Greenfield-Central’s Tyler Young hits an approach shot at the Hoosier Heritage Conference tournament. Young finished with a 78 and was selected to the all-conference team.
Daily Reporter File Photo
GREENFIELD — Coming off the most successful season in over 25 years, the Greenfield-Central boys golf team is looking for more.
Last year, the Cougars shot a season-best 319 to win the program’s first sectional since 1997. They also won the Hancock County Tournament and placed third at the Hoosier Heritage Conference Tournament.
At the regional, they shot a team score of 344, but with three returning players from that lineup, head coach Cliff Henderson hopes they can build off of that trip.
“That’s going to play a huge part in their future success,” Henderson said. “Now they know the expectations since they’ve played past the sectional level. Anytime you get experience at the next level of competition it’s going to elevate your game.”
Helping lead the way to the sectional title, and back with this year’s team, were brothers Tyler and Avery Young.
Entering his senior season, Tyler is coming off of his best season yet. He won the county tournament with a 38, was one shot off of first place at the conference tournament with a 78, shot an 81 at the sectional, and had the team’s best finish at the regional with a 79.
He earned All-HHC honors along with being named the county player of the year.
Avery, is a year younger but had one of the team’s most important rounds last season.
To help the Cougars secure the sectional title, he shot a season-best 76 and was one of just four golfers to break 80.
He had the third-best G-C score at both the conference (82) and county (42). At the regional, he shot a 90.
“We want them to build off of where they were. I’ve noticed in practice that there’s been big growth in their games,” Henderson said. “They’re going to be the stabilization factor on the team as we develop new talent.”
That growth in both of their games has come in a variety of areas according to Henderson.
“They’re both hitting a lot of fairways and greens in regulation right now. They’ve increased their games in that way. That’s always good to see,” Henderson said. “Their putting averages have gone down too. If you can hit the fairway, hit the green in regulation and two-putt, you’re going to play par golf. They’re both under two putts per hole right now, so they’re doing very well there.”
Those two will anchor a lineup that is searching for people to replace a strong senior class.
The Cougars lost No. 1 golfer Josh Alley along with Bryce Hasty.
Alley had the team’s second-best score at county (40) and conference (79), and shot an 82 at both the sectional and regional. Hasty shot an 80 at the sectional and 45 at county.
Jon Smith, who was part of the conference, sectional and regional lineups is back, His best score came at the conference where he carded an 86.
Besides him, Henderson is still searching for guys to step up into the match-day lineup.
The Cougars open the season Tuesday against Whiteland and New Palestine at Whiteland.
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2024 Greenfield-Central Boys Golf Schedule
Date;Opponent;Time
April 9;at Whiteland/New Palestine;4:30 p.m.
April 10;at Fishers;4:30 p.m.
April 13;at Danville Invitational;8:30 a.m.
April 15;vs. Anderson/Morristown;5 p.m.
April 16;vs. Mission Christian Academy;4:30 p.m.
April 22;vs. Mt. Vernon;4:30 p.m.
April 23;at Rushville;5 p.m.
May 1;Hancock Co.;4:30 p.m.
May 4;at Delta Invitational;9 a.m.
May 6;at Lawrence Central;4:30 p.m.
May 7;vs. Shelbyville/New Castle;5 p.m.
May 11;HHC Invitational;8:30 a.m.
May 14;at Pendleton Heights;4:30 p.m.
May 18;at Franklin Central Invite;8:30 a.m.
May 21;vs. Warren Central;4:30 p.m.
May 23;at Greenwood;4:30 p.m.
