Centerville’s Mason Rader looks at the scoreboard as the final results are posted on June 10, 2016.
YORKTOWN, Ind. – The long wait was finally over for Mason Rader.
The Centerville junior had done it.
“I’m thrilled,” Rader said. “I’ve always wanted to go to state since elementary school.”
After a rain delay lasting three hours at the start of the IHSAA Boys Golf Regional, Rader put a round of 73 on the scoreboard at The Players Club on Friday to eventually earn a spot in next week’s state championship affair at the Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel next Tuesday and Wednesday.
“He’s had five hours of waiting to play five-and-half hours of golf, but I think he feels like it’s worth it right now,” Centerville Head Coach Roger Martin said.
Rader finished playing and was forced to wait over two hours before the rest of the field ended the competition.
“A really long day, but I hit the ball really well,” said Rader, who was competing in his third regional for the Bulldogs. “I hit a lot of greens, made some really important putts. I probably hit my driver the best I have all year.”
“I was pretty confident,” Rader said of posting his early score. “After seeing some of the scores come in, I kind of figured I would at least get in the top five.”
Rader’s approach was the reason for his success.
“Different mentality this year,” Rader said. “Come out, have fun and don’t put too much pressure on myself.”
It worked.
“Mason has just done a phenomenal job this year,” Martin said. “This just kind of caps it off.”
“He was so tuned in and zoned in to what he was doing,” Martin continued. “He was just on target with everything.”
Overall, Rader finished tied for third with Richmond’s Jake Miller. The two players are the only qualifiers from the Richmond Sectional to advance to the next round.
“I really felt like 73 was a good score,” Martin said. “I’m really proud of him. This is a new thing for us. As far as I’m aware of there is no one else (from Centerville) who has made it to state.”
The top five individual players on non-advancing teams move on to state.
Hagerstown Head Coach Billy Mullin was pleased with his team’s performance.
“They played hard,” he said. “It shows when you come together how good we can be.”
The Tigers had four players with an 83 or under to finish with a 329 and in 12th place out of 18 teams.
“It’s been a pleasure coaching these guys,” Mullin said. “They’ve been a fun group. They represented their school, their community and the Tri-Eastern Conference well all year long.”
Leading the Tigers was Indiana University East bound Ben Tinkle with an 81, while fellow senior Jonathan Clark carded an 82. Caleb Cochran and Kyle Cochran both had 83. Kevin Beeson finished with 104.
Konner Fabrick of Tri had a 77, which was the second best effort of of the 18 individual players in the field. Union County’s Tyler Dunn finished with an 88.
Indianapolis Chatard edged out Hamilton Southeastern for the team title. Both teams had a 306, so the fifth score was used to break the tie. Yorktown was third with a 307 as the Tigers became the final team to move on to state.
Keegan Bronnenberg of Muncie Central earned medalist honors a 68. Blake Vise of Yorktown was next with a 72 followed by Rader and Miller.
The other two individual advancing are Parker Deakyne of Noblesville with a 74 and Will Dant of Mt. Vernon. Dant finished with a 75, but had to survive a playoff against two others for the fifth spot.
Muncie Central Regional Team Results
1. Indianapolis Chatard 306; 2. Hamilton Southeastern 306; 3. Yorktown 307; 4. Mt. Vernon 309; 5. New Castle 313; 6. Noblesville 313; 7. Marion 323; 8. Bellmont 324; 9. Oak Hill 325; 10. Muncie Central 326; 11. Indianapolis Cathedral 326; 12. Hagerstown 329; 13. Fishers 332; 14. Shelbyville 332; 15. Richmond 337; 16. Delta 345; 17. Franklin County 361; 18. Heritage Christian 367.
Tri-Eastern Conference Individual Results
Hagerstown (329) – Ben Tinkle 81, Caleb Cochran 83, Jonathan Clark 82, Kyle Cochran 83, Kevin Beeson 104.
Centerville – Mason Rader 73.
Tri – Konner Fabrick 77.
Union County – Tyler Dunn 88.