Slow start costs Bradbury at golf regional

Linton-Stockton senior Jordan Bradbury follows through on a tee shot at the Washington boys golf regional at the Country Oaks Golf Course in Montgomery Thursday. Bradbury finished with an 18-hole total of 83. (By B.J. Hargis/Greene County Daily World). [Order this photo]

MONTGOMERY -- Jordan Bradbury completed his high school golf career for the Linton-Stockton Miners Thursday at the Washington Regional.

Bradbury took a triple bogey on the opening hole at the Country Oaks Golf Club here and never recovered.

He was five-over after the opening three holes and took a 44 on the front nine, 12-over par.

Linton-Stockton senior Jordan Bradbury (left) chats with Miner coach Bart Beard (right) and Miner golfer Chase Rhoten during the Washington boys regional at the Country Oaks Golf Course in Montgomery Thursday. Bradbury finished with an 18-hole total of 83. (By B.J. Hargis/Greene County Daily World). [Order this photo]

He bogeyed the 18th hole to finish the back nine at three-over 39, finishing with a round of 83, 11-over par

"I don't know if it was nerves or what, but I took an eight on the first hole," said Bradbury, who was part of the Miner team that qualified for the regional in 2008. "I just did not play very good golf today. This is not the way that I wanted to finish off my career."

"There are some very good golfers here at the regional. You have to play well to have a chance to advance. I tried to mentally get over those first couple of holes, but I never was able to do it completely."

The top three teams and as well as the top three individuals not on qualifying teams, including ties, advanced to next week's state finals.

"Jordan has nothing to be ashamed," said Linton-Stockton coach Bart Beard. "He has been a great kid to work with over the last couple of years. He has not been any trouble and it has been a pleasure to coach him."

"He has played some very good golf for us at times, and he is going to be hard to replace."

Unlike last year, when wind gusts reached 40 mph, there was an off an on rain throughout Bradbury's round before the sun came out near the end.

"It has not been the best of weather conditions for the players this spring," said Beard. "But all of the kids have to play in it.

"I think Jordan might have slipped on one tee, but conditions were actually not all that bad today.

Beard said it was just not Jordan's day.

"He just hit in it in the water on No. 1. He has not been putting as well lately as he did early in the season," said Beard. "I believe he three-putted on each of the first three holes, which really hurt him on the scorecard and mentally as well.

"But he battled back and played much better on the back nine. If he could have shot three-over on the front, he might have had a chance to get out to state."

The Miners finished the season with a 55-23 record and extended their winning streaks in both the Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference and Tri-River Conference. Beard will lose Bradbury and Derrick Barker to graduation.

"We lose two good golfers," said Beard. "And we have several young kids returning that played some really good golf at times for us this year.

"But like in any sport, you make improvements with the work you put in during the off-season. We also have a couple of junior high kids that should be able to step in and help us next year. I am looking forward to continuing to work with the kids."