The boys high school golf season is coming up and Wabash Valley coaches and their players are getting ready for the Northview Invite on April 12.
Here's an analysis of the Vigo County and Northview teams:
• Northview — Coach Chris Hawk said the Knights lost a couple of low-scoring seniors from last season. However, Hawk thinks that might help his team this year.
He cited the upperclassmen on this year's team and how he thinks they're excited to prove they've put a whole lot of work in on the course over the previous summer and fall.
"I think they're excited to be the ones to finally contribute to the low scores that I hope we'll be seeing this year," Hawk said.
A couple of names to watch are Aidan Green and Lincoln Pierce. He thinks Green and Pierce will have a big battle for who will be No. 1.
"I think that's going to fluctuate between the two," Hawk said. "But honestly, that's kind of what you want as a coach, you want those two guys battling off that way we can hopefully produce some low scores."
He said that will fuel their competition when they go out and play other teams.
Hawk also mentioned Parker Lutes, saying he put in a lot of work in the offseason and thinks he's going to help them shoot some lower scores in 2025.
• Terre Haute South — Veteran coach Chris Cassell said he thinks his guys have pretty high expectations as a lot of them have worked pretty hard.
"We kind of have a lot of talent," Cassell pointed out. "I'd say this is the most talent I've had as a top five in the last few years, so they're very excited to get the season going."
Some names to look for on the course this season are Josh Michael, Peyton Turner, Nick Stewart, Anderson Baldridge, Austin Creek and Ezra Sanchez. He said Turner has been the No. 1 for a couple of years now. Michael is returning after some academic issues last year and has kind of led the way so far.
"If we had to say the lineup today, Josh would be No. 1 and Peyton would be No. 3," Cassell said.
He talked about a unique angle for success, that being he said the teams that putt very well are usually the ones that do the best.
"If you can find those kids and figure out a way to get it in the hole, that's a big deal," Cassell said.
He noted the need to maintain concentration and be locked in the entire time with all the strokes they have to add up.
"When you're out there for 4 1/2, five hours, it's difficult not to lose concentration," Cassell said. "Every one of those matters when you're going up against 20 teams in a tourney."
• Terre Haute North — The Patriots will have a younger team this season as coach Chuck Payne noted he'll have Abe Nasser, a junior who will be his No. 1, while the rest are sophomores.
During spring break, Nasser hit a hole-in-one at the Disney Palm course on Tuesday from 170 yards with a six-iron on hole No. 16.
Those sophomores include Noah Walker, Keegan Reedy, Braylan Chesshir, Patrick Farnsworth and Dawson Wright. They'll also have a couple of promising freshmen with Trenton Wolfe and Parker Strole, according to Payne.
He noted the improvement of the sophomores from their freshmen year as they played all summer.
"I think we're going to be OK," Payne said, that he would like his golfers to convert more birdies.
• West Vigo — Senior Bryce Easton will lead the way for the Vikings with three other key golfers being William Marris, Gunnar Bland and Andrew Kidwell, said coach Mike Bailey.
But they have a freshman in Brayden Rogers, whom Bailey says is super consistent and has one of the best attitudes and senses of humor that he's ...
