Indy Star

 

Patrick Dorsey

FRANKLIN, Ind. -- In its first tournament of the season, Cathedral High School's reigning state-championship golf team finished just eight shots out of first -- but ended up ninth on the team leaderboard.

"It was just kind of a wake-up call," Irish coach Joe Vollmer said.

Consider Cathedral awake.

One week after struggling at the Hall of Fame Tournament in Peru, the top-ranked Irish returned to familiar territory -- The Legends of Indiana Golf Course, site of the 2008 state finals -- and posted a familiar result: a win, with a score of 294, 10 shots clear of second-place Bloomington North.

The turnaround came courtesy of three experienced seniors -- a couple of whom were "off their game" last week, according to Vollmer -- carding their usual low scores. Chief among them: medalist Henry Plager, a Purdue recruit who posted a 5-under-par 67 after shooting a 79 last week.

Plager's turnaround was keyed by pristine play from tee to green Saturday, a combination that pushed him to 5-under through 10 holes, before he "just kind of coasted the rest of the way," he said.

"All in all," Plager said, "a good day."

Senior Brad Gehl, an Oklahoma State recruit, also had a good day, tying for fourth with a 71. Senior Corey Ziedonis, the reigning state medalist who is bound for Indiana University, had a 73; he shot 83 a week earlier. Sophomore Charlie Plager, Henry Plager's brother, gave the Irish a solid fourth score (83) in his first major varsity tournament.

That's the formula Cathedral desires, Vollmer said: low numbers from players one through three, and a fourth emerging from a handful of candidates with strong potential.

"We're always looking for the best score we can find," Vollmer said, "but when the top three are on their game, the fourth player doesn't have to shoot in the 70s. If we can keep it around 80, I think we'll be OK."

A few other area schools competed in the 23-team tournament, with Center Grove's Zach Muench tying for second (but taking third in a tiebreaker) with a 70. Carmel's Connor O'Neal tied for fourth with a 71.