By RYAN O’LEARY

HENRYVILLE — The Brown County boys golf team wasn’t expecting to win the championship at the Providence Regional or even come particularly close.

The Eagles finished 17th in the 18-team field, posting a score of 386 — but just by making it to the regional round at all, they achieved a major milestone for the program.

“It was a great experience,” coach Brad Baughman said. “The boys had an opportunity to play another match, which was great, against some really tough competition here.”

The competition was indeed stiff. Center Grove, ranked No. 1 in the state, won the team title with a total of 292, while Bloomington South (295) and Bedford North Lawrence (298) — both of which played in the same sectional as Brown County — also punched their tickets to the state finals next week at Prairie View in Carmel.

Perry Meridian’s Nick Osterburg had the low individual round of the day with a 2-under-par 70.

Freshman Parker VanNess had the Eagles’ low round with an 83, and Aubrey Seaman carded an 86. Rounding out the Brown County contingent were Jake Dixon (105), Gavin Brown (112) and Wesley Weigal (116).

“We struggled, probably at every position,” Baughman said. “I don’t think we had any one position that really played to the level that he thought he was going to play.”

Despite being disappointed with the scores, the Eagles were able to advance their seniors past the sectional round for the first time as well as gain some valuable experience for VanNess, whom Baughman expects will be back on this stage again in the future.

“He didn’t finish the way he wanted to finish,” the coach said, “but for him just to be here and see what it’s like … there’s some really, really great golfers at this event.”