Jeffersonville Evening News and Tribune

By MATT CRESS

 

Dave Lobeck doesn’t think that his Providence boys’ golf team is the one to beat in Southern Indiana, no matter who is coming back.

“As always, the team to beat is Floyd Central,” said the third-year Pioneer coach, who guided the team to the IHSAA State Finals last season. “They’ve got everybody back, the sectional is on their home course and they played terrible at regional last year. They’ve got some things to prove and that makes them the team to watch.”

But it will be hard not to watch Providence with what it has coming back, particularly standout senior Trey Pfund. He will likely be one of the top players in the state, capable of both leading his team to glory and possibly vying for an individual state title.

“If you can divorce emotion from golf and play each shot like its a new game, you win. That’s something Trey does very well. He has real determination.”

Though Nathan Jennings departed due to graduation, senior Ben Rose will return to the lineup, as will Andrew Lobeck, Robert Spiller — all of whom played on last year’s state qualifier — and newcomer Hunter Anderson, which should create a solid nucleus around Pfund. Seniors like Nick Koetter and Ryan Frey will also try to pick up the No. 4 and 5 spots in the lineup, which are likely still up for grabs.

“Ben has all the potential in the world and we expect big things from him,” Lobeck said. “The other guys are smart players and we think they can maintain their good play throughout the season.”

Providence opens in the Fuzzy Zoeller Invitational on Saturday, but will also make an early-season trip to Peru for the Hall of Fame Tournament against some of the finest squads in the state.

What Lobeck hopes is that it adds up to another State FInals appearance, but he also hopes the Pioneers will take an easier path. Last season, Providence failed to win either the sectional or regional rounds, but snuck into the state field on a third-place finish at the regional.

“My goal is to get out of at least one of those with a trophy, instead of just making it out,” he said. “Hopefully, we can make the second day of state and see what happens from there.”