Hawks, Pirates continue to knock heads on the course
Hiland freshman Andrew Beun has dazzled in the early going, with his scores in the first three tournaments among the team’s top two individual efforts.
After Garaway took the season-opening victory at its own Pirate Invite, the Pirates joined rival Hiland in two more events in the next two days, and if the results say anything about this coming season, it clearly points to this being a fantastic fight to the bitter end as the two programs battle for league supremacy, but more importantly a coveted spot in the state tournament in Division III, where only one team can advance from district play.
The Polar Bear Invite on Monday, Aug. 7 and the Jackson Polar Bear Invite the following day presented two challenging courses against some of the finest competition in the state, including loads of Div. I schools.
In a field loaded with talented teams, the Jackson Polar Bear Invite offered a huge challenge for both units, and the Hawks fired off an outstanding 314 at Chippewa Golf Course, an effort that would place them seventh behind six talented Div. I schools including champion Akron Hoban’s ridiculously low score of 286.
The Pirates would be close behind, tallying a strong score of 317, good for 10th place. In addition, the only school that wasn’t a Div. I standout program to beat Garaway was Hiland.
The Hawks were led by a pair of 75s from freshman Andrew Beun and junior Camden Bille. Jack Mast was right behind with a 76, and Coblentz tacked on an 88.
“I was very satisfied with the effort there,” Hiland coach Austin Kaufman said. “Our young kids really shot some good numbers. We can definitely play, and I’m sure Monty will eventually turn things around and get rolling.”
Kaufman said his first four players are all within two shots on average, and at any given time, they will push each other for positions one through four each time out.
He said his team recorded too many penalties and hit some poor shots at the Pirate Invite, but it was a good learning experience for his younger players.
“We didn’t have a crisp, good round, but I was thrilled to see us rebound and play some really good golf,” Kaufman said.
Trace Gibson continued his torrid start to the year, fashioning a 72 to lead the Pirates. He got help from Carter Miller, who shot a 78, while Austin Tedrick added an 81, KeShawn Miller tacked on an 86 and Nick Maust shot an 87.
At the Warrior Classic at NorthStar Golf Course in Sunbury, it would be Garaway’s turn to retaliate, but again the two teams were neck and neck. The Pirates racked up a 324 while the Hawks came home with a 326.
Gibson would again pace the Pirates with a 76, followed by KeShawn Miller’s 82, Carter Miller’s 84 and an 82 from five-man Maust.
Hiland would get a 77 from the freshman Beun, a pair of 82s from Bille and Mast, and an 85 from Coblentz.
Both schools were within 10 strokes of small school champion Worthington Christian’s score of 316.