Fore! Bloomington area golfers are finally getting back on the courses this week as we begin drying out.
Here's a look at the top golfers to watch heading into this season as they prep for sectional play.
The field at Cascades on June 9 includes Bloomington North, Bloomington South, Edgewood, Owen Valley, Bedford North Lawrence, Brown County, Brownstown Central, Edgewood, Mitchell, Salem, Seymour, Trinity Lutheran and West Washington. Eastern Greene will head to the Terre Haute Sectional at Hulman Links.
Bloomington South
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Colton Watson, Jr.; Carson Gady, Jr.; Aidan Bomba, Sr.; Owen Gerber, Sr.
OUTLOOK: The Panthers have a new coach with assistant Darin Woodley elevated to the top spot and he welcomes back four of the top seven players from last year's state squad looking for an 11th straight sectional title. They were ranked 13th in the preseason poll. With stars Happy Gilmore, Connor Byon and Luke Garrett all graduating, Watson and Gady are back from the postseason squad. Watson is a third-year varsity performer with two years of state finals experience. He takes over at No. 1 while Gady is playing the 2 spot. "Colton has the most experience and he's played really well," Woodley said. "His confidence level, in his shots and decision making is there. He knows the team needs a pretty good leader and someone to be in the 70s every time out. And he's capable of under-par rounds a well. Carson has made the biggest jump to the No. 2 spot.
Gerber had his own postseason experience last fall as the goalkeeper for the Panthers' state runner-up soccer team and he and Bomba, hoping his back holds out his year, are 3-4. Joining them is Owen Wisley in the fifth spot. "Wisley and Gady have made the biggest strides since last year," Woodley said. "They've put in the most work in the off-season. It's a good group." Sophomore Easton Bellini, a former baseball player, is the sixth man at the moment on a team of 22.
Bloomington North
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Hogan Conder, Sr.; Rex Speer, Jr.; Alec Freund, So.; Zayan Farzad, So.
OUTLOOK: Top four for Cougars is pretty well set this year and head coach Harrison Carmichael thinks any of his top three could play the No. 1 spot. Conder returns as one of the area's best after posting an 82 average last year and head coach ...
