Hiland boys golf team returns to state with redemption win at district tournament

In a loaded Division III East District golf championship that featured plenty of teams capable of capturing the lone spot to advance, it would take some solid team golf to make that happen.

The Hiland Hawks (317) overcame challenges from Buckeye Trail (322), Strasburg (329), Garaway (332) and Malvern (337) to rekindle the Hawks’ relationship with the Div. III state tournament.

After last season’s devastating loss to Garaway at the district tournament in which the Pirates earned the trek to state on a fifth-score tiebreaker, the Hawks had been waiting for a chance at redemption and got one, mainly on the strength of No. 1 man Jack Mast, who shot a district medalist even-par 72 at River Greens Golf Course near West Lafayette.

Strasburg’s Gage Bonifant earned the coveted individual medalist honor by firing a 74.

Hiland head coach Austin Kaufman said the return to state is a welcome relief, not just because of last year’s near-miss, but also because of the way this team has invested itself into working hard this year.

“This group has worked so hard to get here,” Kaufman said. “I know that tiebreaker loss last year hurt them a lot and really drove them that much more this offseason.”

Kaufman said he never thought he could have a group that worked harder than Carter Mishler and Brookston Hummel, who paced Hiland to its most recent state title and a couple of state tournament berths.

However, he said watching this group work, especially Mast, who has been on fire this season, has been inspiring.

“All of these guys have been so focused and worked so hard to get here,” Kaufman said. “But Jack, he gets up early before school and hits balls, then comes up here after school and putts for more than an hour.”

He said Mast’s drive and work ethic has rubbed off on his teammates, and their effort led them to where they are today, ready to tee it up at NorthStar Country Club Oct. 13-14 for a chance to grab another state title.

Kaufman said with the success the program has experienced over more than a decade of making it to state many times, he now has 16 members on the team working to improve their game.

With that type of involvement and drive to compete and earn a spot in the top five, it has created plenty of energy and success around the program.

“It’s satisfying because every one of these groups has worked so hard to get there,” Kaufman said.

Hiland’s success over the last decade has seen them make it to state so many times Kaufman can’t remember how many it is. He knows it’s at least seven and possibly eight.

While everyone knew about Mast and junior Andrew Beun, both who were in the mix for Inter-Valley Conference Player of the Year this season, it has been the improvement of sophomore Jesse Conn, junior Grant Bille and freshman Samson Miller that has given the team depth enough to carve a spot back at the state tournament.

“Jesse’s been extremely consistent for us all season, and Grant has really stepped it up since midseason,” Kaufman said. “We needed something like that, and I think that gave us a lot of confidence heading into district play.”

He said Miller has been battling Zane Rosetti all season long for that fifth spot, and Beun has pushed Mast every night out.

“Andrew has been so good going back to when he first stepped into the program,” Kaufman said. “Having him there to compete with Jack has helped them both become better players.”

For a team loaded with talent and a program steeped in tradition and success, that experience should come in handy as the Hawks tackle a difficult NorthStar course that they’ve played plenty before.

“It’s a tough course, but fortunately, we’ve had some opportunities to play it, and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” Kaufman said.

He said even though the team has been to state a great deal in the past decade-plus, the thrill never changes, and the new faces getting their first opportunity should cherish the moment. Kaufman said no matter how many times it happens, each moment and each year is something special to remember.