Eleven golfers, two coaches, one dream: a state championship. That was the mentality that led the Varsity Boys’ Golf team to return to the Mission Inn Resort to clinch their second state title in three years.
The team was favored from the start of the season to win the state championship. They swept the competition at districts and regionals to secure their spot in the tournament. After failing to defend their 2023 title last year, the team had hopes of reclaiming glory at this year’s event. With a relatively sluggish start to the competition, those dreams seemed distant until a resurgent final day of golf took the team to the top of the leaderboard.
Brooks Colton is a junior who joined the varsity team in seventh grade.
“We almost expected to win, having played so well this season. Personally, that weekend was by far the most memorable moment this season. On the last day of the championship, our families came up to watch us. We won by five shots, and in 2023, we only won by one. It was less nerve-racking coming down from the 18th hole. Not having as much stress allowed us to enjoy ourselves more,” said Colton.
Coach Toby Harbeck has coached the team for 42 years, garnering state championships in 1980, 1983, 2009, 2023, and now 2025.
“My experience this year has been nothing short of sensational,” said Harbeck. “The players have been so much fun to practice with and travel to all of the overnight tournaments. In 42 years, this is the most fun that I have ever had with this team. The most challenging thing was that we needed to stay “focused” in Districts, Regionals, and States. If we did that, I knew that we would win all of them, and we did exactly that. Andrew Tsar has been our leader this year, along with Charlie Woods and Brooks Colton. We played as a true team. Everyone contributed at the State Championship. Everyone’s score helped us win.”
As mentioned by Harbeck, junior Andrew Tsar stepped up to lead the team. He has been a member of the varsity team since seventh grade. Up until this year, he played alongside his brother, Pavel Tsar, who now plays Division 1 men’s golf at the University of Notre Dame. He recorded the 2nd-best score at the tournament, shooting 68-71.
“I got better this season because I had my eyes on a state championship and played well at States. But throughout the season, I had my ups and downs. I was very happy with my performance this season,” said Tsar. “It [winning] was awesome. Capturing our second title in three years is a dream come true. When we all ran onto the green after the final putt and poured water on Coach Harbeck, it was so fun.”
Tsar and other aforementioned team leaders, such as Charlie Woods and Brooks Colton, still have one more season left before they graduate. Alongside the younger players, they have a new dream: two state championships in a row. If this season is any indication, the Benjamin Boys’ golf team has a true fighting chance.
