PREBLE COUNTY — It was a noteworthy year for golf in Preble County.
Twin Valley South resurrected their golf program after several years on hiatus, two area golfers won player of the year in their respective leagues as several others earned first team honors.
But Cameron Willis, week in and week out, consistently performed at a high level. The senior golfer held a 36.192 season average, a 35.75 league average, winning the SWBL conference match, and taking first at sectionals.
Willis has been the cornerstone of the Eaton golf team since his freshman year, and has become the most accomplished golfer in school history.
To summarize his career on the greens, he was a state champion his freshman year, tied the school nine-hole record (32) three times in his career, he holds the 18-hole record of 67 at the Badin Invitational during his freshman season, and is a two time SWBL player of the year and two time first team All-Ohio.
This season, he was the medalist in three out of four invitationals he played in, qualified for the Ohio Amateur and was the only high school student to advance to the championship round in 2015. But aside from all this, one of his greatest accomplishments was qualifying for this year’s US Amateur in Chicago at Olympia Fields Country Club. It is a tournament of prolific amateur golfers from around the world. Willis finished 202nd out the 316 qualifiers.
Needless to say, Willis is very good. It’s because of this collective work of play, as well as his outstanding season as an Eagle, that he has earned the Player of the Year honor for The Register-Herald.
Joining him is his sister and sophomore teammate Sarah Willis. She had an average of 38.642 on the season and finished second in the SWBL tournament, shooting a 75. Willis earned first team All-SWBL honors and missed qualifying for state by just one stroke, finishing fourth overall at the district tournament.
The Willis siblings were also helped out by Sean Hodges, a sophomore, this year. He held an average of 43.8 and was an honorable mention in the SWBL.
He, along with junior Trevor Pittman, helped the team to a second place finish in the conference. Pittman maintained a 42.11 average.
Another player that made a big splash this season is Twin Valley South’s Nate Osborn. In the Panthers first year back, the freshman took Player of the Year honors for the Cross County Conference and earned a trip to the district finals as well.
Although he was only a freshman, Osborn was also a leader on the team and showed much poise and proficiency on the course this year.
His teammate, Winston Crosier, also makes the cut. He came into the program and all he did, every week, was improve. He was also first team All-CCC and shot an 81 at the conference championship match.
Another senior, Kyle Fryer from Preble Shawnee, makes our list as well. He has been solid for the Arrows all season long, earning second team All-SWBL honors for the Buckeye Division. He held an average of 42 for the entire season.
Rounding out the list is Logan Petitt from National Trail. He was the number one golfer for the Blazers and was a consistent player and solid finisher all season. He was also first team All-CCC on the year.
“Logan was our most focused player this past season,” said head coach Kurt Bachman. Petite is a student of the game of golf and works diligently to improve his game. He is the quiet leader on the team and brings a stable presence that we otherwise would not have.”
Honorable Mentions:
Zach Tincher, Tri-County North; Isaac Plankenhorn, National Trail; Max Faddin, Eaton; Tyler Springmier, Eaton.
