GOSHEN — The Northridge boys golf team has had very little time to prepare for the upcoming IHSAA boys state golf tournament. But nevertheless, the Raiders and their coach feel ready to take to Indiana’s top stage for prep boys golf.

The state tournament is slated for Tuesday and Wednesday at the Legends of Indiana in Franklin.

The Middle Nine and the Road Nine are in use for this year’s state tournament: The Legends is a 27-hole course.

The Raiders plan to be in Franklin on Monday to take advantage of the chance to play a practice round at the Legends course.

Northridge will have to shave even more strokes off its game if the Raiders want to advance to the second day of the state tournament.

After the first day, the top nine teams, plus any team within 12 shots of the lead will move on to the second day.

Last season, the top nine teams after the first day were Columbus North (283); Brebeuf Jesuit (288); Floyd Central (291); Avon (292); Warsaw (293); Terre Haute South (294); Norwell and Evansville Harrison (295); and Huntington North and Zionsville (297). Northridge qualified for the state tournament last week at the regional at Orchard Ridge Country Club in Fort Wayne with a 323 — the third of three teams to qualify for state out of that regional.

Lakeland, meanwhile, is sending a pair of golfers to the state tournament as individuals: Spencer Mortola, who shot a 74 at the regional; and Cody Richardson, who carded a 75.

Mortola will play in the morning wave and has been paired with Lebanon’s Zach Schroeder and LaPorte’s Joel Collins; the trio will tee off at 7:48 a,m. on the Road Nine.

Richardson, meanwhile, will play in the afternoon wave. He was paired with Perry Meridian’s Dylan Windler and Rossville’s Anthony Zachman. That group will tee off at noon on the Road Nine.

Lakeland coach Jon Roush said his two players will be ready for their chance on the big stage of the state tournament.

Roush said both Richardson and Mortola know what’s at stake and what’s expected: A round in the low-to-mid 70s could be needed to advance to the second day.

Roush said he and his two golfers both plan to be at the Legends of Indiana on Monday for a 1:50 p.m. practice round.

Mortola’s father, Tom, is owner and director of golf at Cedar Lake Golf Course in Howe, and has played the Legends course, Roush said.

“We’ll have the guys feel their way through the course, and see what shots feel best to them,” Sienicki said.

Northridge will begin its opening round with Andrew Edlund, who was paired with Indianapolis Cathedral’s Connor Perius and Tipton’s Seth Grimme; the trio will tee off starting at 7:57 a.m, on the 10th hole of the Road Nine.

Tom Morrison will play with Indianapolis Cathedral’s Chris Murray and Tipton’s Tanner Maxey; that group will tee off at 8:06 a.m.

Will Erekson will play with Indianapolis Cathedral’s Ryan Ward and Tipton’s Blake Hoover; they will tee off at 8:15 a.m.

Rhett Holaway will play with Indianapolis Cathedral’s Andrew Derringer and Tipton’s Keegan Gray; they will tee off at 8:24 a.m. Logan McBride will be in a group with Indianapolis Cathedral’s Jon Williams and Tipton’s Mike Crawford; they will tee off at 8:33 a.m.

McBride has played on the course before: He qualified for state as an individual in 2011, shooting a 79 on the first day and missing the cut by just seven strokes.

McBride said that experience will help him prep his teammates for what to expect.

“I can show them where to miss, if you’re going to miss,” McBride said.

And he added that he is very much looking forward to having his teammates along.

As for the tournament itself, McBride said the Raiders’ mental approach will be just as crucial as the physical.

“We know what we’re capable of doing out there,” McBride said. “We have to have the confidence in ourselves to go out there and do it.”

Sienicki said the experience will be different with the entire team along. The Raiders last made it to state as a team in 2008.

“There’s a lot of excitement,” Sienicki said. “It will be a great atmosphere, and our guys are ready.”

One of the things that stands out about the Legends course, Sienicki said, is how open it is.

“You’ve still got to be good tee-to-green players,” Sienicki said.



NOTES: Mortola and Richardson are among 22 players who qualified as individuals. Other notable players from northern Indiana headed to Franklin include East Noble’s Michael Sharp; the entire Warsaw team, which won the Fort Wayne regional ... Warsaw’s Tyler Ostrom is the defending state champion, and will attempt to be the first repeat champion since Jeremy Wilkinson of South Bend Clay won back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995 ... The Tigers are in the state tournament as a team for the fourth consecutive year. ... Brebeuf Jesuit will try to become the first three-time state champion in IHSAA history.