Crown Point senior Yianni Kostouros stood on the practice green, shaking his head.
“I’m probably going to lose off of that 2-footer I just missed,” he said. “I’m not too happy.”
He was right.
On the final hole, Kostouros missed that short putt for par, finishing with a 75 in Saturday’s 59th annual Lou Iaconetti Memorial Invitational held at the Palmira Golf Club in St. John.
Roncalli’s Evan Wray took medalist honors with a 74.
“I hit my driver 300-plus (yards) all day,” Kostouros said. “I just couldn’t putt.”
The Ball State recruit said his short game was a major offseason focus, too, adding to his frustration.
“I worked on that all winter,” he said. “Putting is the hardest part because you can’t really putt in the winter, but I still told myself that I was going to work hard at it. It’s been paying off all season.
“I’ve been playing really well. But (Saturday) I putted absolutely terrible.”
After shooting a 39 on the front nine, Kostouros delivered four birdies on the back nine as part of a 36. But he lamented a five-foot putt for eagle he missed on No. 12, another shot that could have forced a playoff with Wray.
Roncalli also earned the team title, shooting a 306. Crown Point followed with a 325, while Munster took third at 331.
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Munster’s third-place finish was led by senior Tony Daniels, who also ended up with a runner-up score of 75.
Like Kostouros, Daniels worked on his chipping and putting in the offseason, but he was much more satisfied with how he handled the short game.
“I putted really well,” Daniels said. “I felt like I could’ve hit the ball better off the tee, but I’m pretty happy overall.”
Daniels said his personal highlight was a 30-foot putt for birdie on the sixth hole, part of a season-long trend that has left Daniels pleased after nearly every meet this spring.
“I’ve only had a few rounds that weren’t what I wanted,” he said. “My putting has basically put me where I’m at this season.”
Daniels’ only mild complaint were his tee shots, but he was encouraged enough to think he’ll be ready by June 1 when he returns to Palmira for the sectional.
“As long as I keep it on the fairway and putt the same way, my score will be a little lower,” he said.
Dave Melton is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.