By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter, nbrockman@the-messenger.com
Last year, Patrick Hibbs captured the Madisonville-North Hopkins Invitational with a 74, but had to play five playoff holes to take sole possession of the honor.
On Saturday afternoon, Hibbs, a Maroon senior, skipped the drama and turned in a 71 to take medalist for the second straight year.
Hibbs shot a 36 on his first nine holes then finished with a 35 to pace a field that boasted 13 teams. Hibbs finished with five birdies.
"I kept it in play, putted pretty decent and hit shots close when I needed to," he said. "Overall, I played pretty good."
Hibbs' coach Dan Herrmann said he was most impressed by his consistency and the way he played down the stretch.
"He's been like that for at least two years and he always finishes strong," Herrmann said. "He was one under (par) in the last five holes and I've never had a player that would finish that way. He always plays good at the end. He stays really focused the whole round."
Unfortunately, the rest of the Maroon squad did not replicate Hibbs' success to win the team title as they did last season. North's "A team" finished second, three strokes behind Muhlenberg County, who shot 313.
On Saturday afternoon, Hibbs, a Maroon senior, skipped the drama and turned in a 71 to take medalist for the second straight year.
Hibbs shot a 36 on his first nine holes then finished with a 35 to pace a field that boasted 13 teams. Hibbs finished with five birdies.
"I kept it in play, putted pretty decent and hit shots close when I needed to," he said. "Overall, I played pretty good."
Hibbs' coach Dan Herrmann said he was most impressed by his consistency and the way he played down the stretch.
"He's been like that for at least two years and he always finishes strong," Herrmann said. "He was one under (par) in the last five holes and I've never had a player that would finish that way. He always plays good at the end. He stays really focused the whole round."
Unfortunately, the rest of the Maroon squad did not replicate Hibbs' success to win the team title as they did last season. North's "A team" finished second, three strokes behind Muhlenberg County, who shot 313.
"I'm kind of disappointed because we've shot 314 and 316 in two weeks and come in second place twice in two weeks to the same team," Herrmann said. "Both of them we had a chance to win."
Behind Hibbs, Cliff Carter and Daniel Stewart shot 79 and 82 respectively. David Rose (84) and Ben Gatlin (87) also competed for the Maroons' first team.
North's second team was led by BJ Simpson's 80. Dane McCuiston fired an 86. Seth Strader and Ryan Doane each carded a 97 and Justin Baldwin shot 102. As a team, North's "B" golfers finished at 360 in ninth place.
"I gave (the second group) a goal and I won't say what it was, but they accomplished it," Herrmann said. "I had some boys shoot better than I thought and I had a couple that they know they should have shot better, but overall they all played good."
Central's first team finished in 10th, led by Storm No. 1 golfer Heath Williams' 80. Landon Griffith stepped up from the No. 4 spot and fired an 88. Andrew Schniepp shot a 95. Joey Watkins and Brett Eakins turned in scores of 99 and 118 respectively.
"Landon played well and still he left some shots out on the course," coach Mark Rutledge said. "He played very well. Heath played his normal consistent game and the others were just up and down all over the place.
"They didn't play up to their potential. I expect them to be lower than that. I think they can go lower."
Rutledge said he's still looking for a solid No. 5 golfer to round out his first team.
The second Storm team finished at 451 led by Jericho Smith at 98. KO Taylor trailed closely behind at an even 100. Blake Mitchell shot a 106 and Trevis Bell turned in a 147.
While Central had mixed results, Hibbs enjoyed home-course advantage en route to another medalist honor.
"I still have to continue working on hitting the greens," Hibbs said. "I should hit more than I am. What helped today was that it was my home course and I was very comfortable."
As Hibbs took advantage, Herrmann said playing at home may have hindered the Maroons from claiming the team title.
"I think they put a lot of pressure on themselves when they're playing at home," he said. "There's a lot of pressure. You have more spectators. You have more moms and aunts and uncles and grandparents, and they put more pressure on themselves to win."
Herrmann said he knows how the team will use their practices this week as the squad attempts to get its first team win of the season.
"A lot of them need to address their short games," he said. "I've got a lot of guys hitting the fairways, but not hitting the greens. That's just spending time on the range and we'll spend a lot more time on the range this week."
Behind Hibbs, Cliff Carter and Daniel Stewart shot 79 and 82 respectively. David Rose (84) and Ben Gatlin (87) also competed for the Maroons' first team.
North's second team was led by BJ Simpson's 80. Dane McCuiston fired an 86. Seth Strader and Ryan Doane each carded a 97 and Justin Baldwin shot 102. As a team, North's "B" golfers finished at 360 in ninth place.
"I gave (the second group) a goal and I won't say what it was, but they accomplished it," Herrmann said. "I had some boys shoot better than I thought and I had a couple that they know they should have shot better, but overall they all played good."
Central's first team finished in 10th, led by Storm No. 1 golfer Heath Williams' 80. Landon Griffith stepped up from the No. 4 spot and fired an 88. Andrew Schniepp shot a 95. Joey Watkins and Brett Eakins turned in scores of 99 and 118 respectively.
"Landon played well and still he left some shots out on the course," coach Mark Rutledge said. "He played very well. Heath played his normal consistent game and the others were just up and down all over the place.
"They didn't play up to their potential. I expect them to be lower than that. I think they can go lower."
Rutledge said he's still looking for a solid No. 5 golfer to round out his first team.
The second Storm team finished at 451 led by Jericho Smith at 98. KO Taylor trailed closely behind at an even 100. Blake Mitchell shot a 106 and Trevis Bell turned in a 147.
While Central had mixed results, Hibbs enjoyed home-course advantage en route to another medalist honor.
"I still have to continue working on hitting the greens," Hibbs said. "I should hit more than I am. What helped today was that it was my home course and I was very comfortable."
As Hibbs took advantage, Herrmann said playing at home may have hindered the Maroons from claiming the team title.
"I think they put a lot of pressure on themselves when they're playing at home," he said. "There's a lot of pressure. You have more spectators. You have more moms and aunts and uncles and grandparents, and they put more pressure on themselves to win."
Herrmann said he knows how the team will use their practices this week as the squad attempts to get its first team win of the season.
"A lot of them need to address their short games," he said. "I've got a lot of guys hitting the fairways, but not hitting the greens. That's just spending time on the range and we'll spend a lot more time on the range this week."
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