Bedford North Lawrence boys golf host and toast of 2022 Hoosier Hills Conference match

BEDFORD — The Bedford North Lawrence boys golf so thoroughly enjoyed last season's single-stroke victory over Floyd Central to win the Hoosier Hills Conference championship that the Stars decided it was worth repeating.

That's exactly what they did Saturday, only with a bit more cushion by posting a team score of 325 as they edged the Highlanders at 332 and New Albany's 339, while barely beating the tornado warning sirens that blared over Otis Park just after the awards ceremony.

Columbus East (350), Seymour (361), Jennings County (393) and Jeffersonville (434) rounded out the field.

Answers blowin' in the wind

With the wind whipping around forcefully, particularly toward the end as yet another nasty storm moved in on Bedford, freshman Tyler Bellush shot an 18-hole career best of 80 to lead the Stars. Senior Trevin Hutchinson (81) and junior Colton Staggs (81) also earned First Team All-Conference honors on a day that was not ideal for scoring low.

Junior Jett Jones and senior Dylan Endris each carded 83 to round out BNL's scoring and help the squad retain the title. The conditions were rugged and quite unique because Thursday's major storm flooded the course and knocked one of the beautiful stone bridges out on the back nine.

It meant the players had to play the par-37 front nine twice, with par adjustments on a couple of holes to make it play as a par-72 for 18 holes. Ultimately, it all played the same for every team, and BNL coach Jeff Hein was proud of his players for adapting. 

"It's great to win a conference under any conditions or situation," he said. "It was windy out there, especially the last few holes with the bad weather coming on, and of course having to play the front nine twice was different.

"That may have actually benefitted us, I don't really know, but it's always good to be home. It feels great to win, I'm proud of the guys, and to do it back-to-back two years in a row is pretty special."

The youngest leads them

Bellush is a high school rookie, but he's no stranger to the sport, hailing from one of Bedford's top golf families, and the kid came through in the clutch with 8-over 80, and he was remarkably consistent with 40 on each nine.

"Tyler Bellush shooting his 80 was huge for us," Hein said. "It's his best round of the season and we needed it. I thought he putted a lot better today and that was probably the key because it had been a problem for him recently.

"Both me and his dad (Michael) have been working a lot with him on his putting, and he's put in the time. It paid off today."

Hutchinson has been BNL's season-long leader, and he burst out with birdies on No.1 and No.4, but it went awry and a quad bogey 8 at No.8 left him at 42 for his first nine. He recovered for a 39 on the second nine.

Staggs posted a pair of birdies while carding an identical 42-39 round, while Jones and Endris failed to find birdies, but avoided any big numbers to come in at 83.

"Trevin was 2-under after four holes, but went bogey-bogey-bogey-8-bogey, so it got a little rough for awhile," Hein noted. "He came back with a 39 to get a decent round. Colton Staggs just keeps getting better and keeps getting the job done. 

"Dylan did a nice job in a playoff Thursday to get to play today, and he and Jett weren't great today, but they were solid.

"With the wind, I don't think we played our best today, but we put them all together in a nice pack today between 80 and 83. We'd like to have them between 75 and 80, but they did what it took to win today, and maybe we'll get them packed in with lower scores when it really counts.

"We threw a few shots away here and there, but to win when our top two players weren't at their best says a lot about this team."

By the numbers

New Albany's Blaine Hamilton was the only golfer who threatened to shoot par as he earned medalist honors with a 75. Floyd Central's Levi Reid and Gabe Lamb each shot 82 to join Hamilton, Bellush, Hutchinson and Staggs on the All-HHC team.

Spencer Erfmeier and Pierce Arnholt each carded 83 to pace Columbus East, while Oliver Kardos led Seymour with an 85, Xander O'Neal shot 89 to lead Jeffersonville, and Jake Grider and Jack George each shot 93 for Jennings County.

What's next

The Stars are back in action Tuesday at Shadowood in Seymour against the Owls and Providence before hosting Mitchell and West Washington Thursday back at Otis Park.

Contact Times-Mail Sports Writer Jeff Bartlett at jeffb@tmnews.com, or on Twitter @jeffbtmnews.