By Brian Harmon
Contributing Writer
KNIGHTSTOWN – It’s going to take more than a change of venue to stop Yorktown’s boys golf dominance of the Hoosier Heritage Conference.
The No. 5-ranked Tigers won their sixth straight HHC championship May 16 at Royal Hylands in Knightstown. The meet, hosted by Greenfield-Central, was played at Royal Hylands for the first time after traditionally being played closer to Yorktown.
The Tigers have won eight of the last 10 HHC titles, with several of those coming at the Muncie Elks. Yet they were just as dominant away from home Saturday.
Yorktown posted a 319 to finish 20 strokes ahead of second-place Shelbyville (339). Pendleton Heights (341), Delta (345), Rushville (347), New Palestine (347), Mt. Vernon (Fortville) (349) and Greenfield-Central (381) rounded out the field.
Joe Gasser, Yorktown’s Ball State-bound No. 1 golfer, said the Tigers’ close proximity to a pair of top courses is part of the reason for the school’s dominance.
“There are two courses right next to the high school – the Muncie Elks and The Players Club,” said Gasser, whose 75 was good enough for second place at the HHC tourney. “Both have good practice facilities.
“They have junior golf going in the summer, and a lot of kids like to do that. It helps.”
Gasser joined teammates Derek Kundenreich (80), Jacob Hopper (81), Patrick Kundenreich (83), and Chris Conte (86) to post the Tigers’ winning score.
New Palestine’s Mitchell Simmons took individual honors with a 74 to edge Gasser and Mt. Vernon’s Nick Crawford (76). Simmons, a senior, qualified for the Oklahoma state finals as a sophomore, then moved to Indiana before his junior year.
His HHC victory was his first 18-hole win since he transferred from Elgin, Okla.
“This definitely builds my confidence,” Simmons said. “I went through a big swing change after I moved – re-did the whole thing. I was trying to make adjustments all through my junior year.
“It wasn’t smart to do it during the season, but it needed to be done.”
Simmons wasn’t completely happy with his game Saturday, but he managed to birdie three par-3s.
“I didn’t think I really hit the ball that well,” he said. “The par-3s saved me.”
The top eight individuals (including ties) earned All-Conference honors. Simmons, Gasser, Crawford, Hopper, and Derek Kundenreich were joined on the All-HHC team by Delta’s Austin Kreps (79), Pendleton Heights’ Zach Phillips (79) and Jake Groninger (80), and Rushville’s Derrick Hornaday (81).
Drew Kirk led second-place Shelbyville with an 82.
The Tigers hope their HHC victory is a springboard to another successful postseason run. Last year, Yorktown finished third at the Monroe Central Sectional and eventually qualified for the state finals, although they missed the cut following Round 1.
“It’s pretty cool to win (six straight HHC titles),” Gasser said. “I don’t know too many teams that have done that, but we’re looking for more important things – like sectionals and getting to state again this year.”
With sectionals three weeks away, Yorktown second-year coach Kevin Lawrence said his squad is peaking at the right time.
“Making it to state has been in the back of our mind all year – making it to the second day has been our goal all year long,” Lawrence said. “I had all five starters back, so it’s not like I had to send a message on down. Everyone who plays, they know what we need to do.
“At the beginning of the year, I had three guys who were pretty reliable and two that were a little inconsistent. Now, we’re starting to get five scores that are closer together.”
The Tigers will tee up at the Monroe Central Sectional at Hickory Hills in Farmland on June 8.
Team scores
1. #5 Yorktown 319
2. Shelbyville 339
3. Pendleton Heights 341
4. Delta 345
5. Rushville 347
6. New Palestine 347
7. Mt. Vernon (Fortville) 349
8. Greenfield-Central 381
Yorktown 319
J. Gasser 39-36—75, D. Kundenreich 38-42—80, J. Hopper 41-40—81, P. Kundenreich 40-43—83, C. Conte 40-46—86
Shelbyville 339
D. Kirk 41-41—82, L. Ash 41-43—84, A. Cowieson 41-44—85, C. Yanzer 46-42—88, G. Oldham 44-45—89
Pendleton Heights 341
Z. Phillips 42-37—79, J. Groninger 41-39—80, B. Stephenson 41-41—82, M. Breece 53-49—92, A. Foley 51-49—100
Delta 345
A. Kreps 36-43—79, M. Fisher 42-42—84, B. Wuthrich 42-47—89, T. Dorton 43-50—93, A. Fautavai 42-53—95
Rushville 347
D. Hornaday 42-39—81, A. Pike 43-44—87, A. Harcourt 43-44—87, C. Reynolds 47-45—92, B. Swigart 44-48—92
New Palestine 347
M. Simmons 38-36—74, T. Armstrong 40-46—86, A. Jones 41-49—90, M. Walsh 50-47—97, L. Weileman 43-55—98
Mt. Vernon (Fortville) 349
N. Crawford 38-38—76, G. Givan 43-40—83, N. Correll 47-47—94, C. Kerr 47-49—96, T. Garst 50-48—98
Greenfield-Central 381
S. Robertson 44-44—88, C. Pope 46-51—97, N. Grinstead 50-47—97, D. Hood 49-50—99, J. Hiner 48-55—103
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