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
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