A look at local prep golfing accomplishments

In a picture from a few years ago, former Linton-Stockton golfers Tim Fish (left) and Chris Taylor share a lighter moment on the golf course. Both are part of the local history of high school golf in Greene County as they both participated in the state finals during their careers as Miners. (By B.J. Hargis/Greene County Daily World).

The one in this case was Clayton French of Linton-Stockton.

After French qualified for this year's state finals, it got me to thinking about other individuals or teams that have accomplished noteworthy things in high school golf.

It was last week when I started this process in trying to find information about Linton-Stockton golfers and teams that have made it to state.

But this week is has expanded into trying to find out even more, and I found some things I did not know, thanks to the Internet and from old bound newspaper copies and microfilm.

Shane Miller of Bloomfield qualified for the regional as an individual in three consecutive years -- 1992 to 1994 -- but ended up a couple of strokes from advancing to state out of the Heritage Hills Regional at Christmas Lake. He shot 85 in 1992, 79 in 1993 and 78 in 1994, missing the cut for state by two strokes as a senior in '94.

Miller appears to have been the only Greene County prep golfer to advance out of the sectional in three consecutive years as an individual.

Miller was low medalist at the 1993 Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference tournament at Phil Harris with a 74, leading the Cardinals to the team title. The Miners ironically had their entire team -- Nick McCammon, Andrew Sollars, Craig House, Troy Ogden and Jason Gregory -- earn all-conference honors but finished second in the team standings.

The Cards repeated the next year, but Ogden was low medalist with a 77. The Cardinals defeated the Miners by four shots.

The Miners won the league title in 1995, but it was WRV sophomore Brian Steward who stood out. He shot a 36-40 to finish with a 76. The 36 was a then school record for nine holes.

Steward shot a 76 at the sectional and qualified for the regional some 17 years ago.

Two years later, Stewart shot a 74 to earn low medalist at the SWIAC, setting a school record for 18 holes.

But Brock Anderson's 75 led the Miners to the team title in 1997

Bloomfield defeated the Miners by seven strokes -- 322 to 329 in 1998 -- in what seemed like another conference competition. More on that in a minute.

Anderson was low medalist with a 74 as Darren Clayton was in his first season as Miner coach after taking over for Jack Johnson.

Keygan Spencer shot 75 to pace the Cardinals. Nathan Helms (79), Jeremy Vest (83) and Troy Helms shot an 85, each earning all-SWIAC honors for BHS.

Shakamak's Brandon Calvert, Chris Jones and Ryan Lewis each made all-conference, the first time three Lakers earned such honors.

This was the last time a non-Linton school won the team title. The Miners have held up the conference trophy in each of the past 14 seasons.

One year later, Vest became the first Cardinal in five years to qualify for the regional. No Bloomfield golfer has advanced out of the sectional since. He had to defeat Calvert in a playoff at the Sullivan Elks Club to advance.

Mike Lacy of Shakamak played well enough to earn a trip to the regional in 2002, along with Linton-Stockton senior Tim Fish, who made state for the second consecutive season.

Bloomfield had won the last nine-hole conference tournament in 1980 and then repeated in the first 18-hole event in 1981.

The Miners won the SWIAC in 1982. They defeated Bloomfield, Switz City (Central) and Union as only four teams competed.

Ironically, Bloomfield had won the Blue Chip Conference tournament just two days earlier.

Linton missed the regional by one shot in 1982, losing out to Vincennes Lincoln 341-342 at Hulman Links.

But Lee Elliott became what is believed to be the first golfer from this area to advance to the state.

The Miner sophomore was low medalist at the SWIAC with a 74. He shot a 78 at the sectional at Hulman Links and then defeated two golfers to win a playoff to earn a trip to the regional.

He fired a 75 at Otis Park in Bedford, making state, which was then at the Old Oakland Golf Course in Indianapolis. He missed the cut for a second day of competition.

Below is a list of the individuals and teams believed to have qualified for state.

I have listed the individuals that have qualified for a regional, as far as I could find. I still have some gaps in SWIAC results, which I am still working on.

If you have any additions or corrections, please let me know.

To all you duffers and non-duffers alike, fairways and greens.

B.J. Hargis is the sports editor at the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached at (812) 847-4487, ext. 12 or at hargisbj@gmail.com.

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS GOLF HISTORY

INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIERS FOR STATE FINALS

1982 -- Lee Elliott, Linton-Stockton, did not qualify for second day (Old Oakland Golf Course in Indianapolis)

2001 -- Tim Fish, Linton-Stockton, did not qualify for second day (The Legends in Franklin)

2002 -- Tim Fish, Linton-Stockton, 71-72, 143, third place (The Legends)

Fish made All-State team in 2001 and 2002.

