Jonny Hollar (at right) is congratulated by teammate Ryan Cultice after winning a playoff at the Warsaw Regional on Thursday to advance to State. Hollar will compete in the State Finals Tuesday and Wednesday in Carmel (File photo by Nick Goralczyk)

WARSAW – Warsaw boys golf coach Ben Barkey would love to have his entire team playing in the State Finals Tuesday and Wednesday.

That being said, he knows that his program will be well-represented in the final two rounds of the 2014-15 season.

Warsaw standout Jonny Hollar, who earned his spot in the field in thrilling fashion on his home course last week, will be one of 25 individuals in the field at the Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel for the IHSAA State Finals.

The 15 teams (75 players) and the 25 individuals will all play 36 holes at the 79th annual season finale starting Tuesday morning.

“We’re sad that our season is over, but as a group we are very excited for Jonny and the possibilities for him,” said Barkey in a phone interview on Sunday. “All of the seniors on this year’s team (Jonny, Brandon Eckert, Ryan Cultice and Reid Cameron) put a lot of work in and all three of them (Jonny, Brandon and Ryan) played great for us in the regional.”

Hollar, who was one of three seniors in the Warsaw lineup in their own regional last Thursday, knows all about the State Finals.  He played one round in the event as a freshman in 2012 and again as a sophomore in 2013 when the Tigers advanced their entire team to State. Hollar shot an 86 as a freshman at State and then posted rounds of 80 and 79 as a sophomore.

“His mind will be in the right place come Tuesday,” Barkey said. “This is his third trip to State so he knows what this is like.”

The State Finals this year is at a new venue. Prairie View will host the event for the first time for the boys this week after hosting the State Finals for the girls last fall. The course is scheduled to host the State Finals through 2019.

Hollar, who played in the State Finals his previous two trips at The Legends Golf Club in Franklin (which served as the host for State from 2001-14), is no stranger to Prairie View. The Tigers played in an invitational there last year and also took part in a tourney there back in May, although the event was rained out just before their round was finished.

“Jonny is pretty familiar with the course and we will play a practice round there on Monday and talk about his gameplan for Tuesday,” said Barkey. “He will be well rested and ready to go on Tuesday.”

Hollar fired a round of 75 in the Warsaw Regional on Thursday at the Stonehenge Golf Club. He then earned his spot at State by winning a four-player playoff with a birdie on the first hole. The Tigers shot 314 at the regional to place fifth, missing out on a top three finish and a berth at State as a team.

Hollar, who will attend Butler University, shot 72 in the Warsaw Sectional at the Rozella Ford Golf Club and had a 79 in the NLC Tournament. He helped Barkey’s program, which won a state title in 2005, win a regional, two sectionals and three conference titles in his four years as a member of the varsity.

“We are definitely going down there with the mindset of competing for a state title,” remarked Barkey, whose program had Tyler Ostrom win a state championship as an individual in 2011. “Jonny is driving the ball well and his short game and putting both are good. We just hope that all the pieces are clicking for him Tuesday and Wednesday and let’s see what happens.”

Hollar is scheduled to tee-off Tuesday at 8:36 a.m. on No. 10 at Prairie View. He will be paired with a trio of sophomores in Adam McDivitt of Oak Hill, Ellis Yoder of Homestead and Neil Hart of Lafayette Harrison.

The State Finals on Tuesday and Wednesday, including Hollar’s two rounds, can be followed at BirdieFire.com.