Jonny Hollar holds up his putter in celebration after sinking a birdie putt on No. 9. (Photos by Nick Goralczyk)

CARMEL – It seems hard to believe but the prep golf career for Warsaw’s Jonny Hollar drew to a conclusion Wednesday afternoon in the second round of the IHSAA Boys Golf State Finals. After shooting a 75 on day one, Hollar returned to Prairie View Golf Club a little more focused and little bolder and would once again sign for a 75 at the end of the day despite the tougher course conditions.

A heavy rain pushed back the start of Wednesday’s round by an hour and Hollar, along with the three players in his group, would play their first two holes in the rain. The course was wet, very wet, and that came into play on several shots throughout the day for the Warsaw senior.

“I was getting off the tee well and putting myself in good position on the fairway,” began Hollar. “The course was really wet. I was really having trouble with my 52 and my pitching wedge. I was digging down and chunking with those clubs because the fairway was so wet. I talked to coach and we just tried to play the different yardages with my eight and nine, stuff like that. That worked out well in the end but, yeah, the fairways were really giving me trouble today.”

Hollar hit a few fairway shots fat and it may have cost him a stroke or two for the round, but those were minor flaws in an otherwise great round from the Tiger. After bogeying his No. 1 to start his day, Hollar reeled off three straight pars and chipped in for birdie on the fifth hole.

On the par four No. 5 Hollar crushed a drive just shy of 300 yards then put his second shot off the backside of the green but rebounded with a well-executed chip which earned a very loud roar from the gallery following his group. Hollar was two over as he teed off on the ninth hole and would shave a stroke by the turn as he sank a birdie putt from 25-feet out on a downhill slope.

Jonny Hollar studies the green while the Warsaw fan section waits patiently in the backdrop.

“I expected Jonny to putt better today, which he did,” said Warsaw head coach Ben Barkey. “I think he played well today. We had different aspects of his game clicking today compared to yesterday and ended up with the same score. That’s who Jonny is, he’s a consistent individual and he’s been a blast to coach the past four years.”

Hollar broke from his consistency a little on the back nine in terms of scoring, but only because he did what most golfers fear, he took chances. Hollar’s biggest risk of the day came on par five No. 13 where he decided to hit over a large water hazard in an attempt to get to the green in two. Hollar did not have the ideal lie for the shot and ended up in the drink. Hollar would settle for a double on the hole. Despite that risky move, Hollar recovered fine and would still have six pars on the back side.

Jonny Hollar walks to his next tee while getting some words of wisdom from Warsaw head coach Ben Barkey.

The Warsaw senior would end his career by throwing all caution to the wind on his final hole and it was a beautiful thing. Hollar crushed his drive on No. 18 and followed it up with another burning shot to set up an eagle putt. Hollar left the eagle attempt short but would not be denied the birdie to cap his career.

“It just seemed fitting to end with a birdie,” said Hollar of his final hole. “You can’t take this opportunity for granted, it’s something special and I just tried to enjoy myself out there. I had a few bad holes and just stepped back and reminded myself what an honor it is to be playing here. And that was good for me to step back and appreciate what a good run this has been.”

Every step of the way Hollar had tremendous support and that did not change at Prairie View as he was followed by his family, coach and teammates for the course of his journey.

“It means so much to me that they care and that they want to watch me,” Hollar remarked. “I don’t really think they understand what it means for me to see them there supporting me. It’s pretty special to not only have my parents but my grandparents, my brother and my friends there to support me.”

While it did not involve Hollar directly, a piece of Warsaw history was brought up during the match. While Hollar and his group finished on No. 14 a loud roar was heard from the green on 15. It was in response to a hole-in-one shot by Castle’s Austin Bratton. The shot was just the fifth hole-in-one in finals history and the first since 2004, made by Warsaw’s Jon Clevenger at The Legends No. 13. Warsaw’s Craig Light was the first player to record a hole-in-one in finals competition as he did it as a sophomore in 1970 tournament.

Westfield won the team championship with a score of 584, edging out Center Grove (588) and third place team Zionsville (603). Columbia City finished tied for 9th with Noblesville as both team posted a 627.

Jonny Hollar gets risky and tries to sail over a water hazard on this shot.