Tournament Results
Ohio High School Golf is trying to keep tabs on all tournament scores. There are separate pages for Conference Tournaments and Regular Tournaments. If any scores are not posted, please feel free to send them over (bolinr@hudson.k12.oh.us). Unfortunately, we aren’t able to post scores from 9-hole matches as there are too many to keep track of.
Cruising
Magnificat has broken 300 as a team in every tournament they have had at full strength. Senior Kayla Knaze, juniors Calli Reed and Kellan Gleason, and sophomore Korinne Knaze have been on a remarkable run, making them one of the favorites to take home the State Championship trophy in Dayton in October this year.
Brunswick junior Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble is on a tear of her own, bringing home several medalist trophies and being at or near the top of the field in every tournament she has played. She is the unquestioned leader of the Blue Devils and plays golf with the perfect demeanor and mindset.
Freshmen
It is always fun to see the new faces in high school golf each year. Many freshmen are already making a huge impact on their teams and in their conferences.
The most impressive might be West Geauga standout Anna Phillips, who is ranked ninth among all freshmen on BOYS teams in Northeast Ohio. Phillips has registered nine-hole rounds of 37, 41, and 41 and is the number two overall player at West Geauga, only behind her brother Dylan Phillips.
In Division 1, Elizabeth Jia has done more than anticipated at Hudson, scoring in each of their tournaments, posting a low round of 77 at the Stow Invitational at Fox Den. Not far behind her is teammate Mya Buzzelli, who has had solid showings at the events she has been summoned to play in.
Sedona Benedict has given Avon a jolt, consistently shooting in the high 30s and low 40s in nine-hole matches, with an 18-hole low of 83 at Thunderbird Hills. Benedict, along with teammate Wynter Delarm, will keep Avon competitive for the next four years.
When Bobbi Woods showed up at Champion, they immediately became a contender to make it to the Division 2 State Tournament. Sanaya Dubey has been a nice surprise at Hathaway Brown, finding a nice, comfortable spot in their starting lineup, while Ellison Greenwood has done the same at Howland.
Mia Turner has been a pleasant surprise and a huge piece of the lineup at Kent Roosevelt, while Sari Rosenblatt at Orange and Claire Bir at Westlake have done the same. Payton Papuga from South Range recently had a top-five finish at the tournament hosted by the Raiders.
In the Federal League, GlenOak is getting production from a pair of freshmen, Leah Krum and Lyla Karam, while Jackson freshman Ava Tester is ready to be the next star for the Polar Bears. Ellie Risaliti might be the top player for Canton South, and Aris Asher at Green is showing a good amount of potential.
A final name to watch for is Tessa Yonadi at Rocky River, who is still a raw talent, but a player who will have a big impact not too far down the road.
Growing the Game
Ask any girls’ golfer, and they will be able to tell you a story about someone they have run across on a golf course that has made them question their love for the game. Recent incidents stick out, showing this not-so-new phenomenon. Elderly gentlemen yelling at an entire team of high school players for talking to each other while waiting for a space at the driving range, course employees commenting on teenage girls’ attire when they are wearing clothing designed for golf, and patrons blaming slow play on high school players, who had to wait five to ten minutes on each tee box because the people in front of them were playing slow all do not realize how much their actions and comments could deter our young players from wanting to pursue the sport.
The good news is, there are many more instances of teams being supported at these courses that counteract the negatives that occur. The girls who were yelled at on the driving range were offered spots by at least seven other people after they witnessed what happened. Other employees at the golf course stood up for the young players who were being discriminated against. And the golf course starter stepped in and informed the players complaining about slow play that the high schoolers were not responsible. These people understand how difficult it can be for a teenage girl to be comfortable in a public golf course setting, and they are great ambassadors for growing the game.
Coaches, let’s all make an effort to continue to promote respect on the course, proper attire, and pace of play. But also, let’s make sure we continue to stand up for our players to show them that we have their back. This is the next generation of supporters of our sacred game, and we need to give them all the tools and support necessary.
We would also like to thank all the courses that support high school golfers. We plan to have an article highlighting the places and people that go above and beyond to promote our players and their talents. Readers, if you know of any courses or individuals that meet these criteria, please email us at bolinr@hudson.k12.oh.us to tell us who they are and what impact they have. A huge thanks to everyone who supports high school golf.
Federal League Update
In a huge match, the Lake Blue Streaks defeated the Hoover Vikings at Sable Creek on August 14th. Lake now has a considerable lead in the Federal League, looking to end Hoover’s reign at the top of the conference. The Blue Streaks won the Preseason Conference tournament before defeating Hoover head-to-head. There are still several matches left for both teams, as well as the league tournament in September. Hoover and superstar senior Ellie Hutzler will not go down without a fight, however. It will be fun to see how this race shapes up.
This Week In Golf (TWIG) is a segment on Ohio High School Golf that highlights special moments, school records, impactful people, and other unique stories as the high school golf season unfolds. To be included, please reach out to Ohio High School Golf on social media or email Bobby Bolin at bolinr@hudson.k12.oh.us with a small recap of what you would like to be posted. Keep up with the latest in High School Golf at https://ohiohsgolf.com/
— Article by Bobby Bolin of Ohio High School Golf
