The 22nd Annual Canterbury Kiely Cup commenced and added a new record-setting script. Skies were cloudy and cool on Sunday, September 13th. Canterbury was ready and welcomed 15 of Ohio’s best high school boys’ golf teams across the state from all three divisions. The tournament committee was privileged to invite four new teams to this storied tournament: Indian Valley (D2); Kalida (D3); Pettisville (D3), and Roger Bacon (D2). Since our start in 2005, 94 teams from Ohio have competed.
Meanwhile, this year’s weather in Northeast Ohio can only be described as soggy; however, the course Superintendent Mike LoPresti and his staff were ready for the challenge. With winds building out of the north, Canterbury’s traditional fast greens and healthy rough was posed and ready to test the state’s best teams.
At the start, the players experienced a slight hiccup after the paired threesomes made it to their respective opening holes. With balls in the air, they heard a weather siren, which delayed play for another 25 minutes. No matter, defending 2025 champ Dublin Jerome put together a dominant first round score: 289, 1-over for the day. Led by the brothers Brady and Blaise Barnum, with a pair of 2-under 70s, followed by Evan Menges’s even-par 72, and Harrison Young’s 5-over 77, the Celtics had the pedal to the metal and were ready to repeat. Not so fast, declared St. Ignatius, who finished only 5 behind. St. Charles was in third place, 17 behind, but certainly within reach with another round to play.
Day 1 concluded, the teams and their coaches met for dinner in the William (Bill) Campbell room, awaiting guest speaker Brendan Porath to grace the podium. Brendan is the Chief Content Officer at “The Fried Egg” and Founder & Co-Host of “The Shotgun Start Podcast.” Brendan is also a former Canterbury caddie who shared significant time with the tournament’s namesake— Mike Kiely. Brendan shared his insight into cherishing the game, the friendships, team camaraderie, and, finally, his and people from across the country’s affection for Mike.
When the final eighteen was concluded on Monday afternoon, the Dublin Jerome Celtics could not, would not, be caught. Brad Sparling’s team could not be stopped! They finished the 36-hole tournament at 8-over par 584 (295-289), eleven shots ahead of St. Ignatius and 19 strokes ahead of 3rd place St. Charles 603 (306-297). Dublin Jerome’s total gave the Celtics their second consecutive Kiely Cup title and their third overall championship. Their remarkable 584 also set a tournament record, previously held by Mason’s 589 in 2022. St. Ignatius finished second at 595 (+19), followed by St. Charles at 603 (+27) and St. Xavier at 606 (+30).
A word about St. Ignatius: as a perennial invitee, this year’s 2nd place finish marks the 9th time they have been bridesmaids; furthermore, in the years from 2014 on, when the Kiely Cup became a 2-day tournament and a preview of the state tournament, this year’s 595 score was lower than “ten” previous winning scores. Top to bottom, they are clearly “the best” Northeast Ohio team over the 22-year span of the Kiely Cup.
While Dublin Jerome controlled the team race, one golfer separated himself from the entire field. Dublin Jerome’s and Georgia-bound Brady Barnum delivered the tournament’s standout individual performance, firing rounds of 70 and 67 to finish at 137, 7-under par. Barnum’s final-round 67 was the lowest score recorded by any player in tournament history and gave him a six-shot victory over Hudson Burkey (St. Charles), who finished second at 143 after rounds of 71 and 72. Patrick Myers (St. Ignatius) finished third at even-par 144 (72-72), followed by Matthew Kreusch (Archbishop Alter) 145 (76-69). Three players: Patrick Paquette (Xavier); Evan Menges (Dublin Jerome); and Blake Rohling (Roger Bacon) shared fifth place at 147.
The complete individual leaderboard shows just how significant Barnum’s final round was. He began the day with a two-shot lead over Burkey after a first-round 70, then widened the gap with a 67 while Burkey posted a second consecutive 72.
The final round decides team championships.
The team competition remained within striking distance after the opening round. Dublin Jerome entered the final round at +7, with St. Ignatius five shots behind at +12. St. Xavier was third at +17, while St. Charles stood at +18. The Celtics responded with the best team round of the tournament, shooting 289, or one under par, to finish at +8 for the championship.
St. Ignatius improved as well, shooting +7 in the final round, but finished at +19 overall.
St. Charles made a significant move on the final day. After opening at +18, the Cardinals shot +9 to finish at +27 and take third place.
St. Xavier followed a +17 opening round with +13 on the final day to finish fourth at +30.
