Schalch qualifies for state ‘A’ golf tournament

By Brad Laux

Junior Daulton Schalch became just the fourth Black Devil in Deming High School history to qualify for a state boys’ golf tournament, when he carded an 81 on Monday at the 10th Region Tournament All “A” championship.

Schalch joins his cousin, Rex, as the only two Deming boys to have ever earned a bid to the All “A” state tournament. Rex qualified for the 2008 event. Two other Black Devils made the KHSAA state championships – Josh Goddard in 2008 and John Ross Hendrix in 2004.

Daulton Schalch finished second overall at the regional tournament at the Flagg Springs Golf Course in California, Ky., to earn one of two individual berths to the state tournament, which will be held at the Silo Golf Course in Paducah on Sept. 10.

Schalch qualified for the state event, despite being thoroughly disappointed with his round.

“Nothing went really well, but I pulled it together. I didn’t get any lucky breaks,” he said. “I didn’t play like I wanted to play, but I’m happy I still managed to get a spot (to the state).”

Even Deming coach Aaron Massey noted that it was not Schalch’s best day.

“He was able to keep his head up even though he struggled through some holes,” Massey said. “He started out with a birdie on the first, but then he had some bad holes and regrouped. He had some more bad holes in the end, but hung in there, kept his focus and pulled it out.”

Despite his struggles, Schalch was able to use some long drives off the tee to compensate for his short game and accomplish one of his season goals.

“My driving helped bail me out,” he said. “I had a few bogeys and had to try to make a few birdies after bad holes and just try to recover. I birdied the first hole and that gave me some confidence, but then I bogeyed two and had a double bogey on three, and I got my head down and got in the wrong spot.”

However, he was able to pick himself up and birdie the par-4, 336-yard fourth hole.

“On four, I went driver, wedge and hit a put for birdie,” he said. “I was sitting about 30 yards out off my drive.”

            Most of Schalch’s difficulties on the day came from the challenges of the Flagg Springs course.

“I wasn’t hitting irons or wedges like wanted and that put me in bad spots,” he said. “I mostly saved myself on par fours with birdies (finishing the day with three).”

            The key to his success was mental. At the same tournament as a sophomore, he finished five strokes short of a state bid.

“I knew going in to the tournament I had a chance, but I had to keep it together to have a shot,” he said. “My mental state was not to choke or break down. I knew my game wasn’t on, but I had to do anything I could to save it.”

Massey was impressed by Schalch’s determination.

“Last year at the All ‘A’ regionals, he was five strokes out from qualifying. He knew with a little extra hard work he’d qualify (this year),” he said. “He knew what he had to do and that’s been his goal since last year and he’s worked hard to get it.”

Deming finished fifth in the team standings with a 398. Bishop Brossart claimed the title with a 349 to earn the state tournament bid. Paris came in second with a 359, followed by Augusta at 377 and Nicholas County at 397. Calvary Christian was sixth at 448, followed by St. Patrick at 467 and Silver Grove at 553.

Tyler Burns and Brett Reis each carded a 104, while Justin Pilosky shot a 109 and Clay Cox tallied a 142 for the Black Devils. Bishop Brossart’s Jimmy Kelley was the tournament’s  individual medalist with an 80. Paris’ Evan Carpenter won a playoff against Augusta’s Jordan Woodruff and Caleb Hunt to earn the second individual state berth behind Schalch. All three shot an 84 through 18 holes of regulation.

“The team’s got guys with experience and some just starting out. We have our ups and downs, but they play as hard as they can play,” Massey said. “Daulton is our anchor. He’s put up good numbers all year long and we’ve put some guys around him to build a solid foundation.”

            Schalch knows that he will need to play much better once he gets to Paducah.

            “If he plays his game he’ll be in good shape. He needs to stay away from the double bogeys. He‘ll get some bogeys, but he usually recovers with a birdie,” Massey said. “He’s already been tournament tested by winning the Bryan Conway (Memorial Tournament) in (early) August in Maysville, so this is a good stepping stone and a good experience for him. Our main goal for him is to make the end of the season state tournament in September.”

            For Schalch it is all about how he performs, not what anyone else does.

            “If I play the game I’m capable of playing without breaking down and getting too nervous, I’ll be happy. I’m just going to try to stay focused on my game and not worry about anything else, because when I do that is when I get into trouble,” he said. “Parts of my game need to play well (to be competitive at the state tournament), but I can be happy with how I play even if everything doesn’t go well. I just want to play how I can play and not worry about how I finish, and I’ll be happy with myself.”

Freshman Jared Cummins was the lone Deming representative to win a match at the 10th Region Tennis Tournament. Cummins defeated Augusta's Bryan Linville 6-0, 6-0, in the first round before falling to fifth-seeded Forrest Thornberry ofMontgomeryCounty in the second round. Photo by Thomas Mitchell.

Sophomore Brooke Smith (left) and senior Ivana Fithen nearly knocked off Petina Strickley and Kristen Lenz of Newport Central Catholic in the first round of doubles play at the 10th Region Tennis Tournament, before falling in a tiebreaker. It was the final match of Fithen's career, while Smith is expected to return next year. Photo by Thomas Mitchell.