By Will Willems/The Lebanon Reporter
Franklin — Lebanon senior John Frisby had a goal of what he wanted to shoot in the state tournament at Legends of Indiana in Franklin Tuesday and Wednesday.
He was slightly over his goal, but still his one-over 73 Wednesday afternoon gave him a total of a one-over 145 for the two rounds, good enough for a tie in fifth place.
“I thought it would be really nice to shoot even par for the tournament, 72, 72,” Frisby said. “I was just one shot off of that.”
Frisby parred the first three holes before he bogeyed the par-4 fourth after hitting a bunker.
The Lebanon player regained his focus and parred six-straight holes after that to stay one-over at the turn.
He bogeyed the 11th hole to fall to two-over, but after three pars, birdied the par-5 15th, throwing his arms up in relief when the birdie putt went in.
“Overall, I played very well,” Frisby said. “The only struggle was on the greens. The greens were really hard to read. I hit a lot of good putts that just lipped out or did not break like I thought it would. But all-in-all, it was tough conditions and I played well.”
Frisby parred the final three holes, making some clutch putts down the stretch to keep his score.
The top-five finish was enough to garner him first-team all-state honors.
Last season Frisby played one round at the Legends of Indiana after the Tigers qualified as a team for the state tournament.
Although he shot a 79 on that day, Frisby said he learned from that experience.
“I didn’t feel as much pressure as I did last year,” Frisby said. “Last year I learned that I have to keep my stamina in mind. Not playing as much leading up to the event.”
Frisby piled up many accolades his senior season, including repeating as the Sagamore Conference champion.
While he wasn’t completely satisfied with the way he played all season long, he admitted that he really doesn’t have many complaints either.
“It would have been nice if I would have won some of the invitationals, played a little better in the sectionals,” Frisby said. “I was a shot away from winning the regional. But, I have a chance to finish top-5 in the state meet and that is nothing to complain about.”
The first-team all-state will serve as one final accolade for Frisby as a Lebanon Tiger, before he heads to Bellarmine Abbey College in North Carolina next fall.
Frisby said that he will mostly remember his teammates.
“Probably how supportive the team has been,” Frisby said of what he will remember most. “How well they took some of the struggles we faced. No one had any attitude problems and it is nice to play with people like that.”
