PENDLETON — On Saturday, Sept. 9, the PGA Junior Golf All-Stars will conduct its state championship at Fox Prairie Golf Course in Noblesville. There will be four teams vying for the title and a chance to play in the Regional championship later in the month, and one of those teams has ties to Pendleton.

Twelve-year old Cole Bubalo and 11-year old Sam Denny from Pendleton are two of the 10 players who comprise the Fishers team that has advanced to the state semifinals set for 10 a.m. Saturday.

The Fishers team, based out of Ironwood Golf Course, will play Batesville, and, with a win, would play in the finals at 1:30 p.m.

The other semifinal pits Ft. Wayne Private against Kokomo.

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The state champion will move on to the Region 4-Mideast tournament against teams from Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky.

The regional will be played Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at The Bridgewater Club in Carmel. The eight regional winners from around the country would compete for the national championship, set for Nov. 16-19, at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Denny and Bubalo are good friends both on and off the course and play golf together often.

According to former PHHS golf coach and Fall Creek club pro Jim Phillips, their hard work is paying off.

“It takes a lot of hard work and hours of preparation to compete at the level they are at,” Phillips said. “Both Sam and Cole have a bright future in the game of golf.”

With a win this weekend, it would be Denny’s second state title after he was part of the Pendleton Rugby Club that took first in the state earlier in the year.