Grubnich grinds out KV Invite win

DEMOTTE -- Nick Grubnich had the kind of round only he could call forgettable.

On a picture perfect scoring day -- soft conditions, sunny with just a bit of a breeze -- the sophomore from Crown Point shot a 2-over 74 Saturday at Sandy Pines in the Kankakee Valley Invitational. That score was good enough for him to take medalist honors over Taylor Noel of Boone Grove. Noel finished with a 77.

But it wasn't good enough to satisfy Grubnich's ultra high standards.

Last year, Grubnich finished third in state. He expects to do well and he's disappointed when he doesn't. Grubnich was disappointed because he was three under par after six holes.

He was ready to go low.

The fast start left him quickly.

After making birdies on Nos. 1, 4 and 6 and missing a four-footer for birdie on No. 7, Grubnich hit a wall.

He made double bogies on Nos. 9 and 11 after hitting drives out of bounds. He never could find his rhythm after the shaky drives.

"I hit the ball terrible," he said.

Grubnich managed to limp home with the help of some decent chipping and putting.

"I just tried to hold it together," he said.

Andrean was able to hold it together for the team title.

If nothing else, the 59ers, who shot a 329, have proved to be a steady bunch.

They had four players shoot between 80 and 85 to earn the victory by three strokes over Boone Grove.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day was that scores weren't lower.

"I thought overall the scores would be lower," Andrean coach Dennis Pokropinski said. "The higher scores made it anyone's game."

Call the 59ers a bunch of grinders.

At an easier track, they shot a 310 in the Michigan City Invitational a couple of weeks ago. They did that with four scores in the 70's.

Matt Lynch had the low score for Andrean with an 80.

Lynch also thought some team would post a lower number.

"I know there are a couple holes out here that can get you," he said.

For the most part, though, Pokropinski will take the win.

The season is a long haul and his players have time.

"The important thing is they're learning and getting better," he said. "It's all about getting ready for sectionals."

Contact Mike Hutton at 648-3139 or mhutton@post-trib.com