By RYAN WALKER

Only three teams advance to the regional golf meet based on their sectional performances, and Wells County swiped two of those spots Friday in a bit of surprising fashion.

Norwell and Bluffton helped steal the show at the 2024 boys’ golf sectional at Timber Ridge Golf Course on Friday. The Knights and Tigers ended up finishing second and third to qualify for the regional meet next week. Above, the Knights hold their ribbons for second place. Below, the Tigers hold up theirs for third. (Photos provided)

It helped that the Norwell Knights and Bluffton Tigers played at their home course of Timber Ridge, who qualified for the regionals.

Both trailed only Eastbrook, who had a team score of 328 to win the sectional. Norwell posted a 353, while Bluffton a 357. Southern Wells placed 10th at 410 in the 12-team field.

The Knights’ performance was not much of a surprise, as its their fifth-straight regional, but was not guaranteed. For example, at the Bi-County meet earlier in the month, Norwell finished behind both Bellmont and Adams Central, but did top the Braves in the Northeast 8 meet a few weeks ago.

The Knights have been led by three seniors this season — Derek Smith, Bodie Zimmer and Cooper Sloan. The three are considered the top of the top in the Norwell lineup, but the success have came top to bottom.

Norwell’s Bodie Zimmer takes a drive during the sectional meet at Timber Ridge Golf Fourse. He helped the Knights earn second place and move on to their fifth straight regional. (Photos by Ryan Walker)

Players like Cavin Smithley and Philip Gaier have stepped into their roles on the team and produced during the sectional, and all five for the Knights finished under seven strokes of one another.

“I believe that any and all of our guys have the ability to go low, which means that I believe we have the ability for all five guys to go low on a given day and get us further into the postseason,” Norwell head coach Daniel Schmidt said. “The consistency our team has displayed throughout the season is absolutely a strength and I hope that strength continues to play a factor as we continue our season.”

Bluffton, on the other hand, lost to Adams Central and Bellmont while tying South Adams in the Bi-County meet, and fell to Adams Central and South Adams in the ACAC meet a few weeks ago.

“I was definitely surprised, but I also know that Bluffton is a team full of fighters,” Bluffton first-year head coach Adam Atkins said. “I think that Timber Ridge played really well, tough, but fair. Our boys fought all the way through their rounds. I think the boys were surprised as well, but I think that this result shows that if you keep fighting throughout a tough round, good things can happen.”

But Schmidt also notices the seniors and their impact to the program. Smith, Zimmer and Sloan have all helped continue to build the foundation of Norwell’s golf program that has risen to a dominant force in this sectional.

“The three seniors on our varsity squad have been immense assets to our success. Regardless of grade level, they are all great players and even greater human beings whom I have been privileged to coach, but being that this is their last hoorah has certainly added to the enormity of this run.”

Perhaps it made up for just falling short of the regional last season in which the Tigers finished fourth — behind Norwell — with a score of 338.

Bluffton’s day was even more of a surprise, having lost both of its top players from last year, including Keegan Schwartz, who qualified as an individual and shot a 70. And although the team shot worse Friday than it did last year, the Tigers have been under new leadership with their No. 1 and No. 2 golfers Declan Grieser and Connor Klopfenstein.

The two finished in the top five (Grieser third at 80, Klopfenstein fifth at 84), and have been a bright spot for the team this season.

Bluffton’s Declan Grieser kicks up some dirt during his drive, starting his day at the sectional. He placed third overall at the meet and was a big part in the Tigers advancing to next week’s regional

Both have significantly shaved their scores down since last season, when Klopfenstein was fourth on the Tigers at 90 and Grieser fifth at 93. The two are now solidified themselves in the sectional level and are looking to do some more work next week at the regional.

“Declan and Connor have been our leaders all season long and the boys look to them for leadership,” Atkins said. “I can not say enough about each of their performances — which came two different ways. Declan is the shot maker. He gives himself lots of opportunities every round. Connor is the bounce-back king. He has an ability to move on from a tough hole and string together a few good holes right away.”

Southern Wells’ Gabe McElhaney chips during his first hole during the sectional. His day would come to an end as the top golfer for the Raiders with a 94.

Bluffton and Norwell will head to The Players Club at 8 a.m. next Thursday, June 6.

ryan@news-banner.com

Wells County individual scores

Norwell: Chase Hulvey (86), Cooper Sloan (87), Bodie Zimmer (88), Derek Smith and Philip Gaier (92).

Bluffton: Declan Grieser (80), Connor Klopfenstein (84), Kade Abbett (94), Anthony Hartman (99), Kyler Potter (106).

Southern Wells: Gabe McElhaney (94), Chandler Oswalt and Dirk Frauhiger (105), Cash Banter (106), Tristen Worster (109).

Top Individuals

1. Andrew Jarck (Eastbrook, 78 score), 2. Aaron Fulda (Eastbrook, 80), 3. Declan Grieser (Bluffton, 80), 4. Owen Minnick (Bellmont (81), 5. Connor Klopfenstein (Bluffton, 84).

Team Scores

1. Eastbrook (328 team points), 2. Norwell (353), 3. Bluffton (357), 4. Bellmont (360), 5. Adams Central (363), 6. South Adams (371), 7. Oak Hill (384), 8. Mississinewa (388), 9. Madison-Grant (401), 10. Southern Wells (410), 11. Blackford (423), 12. Marion (469).

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