Crawfordsville boys golf put it all together from the top down in 2022 thanks to the play of its many seniors. Both Luke Ranard and Landon Timmons both are now currently playing golf at Wabash while Landon Hurt was another steady rock for the success a season ago. CHS qualified for the Regional and shot a season best 342 to end 2022.
This season while it will be very difficult for CHS to replace the leadership and play of those seniors, head coach Tom Perkins does have one player he know he can rely on. Sophomore Tanner Gilland broke onto the scene as freshman a season ago and was the medalsit (73) at the county meet which allowd the Athenians to capture the county chase title.
“We have lots of questions marks as we begin the year,” Perkins said. “However we’re counting on Tanner as he’s continued to work tirelessly and is pushing our strong Junior class golfers to follow his lead. We’re going to ask a lot from him but we know that he’s talented and driven enough to do whatever we ask of him.”
Crawfordsville also returns junior Hayden Jeffries from the varsity roster a season ago. Fellow junior Thomas Bowling and with Braxton Smith and a pair of seniors in Carter Truax and Andrew Jones make up the upper classmen.
“Our schedule is again loaded with strong competition,” Perkins added. “We will again be entered in the Danville, Greenwood, Lebanon, and Southmont Invites. They’re challenging courses that should help us prepare for post season.”
The goals for Perkins new-look Athenian team are still set high as he knows the challenges that lie ahead for his team in 2023.
“Our team goals are to defend our three championships from 2022 (Covington and Southmont Invites, and County Championship), while returning to the Regional as a team,” he said. “It will take our best effort, as Southmont will have a talented, experienced team, and North Montgomery will have a team that has continued to improve for coach Ryker.”
The Athenians open up their season today with a dual meet at the Crawfordsville Municipal Golf Course against South Putnam.
