Bloomington South Panthers secure seventh consecutive state golf appearance

The Bloomington South Panthers boys golf team has secured their place in the upcoming IHSAA state championship, extending a remarkable run of seven consecutive appearances at the meet. The team finished second at the Washington regional with a season-best aggregate score of 295, a result that trails only Castle’s 291 but surpasses Evansville Memorial’s 299, the other team to qualify for the state meet.

The championship event is scheduled to take place at Prairie View in Carmel on June 16-17. This qualification marks a significant milestone for the program, which has only been surpassed in total state appearances by Carmel and West Lafayette Harrison. The Panthers’ current streak is the second-longest in the state’s history, trailing only their own eight-year run from 1996 to 2003.

Key to the team’s success were juniors Owen Wisley and Easton Bellini, who anchored the lineup in the fourth and fifth spots. Wisley shot a 74, highlighted by an eagle on the 12th hole, while Bellini recorded a career-best 75. Bellini described his role as an insurance policy for the team, noting that his confidence had grown significantly after adjusting his putting approach earlier in the season.

Seniors Colton Watson and Carson Gady provided a strong foundation, both shooting 73. Gady improved by six shots compared to his performance at the previous year’s regional. Karl Bailey contributed a 77 in his first regional appearance, rounding out the team’s score. The effort represented the best team score for Bloomington South at a regional since the program switched venues to Country Oaks in 2023.

Coach Dustin Carver praised the team’s resilience, noting that all five scorers finished in the 70s for the first time all season. The Panthers maintained focus despite temperatures soaring to 90 degrees, with every player shooting between 37 and 38 on the front nine. The team’s ability to rebound from a second-place finish at the sectional stage demonstrated a maturity that Carver described as "pretty fearless golf."

Other notable individual performances at the regional included Castle’s Brayden Lamborn, who took the individual medal with a score of 69. Individual qualifiers for the state meet also included Mason Mills of Boonville (70), Ben Schreiber of Evansville North (71), and Val Lenninger of Springs Valley (71). Owen Valley’s Jake Cunningham and Bedford North Lawrence’s Evan Tillett also advanced individually with scores of 74 and 72 respectively.

Bloomington North finished ninth with a score of 315. Senior Rex Speer shot 77, aiming to lead the Cougars back to the state meet in 2027, while freshman Ryan Decker also posted a 77 in his first high school season. Despite the loss, the Panthers remain focused on their state competition, having achieved one of their primary goals for the season.