Bloomington South, 3 seniors go out on strong note at IHSAA boys golf state finals

CARMEL, Ind. — Happy Gilmore's last high school tee shot curled perfectly around the dogleg right, stopping in the middle of the fairway.

He pulled out a 7-wood and took a shot at the green, leaving a nice, straight 15-foot putt. He lined it up and his swing was true. Eagle. A perfect ending to a most imperfect day in the final round of the IHSAA state boys golf finals at Prairie View on Wednesday, for the nationally famous senior from Bloomington South, who ended up tied for 10th.

"I was really hoping there'd be more pressure on me on 18, with a chance to win," Gilmore said. "But there wasn't so I told (assistant coach Darin Woodley) I'm going to take the most aggressive line I can and I know I can make. I hit the drive really good and it put me at a pretty good distance."

The Ball State signee shot a 79 — a high number he hasn't seen all year — finishing with a 149 overall to tie for 11th, one shot off the medal stand.

"Today was one of those days that shows you golf's hard," Gilmore said. "I was two back to start the round and the front is reasonably gettable. And so I was like, if I can go out there and make a couple birdies early I should have an outside chance.

"I played OK, I just didn't score well."

Then he recalled the shots that went long or found bunkers to spoil his run. It was just that kind of day on a few holes. "I made those three doubles and said, 'It's time to have some fun.'"

Gilmore also earned All-State honors for a fourth time, likely the first Panther to ever earn such a distinction.

And that was it for three seniors and South's head coach, Dustin Carver, who announced he was stepping down and moving full-time into administration at season's end.

"I couldn't have asked for a better team for four years," Gilmore said. "The seniors that I've had and the support from parents and coaches and everybody. The sophomore and freshmen we have coming up have been fun to be with, watching them in Junior Panthers and hitting beside us on the range."

Bloomington South takes 8th at IHSAA state championship

The Panthers, humbled to a 317 in the first round, came back strong in the second with a 307, which moved them up the ladder from 10th to eighth, still well short of their goal coming in. Zionsville (600) won the team title over Westfield (605) and Hamilton Southeastern (606). Fairfield junior Brayden Miller won the individual title by four shots (68-71—139) over 2022 champ Aidan Gutierrez of Valparaiso.

"A little better (today)," Carver said. "I know Happy wasn't pleased with his round but he kept it together in a tremendous finish or him on the last hole. Super proud of the boys and the fight they had today."

Sophomore Colton Watson showed he's ready to lead next year's team with his strong postseason run, finishing up with a 74 to lead South on the day and shot 157 overall (tied for 39th). Seniors Connor Byon (156, tied 32nd) and Luke Garrett (162, tied 64th) each had 77s and sophomore Carson Gady an 85 to total a 175.

"I'm really proud of every single guy on the team today," Byon said. "We didn't play super well yesterday and when a course beats you up, it's not easy to come out the next day and do the same thing all over again.

"It really mentally fatigues you and physically just kills you. So super proud of the guys 1 through 5."

They improved by several shots on the finishing six holes.

"Our team, besides me and Happy, we're pretty inexperienced at this course," Byon said. "For the rest of the guys, that last six-hole stretch is unbelievably difficult. When everything's on the line and you're coming in trying to get a score in the house it's really hard.

"I think our guys felt that yesterday. But today, once you've been there, you can do it."

Connor Byon, Luke Garrett close out their South careers

Byon had a steady day, going 38-39 to close out his four-year run at South.

"Throughout my whole life the biggest goal for yourself and the biggest motivator is for someone to believe in you and for a group of people to believe in you," Byon said. "I hadn't really felt that playing team sports growing up but coming to the golf team, a sport that is seen as an individual sport, I felt like it was the first time that a team really, really believed in me.

"Since I was that little freshman to who I am now, I've really felt like it was one big family for four years. Now matter how we played, we'd walk off the course, hug each other and give each other some crap. It's a four-year run I wouldn't trade for anything."

Garrett spent just one year at South but had a blast getting to experience the state finals before he heads to play at Kentucky Wesleyan. He had another strong back nine with a 37.

"It was so fun and I just savored every moment of it," Garrett said. "Whether I was playing good, making doubles or making birdies. And also I was really happy the way I finished, going 1-under through my last eight holes. Toughest stretch on the course and I got through it alive.

"I'm just happy to finish off my high school career with such a fun tournament and playing with these guys."

Colton Watson leads the way

Watson posted the Panthers' low score on the day and nine shots better than Tuesday. He got rolling on the back nine with a 34, powered by four birdies, including a pair of lengthy putts on 11 and 12 to kickstart his run.

"It feels pretty good," Watson said. "Obviously, the team didn't play their best but after an 83 the first day, coming out here and shooting a 74 after a rough front nine, it feels pretty good.

"Definitely gives me some momentum going into next year."

That's it for coach Dustin Carver

Carver decided to eventually set aside coaching once he was named an assistant principal at South. He's been an assistant to Larry Winters with the girls' basketball team for 18 years and has spent the last 10 working with the Panthers' girls and boys golf programs.

It's tough to let go.

"Ten years, the players and the young men that I've had to coach, its been an amazing ride," he said. "I'm not going too far away. I'll be around but it's been awesome.

"The parents, the players, the administration have allowed me to do what I thought was right to take the program to where it is today. It wasn't down when I got it but I think for the last 10 years, it's just gone up and I hope it continues that way. I couldn't have asked for anything more, coming to state and finishing out. So it's pretty special."

Carver had a great run of golfers to work with, in terms of not only talent, but work ethic and leadership.

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"It's great when you coach a team and they want to be good," Carver said. "And it's been that way. They've always wanted to do well. For 10 years, I've had coachable kids."

Byon and Gilmore have certainly been two of the best.

"He meant more than a coach for me in my life," Byon said. "He's really become someone who is in my family. I would consider him family in my life. It's not easy to call someone you've only known for four years family but that's the role that's had.

"He's been a mentor, he's been a friend, he's been a coach, a critic. He's been all of that."

"He's meant a lot," Gilmore said. "Not just on the golf course but almost a father figure to everybody on the team. I know I have, I know Connor has called him on just stuff that's not related to golf.

"So I know that I'll be able to do that too for the rest of my life. So he's been amazing these past four years and he's much more than just a coach."