By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – The art of tie-dye, with its signature splash of color and creativity, came to symbolize the hippie era of the 1960s in the United States, although its origins can be traced back to ancient Asia and Peru. It screams counter culture, and nothing clashes more with the prim-and-proper elegance expected on the golf course.
So naturally, to go against the grain, that’s the attire selected by Bedford North Lawrence’s seniors for their final walk around Otis Park. It’s become a tradition with the Stars, dressing down for the final round, and there have been worse fashion faux pas for Senior Day. Beauty still rests in the eyes of the beholders, thus BNL’s five seniors went out with their own style.
They also went out in style with wins. The Stars, with the younger generation doing more of the heavy lifting on the scorecard, recorded victories over West Washington and Mitchell on Thursday afternoon. BNL carded a solid 155 on the back nine, the Senators fired 172, and the Bluejackets finished with 230.
The final round on the home course, with a large fleet of carts following as friends and family flocked in support, can be an emotional minefield. The sport is tough enough without extra baggage in the mental compartment. For seniors Tyler Bellush, Dillon Lewis, Drew McKee and Carson Root – and especially for Coleson Stiles, who missed competing while nursing a knee injury – the moments were heavy with memories. For four years, Otis has been a second home.
“It’s kind of emotional, honestly,” Lewis said. “It’s sad to know it’s all over after four years of being around these guys.”
Bellush did his part with a 5-over 40, but the upperclassmen need to acknowledge the support of freshmen up-and-comers Evan Tillett (37 with two birdies) and Hudson Martin (38), plus Parker Foddrill capped the scoring with 39.
“It was a good score,” said BNL coach Trey Turner, who went through something similar during his playing career for his alma mater. “The freshmen turned in good scores, Tyler played well in an emotional situation, and it was good to get a victory. It is tough. There are a lot of emotions they go through. It’s a bittersweet moment. You don’t get your high school years back.”
“It’s cool to look at past players, like our Coach Trey, and continue on the legacy,” Root said.
Jackson Wiseman paced West Washington with 42. Landon Terrell had a 56 for Mitchell.
What BNL needs to continue is the winning tradition. The Stars will now focus on the postseason, and BNL has not advanced to the regional since 2022. That’s an unacceptable drought.
“It means everything,” McKee said. “That’s what we want most. I’m locking in.”
“It’s definitely achievable,” said Stiles, who hopes to recover in time for the sectional at Cascades on June 9. “It’s just pulling it together that one round.”
With the 11-day layoff until the sectional, BNL can work out kinks and reset the mind.
“I think it’s a good thing,” Turner said. “We’ve been reeling a little bit, struggling with ball striking, so we can reset a little bit, get some practice days, get our minds ready. Getting out is obviously the goal. I think we can play well and get out. We have all the talent in the world to get out of the sectional.”
Bellush and Stiles advanced as individuals last season. But . . . “It would be way more fun as a team,” Bellush said.
The top three teams in the sectional field, plus the top three individuals who are not members of qualifying teams, will advance to the regional at Country Oaks on June 12.
BNL 155, West Washington 172, BNL B 184, Mitchell 230
BNL – Tyler Bellush 40, Evan Tillett 37, Hudson Martin 39, Parker Foddrill 39, Drew McKee 44, Dillon Lewis 42
Mitchell – Kolten Kendall 58, Jackson Drake 59, Briley Slaughterback 63, Braxton Jones 57, Landon Terrell 56, Leo Blanton 64, Dillon Miller 65
West Washington – Jackson Wiseman 42, Carson Mollet 43, Silas Batt 43, Landon Holloway 44, Jack Armstrong 59
BNL B – Asher Thompson 43, Carson Root 44, Kurt Sullivan 56, Ryan Foster 51, Cash Clark 46, Noah Mansenberger 45
