Valparaiso wins LaPorte Regional boys golf crown

LAPORTE | In Valparaiso coach Wayne Lichtenberger's eyes, his golfers weren't competing for the LaPorte Regional crown Friday afternoon at Beechwood Golf Course.

Lichtenberger hoped to get another chance to win the Uebele Invitational title, which was played at the same site May 14. The Vikings posted their worst tourney round of the season and finished third with a 322. Almost a month later, the Vikings carved 20 strokes and won their first regional title since 2005 with a 302.

"I don't think (Uebele winner) South Bend St. Joseph's is going to give us that trophy," Lichtenberger said, "but our guys played so much better today. I'm proud of them."

Valparaiso picked up the program's sixth title, and the Vikings will make their first trip to the state finals since 2006. Opening-round play begins Tuesday at The Legends of Indiana Golf Course in Franklin.

Crown Point junior Nick Grubnich didn't believe he hit the ball that well, but that didn't stop him from earning medalist with a 71. He birdied the second playoff hole to edge Boone Grove's Tyler Nicol.

"I scored very well," said Grubnich, who makes his third straight appearance at state. "I could have made a few more putts."

The Vikings led by two strokes heading into the back nine and held off Penn (303) by a stroke. St. Joseph's edged host LaPorte 314-315 for the final spot.

Shortly after the Uebele, Lichtenberger aired his feelings to the team.

"I let it be known that we could play much better than that," he said. "This helped take off some of the focus of being at the regional and trying to qualify for state.

"Wow! That was a fantastic round."

Vikings freshman Bobby Jacobs led the way with a 1-over-par 73.

"I just hit it a little bit better today," said Jacobs, who birdied Nos. 14 and 16. "I had a lot of birdie opportunities.

"I didn't feel any pressure. We could only go uphill from here."

Even though Grubnich was 1-under par at the turn, he wasn't comfortable with his game.

"I was playing conservatively, and I definitely didn't feel good after the first six holes," said Grubnich, who surpassed his previous best regional round by five strokes. "I was slapping the ball all over the place.

"I finally started to settle down. I just started to go for it. I feel pretty good about state."

BOYS GOLF | LAPORTE REGIONAL

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For more coverage of Friday's LaPorte Regional, visit nwi.com/sports.