2012 -- Clayton French, Linton-Stockton, 74-83, 157, tied for 28th. (The Legends).

INDIVIDUAL REGIONAL QUALIFIERS

1982 -- Lee Elliott, Linton-Stockton

1992 -- Shane Miller, Bloomfield

1993 -- Shane Miller, Bloomfield

1994 -- Shane Miller, Bloomfield

1995 -- Brian Steward, White River Valley

1999 -- Jeremy Vest, Bloomfield

2001 -- Tim Fish, Linton-Stockton

2002 -- Mike Lacy, Shakamak; Tim Fish, Linton-Stockton

2003 -- Drew Dunkerly, Linton-Stockton

2007 -- George Fritch, Caleb Dunkerly, Linton-Stockton

2009 -- Jordan Bradbury, Linton-Stockton

2010 -- Chase Rhoten, Ben Boyd, Linton-Stockton

STATE FINALS QUALIFIERS

1984 -- Linton-Stockton, coach Wally Swaby (Lee Elliott, Greg Elliott, Scott Markle, Roy Payne and Mark Orr). (At Old Oakland Golf Course in Indianapolis).

2005 -- Linton-Stockton, coach Chad House (Drew Dunkerly, Caleb Fischer, Shane Thornton, Caleb Dunkerly, and Chris Taylor). (At The Legends, Franklin).

REGIONAL CHAMPIONS

2005 -- Linton-Stockton, coach Chad House. (At Christmas Lake).

SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS

1989 -- Linton-Stockton, coach Ted Bishop

2006 -- Linton-Stockton, coach Chad House (Chris Taylor, Caleb Dunkerly, George Fritch, Caleb Fischer, Shane Thornton).

2012 -- Linton-Stockton, coach Derek Bradbury (At Phil Harris Golf Course, Linton).

REGIONAL QUALIFIERS

1984 -- Linton-Stockton, coach Wally Swaby, (Third at Terre Haute Sectional).

1989 -- Linton-Stockton, coach Ted Bishop (Sectional champs)

1993 -- Linton-Stockton, coach Jack Johnson (Third at Terre Haute South Sectional, Rea Park)

1999 -- Linton-Stockton, coach Darren Clayton (Third at Terre Haute Sectional, Sullivan Elks Club).

2000 -- Linton-Stockton, coach Darren Clayton (Third at Terre Haute North Sectional, Hulman Links).

2002 -- Linton-Stockton, coach Darren Clayton (Second at Terre Haute North Sectional, Hulman Links)

2004 -- Linton-Stockton, coach Darren Clayton (Third at Owen Valley Sectional, Rolling Meadows)

2005 -- Linton-Stockton, coach Chad House (Second at Owen Valley Sectional, Rolling Meadows).

2006 -- Linton-Stockton, coach Chad House (Owen Valley Sectional champs, Rolling Meadows)

2008 -- Linton-Stockton, coach Bart Beard (Third at Owen Valley Sectional, Rolling Meadows).

2011 -- Linton-Stockton, coach Derek Bradbury (Third at Owen Valley Sectional, Rolling Meadows).

2012 -- Linton-Stockton, coach Derek Bradbury (Linton-Stockton Sectional champs at Phil Harris, Linton).

SECTIONAL SITE NOTES

Sectional in 1982 played at Hulman Links.

Sectional in 1999 played at Sullivan Elks, but Terre Haute North was host school

Sectional in 2001 played at Terre Haute Elks Club, moved from Hulman Links because of excessive rain.

Sectional in 2000, 2002 and 2003 played at Hulman Links

Sectional between 2004 and 2011 played at Rollings Meadows

Sectional in 2012 played at Phil Harris, Linton.

COACHING NOTES

Jack Johnson's last year as Miner coach was 1997.

Darren Clayton was Miner coach between 1998 and 2004

Steve Brett was golf coach when the Cardinals won the SWIAC in 1993.

SWIAC CHAMPS

1980 -- Bloomfield (9 holes)

1981 -- Bloomfield (first year match was 18 holes)

1982 -- Linton-Stockton

1993 -- Bloomfield

1994 -- Bloomfield

1995 -- Linton-Stockton

1996 -- Linton-Stockton

1997 -- Linton-Stockton

1998 -- Bloomfield

1999 -- Linton-Stockton

2000 -- Linton-Stockton

2001 -- Linton-Stockton

2002 -- Linton-Stockton

2003 -- Linton-Stockton

2004 -- Linton-Stockton

2005 -- Linton-Stockton

2006 -- Linton-Stockton

2007 -- Linton-Stockton

2008 -- Linton-Stockton

2009 -- Linton-Stockton

2010 -- Linton-Stockton

2011 -- Linton-Stockton

2012 -- Linton-Stockton