Former Oriole golfers succeeding at next level

Sports

July 2, 2009

By Todd Taylor The Hendricks County Flyer Thu Jul 02, 2009, 11:29 PM EDT

After the Avon golf team hoisted the state championship trophy, head coach Brent Sailor was quick to credit the players who had helped build the program.

The program has gradually cemented itself as a state power over the years finishing 11th in ’06, sixth in ’07, and second in ’08 before bringing home a state title in ’09.

“Avon golf is not just the five that played in this year’s state finals,” Sailor said. “Avon golf is everybody that has played for Avon and everybody that has gone through the program in the last four or five years, has contributed, and has helped build the program and establish what it is today.”

Several players who recently passed through Avon’s program are now excelling at the college level.

Ronnie Harris — a 2008 Avon graduate — recently finished his freshman season at DePauw University. He led the team with a 74.7 stroke average, was the top freshman from the Great Lakes Region, and was one of six players named to the Division III All-Freshmen Team.

Harris shot a 150 (tied for 28th best) at the 2008 state meet, helping the Orioles to a second-place finish.

Blair Webb — a 2007 Avon graduate — will enter his junior season at the University of Indianapolis. He was all-conference as a freshman and placed 32nd at the Division II Championships. Webb averaged a 74.2 his sophomore year and helped lead the Greyhounds to a sixth-place finish at the Division II championships.

“It’s been pretty awesome to come into the right situation, I really felt included and part of the team right when I stepped in,” Webb said.

Webb was a three-time team MVP for the Orioles and finished tied for 15th individually at state his senior year at Avon. Webb was in attendance when Avon won its first state championship in June.

“It was pretty awesome, I was really proud of them,” Webb said. “Back when I was a freshman we were shooting in the 320s. Now that’s probably what the JV team shoots.”

Ryan Wegeng was a classmate of Webb at Avon and now plays golf at Butler University. He recently completed his sophomore season and had a 77.6 average in 18 rounds. Wegeng shot a season-low 69 in the third round of the team’s host invitational.

“It’s definitely been a challenge, but that’s why I chose Butler, to play at the highest level I could,” Wegeng said.

Wegeng attended the first round of Avon’s state championship performance, but had to check for updates at work as the Orioles came down the stretch.

“I was really happy, I remember I kept looking at my phone for updates,” he said. “It gave me goosebumps, I knew they could do it.”

Avon sophomore Patrick Rodgers, who led the Orioles to their ’09 championship, acknowledged the players who helped pave the way.

“All those guys set the stage and we could not have won the state championship without them,” Rodgers said. “They were the first to get there and that’s an awesome accomplishment. That kind of set the stage for us. Every year we’ve kept improving.”

todd.taylor@flyergroup.com

Text Only

Sports

Bethesda makes history with sectional win
BROWNSBURG — Senior Olivia Harrison literally helped build Bethesda Christian’s field four years ago and Thursday night she was instrumental in breaking ground in another area for the Patriots — a sectional championship.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Cadets fall to Eagles in sectional final
CLAYTON — Despite all of Cascade’s best efforts, the Cadets came up short in their sectional softball final for the second consecutive year. Three Cadet errors late in the game set up the South Putnam Eagles’ win.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Heartbreaking loss ends Orioles’ season prematurely
INDIANAPOLIS — It was not supposed to end like this.

Graduating only two seniors from last year’s Class 4A state runner-up softball team and returning the core of its squad, this was going to be to the season the Avon softball team took the crown.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Bulldogs bite Orioles
AVON — The contest between the Avon and Brownsburg baseball teams would have ended as a 1-0 advantage for the Bulldogs had the second and third innings not gotten away from the Orioles. Brownsburg caught fire in those two innings of Thursday’s sectional game and won convincingly, 7-1.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Patriots eliminate Quakers
PLAINFIELD — Baseball legend Willie Keeler once said the secret of hitting was to “hit ‘em where they ain’t.” Unfortunately for the Plainfield Quakers baseball team, too many of their key at bats went to Terre Haute North fielders as the Patriots won a 5-1 decision over the host Quakers in the opening game of Class 4A Sectional 12 on Wednesday.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Bulldogs wake up in sixth inning, pull off comeback win
INDIANAPOLIS— For five innings, it looked like Brownsburg’s postseason run would end the same night it begun.

May 22, 2012 1 Photo
Cadets blow by Bulldogs, 9-0
CLAYTON — Following a 9-1 win over Cloverdale on Monday night, the Cascade softball team returned to the field for second round play against Monrovia on Tuesday in the 2012 2A Sectional No. 44 semifinal.

May 22, 2012 1 Photo
Avon's doubles team advances
INDIANAPOLIS — Avon’s top doubles girls’ tennis team could have lost concentration after an early advantage.

May 22, 2012 1 Photo
Bruins win late to advance in sectional, 3-2
BEECH GROVE - With three hits through five innings, the Tri-West softball team needed some offense and the bottom of its lineup came through.

May 22, 2012
Bulldogs fall in sectional final
BROWNSBURG — Heading into the sectional final last Saturday, the Brownsburg girls’ tennis team sought its 10th sectional championship. After four matches had finished, it was knotted up at 2-2 with the No. 2 singles match heading into the third and deciding set.

May 22, 2012 1 Photo
More Sports Headlines

Sports

Search Results

Former Oriole golfers succeeding at next level

Do you think using a tanning bed is worth the risk of skin Cancer?

Site Map