Following the conclusion of the 2021 Kiely Cup, Canterbury’s golf chairman informed me that due to a major tee and hole renovation project scheduled to begin after Labor Day, this year’s tournament would have to be moved up in the calendar from its traditional date in mid-September to August 20 & 21. Per OHSAA guidelines, this gave high school golf coaches no more than two weeks to assemble their teams and send me their rosters. In the past, our mid-September tournament functioned as a harbinger for the state tournament held in mid-October. Not this year.
Spectators and those of us who live in the Northeast Ohio remember the weather this past weekend was increment at best. An hour before the teams were set to tee off on Sunday afternoon, the course received an inch of heavy rain. Then we saw the sun and a few quick cloudbursts followed by rain overnight. Fortunately, Canterbury drains well. We are privileged that Mike LoPresti, the finest course superintendent in these parts is all about drainage. He made sure playing conditions were ready bright and early Monday morning.
Bottom line: the new August date and wet course conditions did not affect this year’s Kiely Cup champions — the Mason Comets! They took full advantage of benign course conditions under Rule 14, which is: lift-clean and place. Eleven strokes behind last year’s Kiely Cup champs, (Archbishop Hoban) after Sunday’s first round, the Comets set a blistering pace on Monday, surpassing Hoban’s 2021 36-hole total of 596 and establishing a new Kiely Cup record, 589! Coach Tim Lambert’s senior crew of Daniel Heister, Nate Vonderhaar, AJ Wilhelm, Timmy Hollenbeck, Luke Attal made up 18 strokes, ultimately winning by seven over last year Ohio Division I state champions, P. J. Meyers’ St. Ignatius Wildcats.
“Iggy” as they’re known in youth golf parlance are two-time Kiely Cup champs, 2006 and 2011, and they are never out of the hunt. This year, they finished second for the seventh time, having previously been being runner-up in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2021. Dominance speaks for itself. Their individual (per player) scores are a mere 2.4 strokes greater than the winners. St. Ignatius is clearly the most significant team in the history of the Kiely Cup tournament.
Congratulations to this year’s medalist, Nate Vonderhaar whose two-day total (74-68 142) was two strokes greater than the record low established last year by Hoban’s Nolan Haynes. Nate’s closing round 4-under par 68, tied Ignatius’s Beau Titsworth’s score in 2011.
Ohio prep golfers are among the best in the country. Case in point: St. Charles Prep’s Leo Walling qualified for this year’s USGA, Jr. Amateur held in Bandon Dunes (Oregon), and our 2018 medalist OSU’s own Maxwell Moldovan, played in the 2022 U.S. Open at The County Club, in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Kudos to this year’s talented field and best to luck to all the golfers as they move closer to achieving their sectional, district and state aspirations.
FINAL RESULTS: Boys High School Golf
2022 Kiely Cup
Canterbury Golf Club, Beachwood
Sat/Sun, August 20 – 21, 2022
1. Mason Comets 300-289 589**
Tim Lambert, Head Coach
Daniel Heister, Sr. 76-71 147
Nate Vonderhaar, Sr. 74-68* 142 * MEDALIST
AJ Wilhelm, Sr. 73-77 150
Timmy Hollenbeck, Sr. 77-73 150
Luke Attal, Sr. 82-81 163
2. St. Ignatius Wildcats 298-298 596
P. J. Meyers, Head Coach
Nick Piesen, Jr. 76-77 153
Connor Malicki, Jr. 75-73 148
Bradley Chill, So. 75-75 150
Julian Dugan, So. 72-73 145
Michael O’Leary, Jr. 76-85 161
3. St. Xavier Bombers 306 297 603
Alex Kepley, Head Coach
Eric Braun, Sr. 74-75 149
Robert Gerwin, III, Jr.76-70 146
Luke Kahle, Jr. 79-75 154
Luke Calvert, Jr. 77-77 154
Michael Stagnaro Jr., So. 88-77 165
4. Archbishop Hoban Knights 289-317 606
Quinn Parker, Head Coach
Nolan Haynes, Sr. 73-77 150
Jake Ryan, Sr. 72-81 153
Jack Vojtko, Jr. 72-81 153
Chris Pollak, So. 78-83 161
Braden Herstich, So. 72-78 150
Anthony Wayne Generals 301-306 607
Pat Phillips, Head Coach
Logan Sutto, Jr. 72- 72 144
Charlie Robertson, Sr. 81-75 156
Myles Murphy, Jr. 78-80 158
Ted Robertson, So. 80-84 164
Ian Briars, Jr. 71-79 150
Archbishop Alter Knights 307-308 615
Alex Schuster, Head Coach
Davis Gochenouer, Jr. 73-71 144
Grant Tabar, Sr. 78-83 161
TJ Kreusch, So. 74-73 147
Grady Tabar, So. 82-84 166
Finn Grawe, So. 84-81 165
St. Charles Prep Cardinals 312-318 630
Brian Unk, Head Coach
Leo Walling, Jr. 73-75 148
Jonas Borland, So. 78-80 158
Ted Cahill, Jr. 77-76 153
Will Mooney, Sr. 85-88 173
Mikey Pagnotto, Fr. 84-87 171
Jackson Polar Bears 330-314 644
Jim Kish, Head Coach
Jordan Kish. Jr. 76-73 149
Ted Hoover, Sr. 82-83 165
Aidan Loy, Jr. 88-79 167
Fletcher Clark, Sr. 86-87 173
Ethan Kasler, Jr. 86-79 165
Hudson Explorers 324-326 650
Matt Villenauve, Head Coach
Sam Fauver, So. 78-72 150
Callahan Lawler, Jr. 80-85 165
Spencer Sizemore, Sr. 85-83 168
David Berry, Sr. 81-86 167
James Fliss, Sr. 86-91 177
Walsh Jesuit Warriors 336-329 660
Bill Reilly, Head Coach
Josh Weiner, Sr. 82-77 159
Tommy Kadair, Sr. 84-82 166
Parker Barrett, Jr. 90-93 183
Anthony Spain Fr. 88-84 172
Paul Kropf, Sr. 82-81 163
Columbus Academy Vikings 322-331 653
Craig Yakscoe, Head Coach
Stephen Ma, Sr. 76-79 155
Arvind Rajagopalan, Sr. 78-78 156
Matthew Fang, Jr. 83-85 168
AJ Bradley, Sr. 85-89 174
Gavin Munster, So. 98-96 194
Newark Catholic Green Wave 335-318 653
Phil West, Head Coach
Brian Luft, Jr. 81-79 160
Brogan Sullivan, So. 84-85 169
Max Vanoy, Jr. 82-75 157
Nathan Riggleman, Jr. 89-79 168
Bobby Kieber, Fr. 88-95 183
University School Preppers 326-327 653
Mike Sarris, Head Coach
Ethan Roberts, So. 75-86 161
Adam Sands, So. 84-76 160
Jackson Pinney, So. 81-82 163
Jackson Kubic, Sr. 86-83 169
Drew Torzok, Jr. 89-86 175
Elder Panthers 336-325 661
Matthew Robben, Head Coach
Cayse Morgan, So. 77-75 152
Jake Langdon, Sr. 84-81 165
Mickey Schutte, Jr. 83-76 159
Nick Jones, So. 92-97 189
Owen Horvath, Jr. 101-93 194
Madeira Mustangs 348-325 673
Brian Conner, Head Coach
Luke Isgrig, Sr. 82-79 161
Eddie Hartung, Jr. 85-81 166
Tanner Temar, Jr. 92-91 183
Grant Rindels, Sr. 89-74 163
Zach Schneider, Sr. 100-92 192
