By Matthew Cress
Matthew.Cress@newsandtribune.com
April 20, 2008 01:31 am
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CLARKSVILLE — The Ron Veleta Invitational always attracts a large field, but this year’s tournament ended up being about a single school.
Providence, the host for the event named after the school’s former golf coach and athletic director, combined to shoot a 321 for the day to take the title by 13 strokes over second-place Edgewood at Wooded View Golf Course in Clarksville on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Pioneers’ junior varsity squad — not officially part of the team standings — fired a 337 for the third-best score of the day.
“It’s always nice to come out with a victory,” said Providence coach Dave Lobeck. “Still, it comes down to the kids. We’re trying to get the kids to play the course and hit greens. The scores will take care of themselves.
Providence had no problem with that on Saturday.
Senior Nathan Jennings shot a scorching 1-under-par back nine, good enough for an overall 76 and match medalist honors. Teammate Trey Pfund was steady throughout, shooting dual 39s for a second-place 78.
“There’s two kids breaking 80,” Lobeck said. “Now, we need two more.”
Officially, Jeffersonville — led by an 82 from Matthew Thompson — took third place by beating out North Harrison (342) and Paoli (343).
Two-time defending state champion Floyd Central, playing without its full varsity squad, was next with a 347. New Albany, which got an 80 — the third-best individual score — from Logan Bensing, was seventh with a combined 349.
Lobeck’s alma mater of Washington High School was eighth with 360, followed by Corydon (371), Charlestown (407) and Clarksville (407).
All in all, the day squarely belonged to the Pioneers, who were ranked No. 18 in the most recent state poll.
“I think the kids look at it,” Lobeck said. “Golf is really the last single-class sport, so we’re a (Class) 2A school in every other sport, going against the big dogs. To be ranked is fun, but to me the whole season boils down to us figuring out our best five guys for sectional. Unless you make state and compete well, people tend to forget those things (like the rankings).”
Lobeck should have plenty to work with as he tries to find the rotation that will bring the team’s score down to 300 — the magic number that he thinks the Pioneers will need to make a serious run at the crown when the state finals begin next month at The Legends of Indiana Golf Course in Franklin.
Four of Providence’s JV golfers shot in the 80s, led by an 82 from Andrew Lobeck.
“My challenge is to figure out those last two,” Coach Lobeck said. “We’ve got to start getting the kids to 300. We’ve still got lots of work to do.”
RON VELETA INVITATIONAL
at Wooded View Golf Course, Clarksville, par-71
Team scores — Providence 321, Edgewood 334, Providence JV 337, Jeffersonville 341, North Harrison 342, Paoli 343, Floyd Central 347, New Albany 349, Washington 360, Corydon 371, Charlestown 407, Clarksville 426.
(Not all individual scores were available at press time.)
Providence — Jennings 76, Pfund 78, Rose 83, Vissing 84, Frey 90.
Providence JV — Leist 86, Lobeck 82, Anderson 92, Koetter 86, Geary 83.
North Harrison — Bruce 81, Spencer 82, Worrall 87, Matthews 92, Morris 97.
Paoli — Brown 80, Mills 83, Baker 89, Raymer 91, Wolfe 99.
New Albany — Bensing 80, Miller 84, Keeler 92, Bougher 93, Kraft 93.
Washington — Igleheart 88, Taylor 90, Wirey 90, Fox 92, Winkler 108.
Clarksville — Gettlefinger 85.
Corydon — Warmuth 87.
Jeffersonville — Thompson 82.
Charlestown — Smith 90.
Floyd Central — Duval 82.
BREAKOUT
What’s the Ron Veleta?
The annual boys’ golf tournament is named for former Providence golf coach and athletic director Ron Veleta, and is hosted by the Pioneers at Wooded View Golf Course in Clarksville.
“He is quite revered in the Providence community,” said current Pioneer coach Dave Lobeck.
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