Alter finished fifth at +51, followed by Ottawa Hills at +59. Roger Bacon and Poland Seminary tied for seventh at +63, with Hoban ninth at +64 and Hiland 10th at +65.
University School finished 11th at +67, Pettisville was 12th at +73, Kalida 13th at +78, Indian Valley 14th at +90 and Aurora 15th at +96.
The Kiely Cup’s 36-hole team format places a premium on depth. Each school fields five golfers, with the four lowest scores counting toward the team total.
That made Dublin Jerome’s performance particularly notable. The Celtics not only had the tournament’s individual champion in Barnum, but also produced the four counting scores necessary to keep the team ahead of a talented St. Ignatius squad.
The final standings also demonstrated the competitiveness of the field. Only eight shots separated fourth-place St. Xavier from fifth-place Alter, while just 13 shots separated fifth through 10th.
–Article by Bear DeFino, Chairman
RESULTS: 2026 Kiely Cup
Canterbury Golf Club, Cleveland
1. DUBLIN JEROME 289-295 584*
Brady Barnum, 70- 67 -137 * Medalist
Evan Menges, 72-75-147
Harrison Young, 77-81- 158
Blaise Barnum, 70- 79- 149
Colt Altenburg, 78-74- 152
2. ST. IGNATIUS 295-300- 595
Patrick Meyers, 72-72-144
Connor Phipps, 73-76-149
Kyle Malicki, 77-74-151
Fitch Farina, 74-78-152
Dominic Castellucciio, 76-80 156
3. ST. CHARLES 306-297-603
Pierce Stealy, 80-74-154
Hudson Burkey, 71-72-143
Harry Harden, 77-75-152
Ben Scheiwer 78-76-154
Blake Yoakam, 81-80-161
4. ST. XAVIER 305-301-606
Patrick Paquette, 75-72-147
Zac McGrath, 76-72-148
Peter Boylan, 76-75-151
Will Schaltz, 83-83-166
Jax Denton, 78-82-16
5. ARCHBISHOP ALTER 318-309-627
Matthew Kreusch, 76-69-145
Teagan Moore, 80-79 159
Tommy Priefer, 82-80 162
Luke Ondulick, 79-79 158
Miles Hein, 84-85 169
6. OTTAWA HILLS 321-314-635
Charlie Swigart, 77-75-152
Yale Feinger, 80-74-154
Cooper Friedman, 85-81-166
Walker Peterson 82-84-166
Greyson O’Neill, 82-87-169
T7. ROGER BACON 322-317-639
Blake Rohling, 73-74-147
Henry Fulwiler, 84-80-164
Allister Fike, 81-84-165
Ty Dumont, 84-79-163
Jude Voss, 85-92-177
T7. POLAND SEMINARY 305-334-639
Angelo Rinaldi, 74-79-153
Matthew Morrone, 78-84-162
Ryan Lombardo, 75-83-158
Nick DiPasqua,78-88-166
Parker Ogden, 93-90-183
9. ARCHBISHOP HOBAN 314-326-640
Ben Berridge , 76-77-153
Ray Koeberle, 73-83-156
Thomas Grasson, 82-82-164
Nash Vrabel, 85-84-169
Carter Stircular 83-89-172
10. HILAND 320-321 -641
Andrew Beun, 83-81 164
Marcus Beun, 79-78 157
Josh Raber, 84-75 159
Jesse Conn, 83-85 168
Austin Miller, 96-97 193
11. UNIVERSITY SCHOOL 327-328 655
Nate Chege, 81-84 165
Carter Pinney, 82-82 164
Eddie Gardiner, 85-82 167
Will Cody. 89-92 181
Trip Doyle, 79-80 159
12. PETTISVILLE 322-327-649
Graycen Osterday, 80-76-158
Grant Boyers, 78-85-163
Kaleb Wyse, 84-87-171
Rylee Bevard, 80-77-157
Gavin Knierim, 87-87- 174
13. KALIDA 332-322-654
Paul Stechschulte, 80-81-161
Chris Rall, 93-78-171
Adam Bockrath, 89-80-169
Logan Rampe, 80-83-163
Zach Lucke, 83-93-176
14. INDIAN VALLEY 321-345-666
Hayden Beaber, 85-89-174
Cam Enama, 83-85-168
Phil Rangel, 72-90-162
Owen Cummings, 81-85-166
Brody Sellards, 94-86-180
15. AURORA 337-334-671
Nick Pollard, 78-80-158
Brady Allenick, 93-84-177
Dylan Lancaster, 83-83-166
Jackson Sarver, 85-87-172
Joel Fletcher, 91-93-184
