Triton’s Chase Butler chips up onto the 18th green at Stonehenge during a dual meet with Warsaw Monday. Butler’s 37 earned him low-medalist honors and put the Trojans over the top. (Photos by James Costello)

WINONA LAKE — Warsaw and Triton have enjoyed a healthy rivalry in the sport of boys golf over the years, but more often than not, when the two teams have met at the Tigers’ home course at Stonehenge, the orange and black have had the upper hand.

When the Trojans made the move to the Winona Lake club themselves this year, that home course advantage disappeared for Warsaw, however, and the sectional rivals were on a level playing field for Monday’s nine-hole dual. Buoyed by Chase Butler’s 1-over-par 37 in less-than-ideal conditions, Triton topped the Tigers by a stroke, 163-164, at Stonehenge.

“The summer time we spent a lot of time out here too, and I think transitioning over here this year, being able to play obviously pays huge dividends,” said Triton assistant coach Blake Schori of the move to Stonehenge.

“It feels good. It just kind of gives us a measuring stick of previewing for what sectional could be like.”

“Triton, this is now their home course so I think that helps them to kind of be able to practice out here and be more familiar,” echoed Warsaw head coach Rich Haddad. “I think Stonehenge typically gives us a significant advantage because it’s a very challenging golf course for people to just show up and play so I think Triton’s familiarity really helped them today.”

Butler, a part-timer with the Trojans’ varsity last spring, was simply solid in the misting rain at Stonehenge Monday. A birdie on 11 and bogeys on 14 and 16 were the only anomalies in an otherwise scratch round, and his 37 playing in the number two pairing put Triton over the top.

“Great round for that kid. Extremely happy to see him shoot that,” Schori said. “This is really his first year of full-time varsity experience. You look at him, he’s very short, and you just don’t expect a kid like that, but he’s been very, very consistent to start out the season.

“The kid can play. He definitely showed it today, especially in these conditions.”

Warsaw’s Sam Yeager hits a tee shot while Triton’s Beau Hepler looks on Monday.

Warsaw number one Sam Yeager was the only other varsity player to crack 40 with a score of 39 Monday. Yeager birdied 11 and 15, but double bogeys on the par 4 14th and par 3 17th undid those numbers.

“Given the weather I think both teams played pretty respectable today. You have to give a hand to Chase, their number two, who shot a career round today — 1 over on the back nine at Stonehenge. Great round of golf, and I think he was the difference-maker,” said Haddad.

“We had a pretty good round out of Sam at number one. The rest of the guys were OK but not great today, and Triton nipped us, so congrats to them.”

Isaac Wall and Beau Hepler backed Butler’s play with a pair of 41s, and Brock Watkins was close behind with a 44. Keegan Westafer’s 52 was the toss-out score for the Trojans, who move to 10-1 in nine-hole play this season, a surprisingly strong start for a team with only two full-time varsity returners in Wall and Hepler.

Triton’s Brock Watkins places his ball on the back nine at Stonehenge.

“We didn’t really know what to expect coming into this year. We had some pieces coming back,” said Schori.

“Obviously, with it still being April it’s nice to see us shooting in the 160s. I think four out of our five nine-hole matches we’ve been in the 160s so we’ve been pretty consistent. Nine-hole matches we’ve been pretty tough so happy to see that.”

Warsaw’s scores were even more consistent than Triton’s Monday with a pair of 41s from Tommy Meier and Jacob LaLonde and two 43s from Luke Delp and Zach LaLonde. With his team coming off a season-best 18-hole round of 312 at Saturday’s Lake Central Invitational, Haddad said he may discuss strategies to get off to a smoother start in weeknight matches with his players, but he mostly just tipped his hat to Butler and the Trojans.

Warsaw’s Zach LaLonde hits an iron off the fairway.

“I’m a second-year coach, and I look at Jack Carpenter as a longtime coach for Triton, and just the program he has had for a smaller school is really impressive. A lot of that goes to him for being a dedicated coach that continues to pour into these young guys,” said the Tigers skipper.

“It’s fun. I congratulate them. Golf is one of those where you add up the score and whoever is lower wins, and Triton got us today. We might take this as a little motivation going forward. Warsaw doesn’t like losing to their area schools very well so I think it’ll be good motivation for us to really buckle down mentally and really get more focused as we play.”

Warsaw’s JV did get the better of the Trojans Monday, 196-205. The JV Tigers were led by Chase Byron, who nearly matched Butler’s varsity low-medalist round with a 38 and was all smiles after turning in his scores Monday.

Brian Elliott shot a 48 for the Warsaw JV squad, while Tucker Carlile had a 54, Noah Pequignot a 56 and Mason Whitaker a 61 for the Tigers.

Ross Johnson led the Triton JV with a 50.

Warsaw travels to Fort Wayne Carroll for another weeknight dual Wednesday. Triton will play in the Marshall County Meet on Saturday.