVBBS and Borgeous booms from the team bus speaker. The Shamrocks are 18 holes away from blasting the popular electronic dance song from Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel back to Westfield as the IHSAA boys golf state champions.
After shooting 5-over-par as a team on the front nine, Westfield made six birdies and an eagle on the back nine to finish even on the day in round one of the boys golf state championship Tuesday. When the Shamrocks finished their opening round, reigning champions Zionsville were two strokes behind Westfield with three holes remaining.
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Zionsville bogeyed the eighth hole and double-bogeyed the ninth to finish the day +6. The Eagles went +9 on the front nine after a stellar back nine where they made 3-under-par. Westfield enters Wednesday with a six-shot lead and their sights set on a state title after finishing runner-up three straight years.
'The difference in back nine was that we settled in,' Bryant said. 'That early stretch on the back nine shooting four straight birdies and, of course, finishing. You can't count on finishing 5-under on the last three holes. But we talk a lot about championship-winning teams finishing even on the last three holes. They play those last three holes even, and they oftentimes win.
'There are a lot of thoughts around two-day tournaments that, 'You can't win the tournament on the first day, but you can lose it.' We wanted to approach it more, 'Let's treat each day as its own tournament and win both days.''
Before Tuesday's round, Bryant informed his team the course was scoreable due to its moisture, which allowed balls to be easily marked, cleaned and replaced to ensure a good lie. He believes his players took advantage of the course's condition once they relaxed.
The Shamrocks, whose team scoring average is 1-over-par on the year, began to rely more on placement golf on the back nine rather than making an 'emotional decision,' Bryant said. A team that usually attacks golf courses, Bryant applauded seniors Jake Cesare and Will Harvey for using their experience and 'stepping up' to help guide Westfield through the final holes.
Harvey and Cesare (-3) are tied for third in individual standings heading into Wednesday, two shots behind leaders Luke Johnston (Evansville North) and Brycen Tisch (Zionsville). The two were on the Westfield teams that finished second the past three years.
'You need your senior leaders. They've been here, and whether they knew they had to or not, their momentum carries the team forward. This is their fourth year, and let's be frank, at an average golf tourney you're not going to have more than mom, dad and a couple of friends,' Bryant said. 'Now you come up to the first tee, your name gets announced and you have 500 people on the green at states. That's a feeling you can't simulate. So, with experience, you begin to understand what you are up against.
"Friday nights in December, the gym is packed for basketball and the environment is similar when you reach sectionals. In golf, there's nothing like the environment at states.'
The atmosphere at state influenced Bryant's message to the team after the first round. Bryant stood in the center with Westfield players huddled around him just outside the 10th hole and told them that winning a championship requires great composure.
Bryant noticed a difference in his players' body language and the pace at which they walked and conversed on the back nine. He also credited the support of the 25 Westfield golfers in attendance for the Shamrocks' being front runners for the state championship.
After last year's second place finish, Bryant said, "If you keep knocking on the door, at some point, the door is going to open.'
Replicate Tuesday's performance on Wednesday and the fourth knock does it. That 'door' finally opens.
'Tomorrow, we take it hole by hole, shot by shot and control what we can control,' Harvey said. 'This group is definitely good enough. We play our game tomorrow, I don't think anybody touches us.'
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