PREBLE COUNTY — National Trail’s girls and Tri-County North’s boys golf teams, along with Austin Knapp of National Trail advanced to the district golf tournament with their respective performances during sectional play last week.
For Trail’s girls, the team made its second trip to Stillwater Golf Course in Versailles in six days. This time it was for the OHSAA Division II Sectional Tournament.
However, the conditions were quite a bit different from last week’s CCC Tournament win.
“Very tough pin placements, fast greens and high winds made for an extremely difficult test of golfing skills,” Trail coach Gene Eyler said.
After fighting their way through all of this, the team finished third with a score of 402, which was good enough to send them on to the D-II District Tournament on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at PipeStone Golf Course in Miamisburg.
Makenna Jones had a rough start on the fast greens and British Open type weather, opening with a 41, according to Eyler.
She followed up on the back nine with a 42 giving her a total of 83 for the day. This was good enough for her second straight sectional medalist title.
Katelyn Hines struggled all day trying to find a good rhythm in her swing. She was able to get through the day posting 47-53 for her 100 score.
Caitlin Gilland had another good putting day despite the tough conditions on the greens. She fought for a solid 48 on the front nine and followed up with a 56 back nine for a 104 total for the day.
Brooklyn Middleton was not at her top of her game, but managed a 115 total. Avery Rutan was the nonscoring fifth player with a round of 122.
“These were the most difficult playing conditions we’d had all year,” Eyler said. “With the pins already tucked away in very tough positions, the wind made it just a very tough day of survival for everyone on the course. A true indicator is that with this quality field, only an 83 was the low score. I’m, once again, so proud of the heart and character all five girls showed today to put us in the third spot so we can move on to Districts.”
District play begins on Wednesday, October 2, at 8:30 am.
Qualifying teams and individuals will move on the following week to the state tournament held on the Gray Course at The Ohio State University.
For North’s boys, Ethan Kelly lead the way with an 87 as the team finished fourth with a 384.
Alec Wayman shot an 89. Matt O’dell carded a 100, while Landon Owens shot a 108 and Hunter DeGrasse added a 120.
The district tournament was scheduled to be played on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at Glenview Golf Course.
Trail’s boys shot a 400 to finish sixth.
Knapp was one of the top four scorers not a qualifying team to advance. The senior shot a 92 to move on.
Khyler Grant shot a 100, while Tyler Porter carded a 103 and Zachary Rutan had a 105. Jesse Norton rounded out the roster with a 130.
Eaton and Preble Shawnee’s boys competed in the Division II sectional at PipeStone on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Preble Shawnee finished 11th with a 410, while Eaton was 12th with a 413.
For the Arrows, Luke Woodard shot an 89, Colton Groh a 100, Ethan Woodard a 108, Sam Agee a 113 and Caleb Barrett a 120.
For the Eagles, Nate Cramer lead the way with a 99. Henry Kochensparger had a 100, while Travis Pittman carded a 101, Dawson Brubaker a 113 and Ty Cramer a 133.
