West Delaware claims third straight Wamac Super Meet title

MARION - The right grip, consistent swings and a proper stance are keys to a good round.

Some days technical skills are not enough for a low score. The mental game plays a key factor when conditions even out the playing field a bit.

In cold, wet and windy conditions at an already long Gardner Golf Course, West Delaware's Clayton Larsen had the right approach, earning medalist honors Monday at the Wamac Super Meet. He fired a 73, helping the Hawks capture their third straight conference super meet crown.

Larsen said he ground out the round, battling the elements and competition. He overcame a slow start, receiving some simple wisdom from West Delaware Coach Tom Fetter.

'Coach gave me some advice at the turn about just having patience,” Larsen said. 'He always has a way with words, and that was one that really helped me through the entire round. Just staying patient and making sure I was giving myself chances, especially at par.”

Momentum swung in Larsen's favor on the par-5 sixth hole. He recorded an eagle. Larsen drilled a tee shot and then cut a wedge shot on the green from 150 yards. He sunk a 20-foot putt.

'I was one over at that point,” Larsen said of his score through five. 'To get to 1-under was really a booster for me.”

At that point, it was all about maintaining composure and playing 'boring golf,” which Larsen said is Fetter's term for course management. Larsen was stable throughout the back, shooting 36 with seven pars.

'On a day like (Monday), par is a really good score,” Larsen said. 'If you make a birdie, you're smiling. If you make a bogey, even though no one wants to make a bogey, you're not losing a whole lot.”

The Hawks posted 314, topping a tight group for second by 11 strokes. Harrison Guetzko shot 78, while teammates Zach Weber and Bryce Frick added 81 and 82, respectively. Fetter said the course is about 6,700 yards but the conditions made it play more than 7,000.

'It favors us,” Fetter said. We have a lot of kids who really hit the ball.”

The third consecutive conference meet title is a first for the Hawks, who are the defending Class 3A state champions. A repeat bid is a strong possibility, but Fetter has pushed them to improve to avoid resting on past accomplishments.

'This is a new season,” Fetter said. 'Nobody owes us anything and this team has to establish its own identity. What they established (Monday) is they cannot have their best stuff and still be very competitive, which really builds confidence for this unit.

'That's what I'm looking at. We want to make this year the best year ever. Not just last year.”

Williamsburg's Zach Buch shot his best round as a prep, grabbing runner-up medalist honors. Buch carded 74, welcoming the lower temperatures.

'I actually prefer to play in cooler weather,” Buch said. 'I don't know why, but I seem to play a little better.”

Buch said he thrived on a strong short game. He only hit five greens in regulation, but made many mid-size putts for par. He said he benefitted from playing against some of the conference's top players. Buch was in a foursome with Larsen, Mount Vernon's Connor Herrmann and Marion's Ian Kelly. All were first-team performers.

'There was an awesome amount of talent in my group,” Buch said. 'Those guys kind of pushed me and I enjoyed it a lot, playing with those guys.”

Vinton-Shellsburg was second overall, winning a tiebreaker in a heated three-way tie at 325. Williamsburg was third, owning a tiebreaker with Mount Vernon.

The Vikings were led by Tyler Stueck and Austin Bohnsack, who each shot 50.

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