By GREG KEIM
greg.keim@goshennews.com
Fri, May 16 2008
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The score posted by the Northridge High School boys golf team might not have attracted as much attention as what Tiger Woods was doing in the Masters on Saturday afternoon.
But considering the playing conditions, it deserves some recognition.
Northridge placed all five of its players among the Top Ten finishers for a 309 team total to win Goshen’s 18-hole invitational at Maplecrest Country Club.
Chilly temperatures and a steady rain made playing conditions unpleasant and less than ideal for scoring. That didn’t seem to bother Northridge.
Elkhart Christian Academy was second at 327, followed by Fremont 333, Goshen 341, NorthWood 358, Lakeland 364, Plymouth 367, Westview 369 and LaVille 448.
“You feel sorry for the kids having to play in weather like this, but it is either play or cancel,” Goshen coach Brent Randall said. “You are dealing with nine schools so there is no way you are going to reschedule. The conditions were less than perfect.”
The weather conditions kept club members away, which meant the teams could go off both the front and back nines.
“I think we caught a break by playing the back first,” Northridge coach Dennis Sienicki said. “It’s a little easier to score on the back. We got into a good rhythm and were able to continue it on the front. Had it been reversed I’m not sure what we would have done.”
Northridge senior Zac Henderson had 40-35—75, classmate Nathan Smith 37-38—75, freshmen Andy Morrison 41-37—78, David Long 40-41—81 and sophomore Collin Roberts 43-38—81.
“We expect a score like that from Zac, but I was really pleased with Nathan’s score,” Sienicki said. “One of the things about his score is that he finished bogey, bogey, bogey.”
Junior Matt Diller had 41-38—79 to lead Goshen, junior Collin Chapman 45-42—87, freshman Steven Koronkiewicz 40-47—87, junior Matt Nafziger 43-45—88 and junior Eric Peters 44-47—91.
“This is not where we wanted to be,” Randall said. “We had to count two 87s and an 88. I would like to say it was the elements, but everyone played in them.
“Diller has been driving the ball exceptionally well. Last week in an invitational he hit 13 of 14 fairways.”
Senior Jon Enfield carded a 38-40—78 to lead Elkhart Christian.
“This is the first time we have ever placed in this event,” ECA coach Darrell Peterson said. “The conditions were not great and we had only played one match before today. We are a small school so finishing second in a tourney like this is big for us.”
NorthWood was led by senior Eric Hartstein 41-35—76 and Lakeland junior Jake O’Brian 40-36—76.
Fremont senior Ronnie Carlson was individual medalist with a 37-37—74.
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