Takeaways from the 2026 Harrison boys golf invitational

WEST LAFAYETTE — Morning frost, an 80-person golfing event and an hour delay due to frigid temperatures did little to stunt the rhythm of Harrison senior Eli Schooler during the Harrison invite at Coyote Crossing Golf Course.

Schooler found consistency with his driver and made key putts to shoot 72 and finished second to kickoff the high school golf season in West Lafayette on Saturday, April 11.

"It was pretty simple today," Schooler said. "It wasn't too windy. Good conditions so it wasn't hard to score low."

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Schooler was among many of the top performers produced by Lafayette area athletes. McCutcheon sophomore Philip Ferger finished fourth overall and shot 74 while his classmate Matthew Oakley shot 79 while senior Trevor Conn shot 78 to form the top No. 1 and No. 2 duo by Lafayette area schools. Zionsville won the tournament as a team with a score of 294.

Here are the key storylines from the day on the course that included a group of fans dressed in costumes and a rising program in the Lafayette area who's foreshadowing could yield a potential sectional title that hasn't been won in 33 years.

Harrison golfer Kian Patel, right, and one of his Harrison teammates watch the cup on the 18th green of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

West Lafayette golfer Krish Kaul leans on his club while eyeing down his shot at the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

West Lafayette golfer Cody Boyle records his score on a scorecard on the second hole of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

Frankfort golfer Will Uetz smiles with his teammates on the 10th tee box of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

McCutcheon golfer Phillip Ferger walks off after sinking a birdie putt on the 18th green of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

The Titleiest logo glints off the irons of McCutcheon's Phillip Ferger at the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

West Lafayette golfer Krish Kaul checks his scorecard on the 10th tee box of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

Twin Lakes golfers Spencer Roth, left, and Calvin Dellinger, right, eye down their respective putts on the 18th green of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

Twin Lakes golfer Jack Kauffman rolls a long putt from the edge of the 18th green of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

Twin Lakes golfer Spencer Roth tends the flag for his teammates on the 18th hole of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

Harrison golfer Isaac Wendt uses his rangefinder to check distance on the second hole of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

Harrison golfer Taggart Marshal swings an iron on the second hole of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

Harrison golfer Isaac Wendt watches his ball fly after hitting an iron shot on the second hole of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

Lafayette Jeff golfer Carter Benson blows on his putter while deciding his putting line on the 18th green of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

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Photos from the 2026 Harrison boys golf tournament

Harrison golfer Kian Patel, right, and one of his Harrison teammates watch the cup on the 18th green of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

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Photos from the 2026 Harrison boys golf tournament

Harrison golfer Kian Patel, right, and one of his Harrison teammates watch the cup on the 18th green of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

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Photos from the 2026 Harrison boys golf tournament

West Lafayette golfer Krish Kaul leans on his club while eyeing down his shot at the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

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Photos from the 2026 Harrison boys golf tournament

West Lafayette golfer Cody Boyle records his score on a scorecard on the second hole of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

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Photos from the 2026 Harrison boys golf tournament

Frankfort golfer Will Uetz smiles with his teammates on the 10th tee box of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

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Photos from the 2026 Harrison boys golf tournament

McCutcheon golfer Phillip Ferger walks off after sinking a birdie putt on the 18th green of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

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Photos from the 2026 Harrison boys golf tournament

The Titleiest logo glints off the irons of McCutcheon's Phillip Ferger at the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

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Photos from the 2026 Harrison boys golf tournament

West Lafayette golfer Krish Kaul checks his scorecard on the 10th tee box of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

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Photos from the 2026 Harrison boys golf tournament

Twin Lakes golfers Spencer Roth, left, and Calvin Dellinger, right, eye down their respective putts on the 18th green of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

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Photos from the 2026 Harrison boys golf tournament

Twin Lakes golfer Jack Kauffman rolls a long putt from the edge of the 18th green of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

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Photos from the 2026 Harrison boys golf tournament

Twin Lakes golfer Spencer Roth tends the flag for his teammates on the 18th hole of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

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Photos from the 2026 Harrison boys golf tournament

Harrison golfer Isaac Wendt uses his rangefinder to check distance on the second hole of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

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Photos from the 2026 Harrison boys golf tournament

Harrison golfer Taggart Marshal swings an iron on the second hole of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

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Photos from the 2026 Harrison boys golf tournament

Harrison golfer Isaac Wendt watches his ball fly after hitting an iron shot on the second hole of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

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Photos from the 2026 Harrison boys golf tournament

Lafayette Jeff golfer Carter Benson blows on his putter while deciding his putting line on the 18th green of the Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

McCutcheon sophomores Ferger and Oakley set tone for 2026

The sophomore Mavericks duo of Ferger and Oakley stayed busy during the summer, improving their game. They shot practice rounds at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex and took instruction from instructor Grant Brettnachor.

Brettnachor's hitting tips have yielded results for Oakley and Ferger.

Oakley finished 87th at the Indiana Boys State Junior Championships last June (an event separate from IHSAA state) and shot 75 at the National Jr. PGA Last Chance Qualifier in 2025.

"I feel like we hit the ball well," Oakley said. "We just got to work on your chipping and putting."

Ferger shot 76 at the National Jr. PGA Last Chance Qualifier last July and medaled to begin the spring.

Matthew Oakley, left, and McCutcheon's Ty Bower line up a putt during the Harrison boys golf invitational at Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

"My range was kind of struggling, but I went out there and tried to do my best," Ferger said. "I didn't come out with the number I wanted, but the putts started dropping."

Ferger and Oakley are hoping to get the support from the No. 3, 4 and 5 spots in June to capture in IHSAA sectional golf title, a feat that McCutcheon hasn't achieved since 1993.

More: Switzerland experience for Harrison golfers Sydney and Grace Gehlsen

Dress code violation? Costumed students invade course

Winning isn't everything. Sometimes, having the support of your best friends is just as important.

That's what Harrison golfer Kian Patel found in three Harrison classmates who cheered him on in Halloween costumes. One fellow Arthur Vazquez dressed in a shark outfit, Colin Mitchell dressed in a motorcycle outfit and Ollie Hynes wore a clown suit.

The three masqueraders strolled around Coyote Crossing in a golf kart, following Patel who was the No. 4 junior varsity player for Harrison.

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Harrison golf fans dressed up for the school's home invite at Coyote Crossing Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.

"It was really nice," Patel said. "It's good for your friends to show up when it matters. I didn't play very well, but I at least had my friends there to support me. They just came like idiots. They were good motivational support."

Twin Lakes rebuilds with Kaufman

Twin Lakes senior and reigning Logansport sectional champion Jack Kaufman is the last among a group that graduated stars Jamison Ousley in 2024 and Leo Dellinger in 2025.

Ousley plays golf at the University of Evansville and Dellinger at Wabash College.

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Kaufman, a starter himself, is now the leader among a quintet of golfers at Twin Lakes that contains two freshmen and two sophomores including Jack Dellinger, Leo's younger brother.

"It's a young group, so I'm kind of seeing how they improve," Kaufman said. "Trying to help them out so we can get going towards sectional time. I just want to see them improve and help them out."

Kaufman admitted seeing the age disparity himself and how in four years he went from being a freshman on varsity to being a guide.

"I see what the seniors saw in me as a freshman, and it makes me feel older than I actually am," Kaufman said.

Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@jconline.com, on Twitter atEthanAHanson and Instagram at  ethan_a_hanson.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Harrison Golf Invite three takeaways from West Lafayette