The top levels of Division 2 golf in Northeast Ohio tend to be more fluid than are seen in Division 1. With smaller rosters and less depth across the board, teams have more opportunities to compete for District and State tournament bids. One superstar player could be all a team needs to make a deep run in conference and postseason tournaments. The parity makes Division 2 hard to predict, especially several months before the beginning of the season. Here are some thoughts and observations on how the landscape of Division 2 golf looks as of the end of January 2025.
Contending
Teams that have good depth are rare in Division 2, and teams that have that depth immediately gain contender status. No team in Division 2 has more depth than the Southeast Pirates. Even losing distinguished star Taylor Blazek, Southeast will return some quality players, including sophomore Samantha Morgan and senior Aubree Varga along with sisters Jennifer and Jessi Mix.
Chagrin Falls climbed over the hump and made an appearance at the State Tournament in 2024 and they will look to go back in 2025. Much of that success can be attributed to Elizabeth Pollock, who had a memorable freshman season. She will be back and better than ever for the Tigers and will be joined by senior Reagan Burnight and juniors Kate Murphy and Natalie Vernosky.
The Columbiana Clippers had one of their best seasons in recent memory in 2024, even though they had hoped they would go another round in the tournament season. Columbiana is another team that has a large, deep roster with many players who can contribute. 2025 should be another strong season for Columbiana as they return much of their core. Seniors Sophia Perry and Alyssa Kakavros along with juniors Maddie Jackson and Victoria Buckingham provide a solid starting four players. Look for senior Sydney Spaite to make an impact this fall as well.
Junior Anuja Patel has already had a huge impact on the Northeast Ohio golf scene and she will be back at work with her Orange Lions in 2025. Orange has developed a nice supporting cast to complement Patel and they will be fighting for Chagrin Valley Conference supremacy as well as District and State tournament berths. Seniors Bree Turner and Alex O’Connor will be significant role players for the Lions.
It will be hard to get used to seeing the Edgewood Warriors without Avery Vencill, but seniors Annie Johnston and Zoe Naus have both grown as players and leaders over the past several years. They will keep the Warriors in the conversation throughout 2025. The team’s success could be dependent on sophomores Rylee McCumber and Bella Welton as they progress.
Canton South is a program that has been knocking on the door in recent years, and with a senior laden top of the lineup 2025 will be the season where the Wildcats can make a play to make their presence known. Hailey Franks and Leah Kramer are the two senior stars for Canton South and they will be joined by junior Hannah Samblanet. If the Wildcats find a high quality fourth score, they will be a team to be reckoned with.
Trending
There are many teams whose stock is currently on the rise, many who have the chance to make a run at conference, Sectional, and District championships. Keystone is at the top of that list, led by Sophia Clarico, who is coming off an impressive freshman season. She will be joined by experienced teammates Alexis Askew, Caseabella Fye, and Kennedy Accavallo. Pymatuning Valley has had a group of players putting in hard work over the past couple years and they look for that work to pay off this year. Senior Kylie Luke and juniors McCamey Compan and Allison Clark form the terrific trio for the Lakers. Rootstown has a dynamic senior class that has grown together and is poised to have a really good year. The top four seniors look to be Anna Drago, Alex Biggin, Ava Miller, and Chloe Gardner. Lake Catholic is another senior dominated team. Emma Madsen, Ella Zampedro, and Angela Kerwood look to cap off their careers as they compete in the North Coast Conference and throughout the postseason. They will be joined by highly regarded sophomore Mao Edwards. Tuslaw came out of nowhere to have a really good season in 2024 and they will still be one of the youngest teams in the area as they compete in 2025. Junior Avery Rodocker has already established herself as a prime time player and with young developing sophomores Emilee Urbas, Mollie Berbari, Alexis McCabe, and Hadley Porter, the Mustangs could become a dominant team for years to come. Our Lady of the Elms is continuing to build after a strong performance last year. Senior Becca Padgett and junior Brooklyn Berkowitz are ready to compete all over the Akron area in the fall. Also in greater Akron, senior Maggie Putt of the Springfield Spartans has become one of the most improved players in Northeast Ohio. She will lead Springfield as they look to dethrone Cloverleaf in the Metro Conference. The Spartans will return several key members of their 2024 team. A final team to watch is the Champion Golden Flashes. Champion will look to an incoming freshman class to add to the depth they have already created as they look to continue a program with a very strong tradition.
Mending
After a decade long run of dominance, the Independence Blue Devils will have some work to do to reach the same heights they did under coach Karl Schuld. The best thing going for Independence is that they have a young core of players with a ton of potential. 2025 will act as a stepping stone year for this group, led by eight sophomores. Laurel has typically had a superstar player with an important supporting cast. Senior Elizabeth Weingart will once again look to step into that role this fall while the team will look to several upper and lowerclassmen to work their way into the lineup. Without Kennedy Lewis, one of the program’s top all time players, Southern Local will also be looking to returning players to take on new important roles on the team. The Indians have a deep roster and several candidates to take a big step, including three seniors: Lola Perfetto, Alyssa Deeley, and Caty Brewer.
A few schools will have some talent back but will need to fill end the back end of their rosters in order to make a splash in Division 2. Perry senior Jillian Peters will be joined by senior Lilay Yeager at the top of the lineup. Elyria Catholic will be led by senior Nicole Ferguson. Bristol will rely on junior Anistyn Williams. All three of these teams have depth in their program but will need to see improvement from their role players.
As we endure record low temperatures here in Northeast Ohio, the thought of the upcoming golf season can bring some warm thoughts to mind. Here is some very early analysis of what we can expect from the 2025 girls golf season in Division 1.
Top of the Mountain
This past season Magnificat brought Northeast Ohio its first Division 1 State Championship since 2007. The Blue Streaks rose up when the stakes were the highest and held off perennial state power Dublin Jerome to bring the title to Rocky River. Magnificat will lose team leaders Cammy Reed and Maureen O’Leary to graduation but their depth as a program will still be on full display in 2025. Kristina Chill will be the impact senior followed by a very solid group of underclassmen, including sisters Kayla and Korinne Knaze and Calli Reed, hoping to build off her older sister’s legacy.
There was a lot of speculation that after losing Isabella Goyette and Paige McKendry that Highland was going to fall off in 2024. The one thing that the Hornets constantly remind everyone is that they are always going to be contenders. Elizabeth Coleman stepped up big time in her junior year and almost single handedly gave them exactly what they had come to expect from Goyette. Highland will lose both Kendall Sprutte and Avery Albright, so they will rely on some less experienced players to step up to fill those holes. Coleman will be a force her senior year and Highland always seems to have players waiting in the wings to make an impact.
After a short lull by their high standards, Walsh Jesuit had a dynamic 2024 run, capped off by back to back program defining rounds at Sectionals and Districts. The Warriors bring back their entire nucleus and will have huge expectations in 2025. Sarah Vojtko proved that she is the real deal throughout her freshman year. Yumi Kohara continues to get more consistent as she grows into a leadership role. Vivian Eich was a nice surprise last season and Coleen Stadler and Gianna Rodenhauser will add the needed depth in their senior year.
On the Rise
Turning the calendar to 2025 symbolizes the future turning into the present in northern Medina County. The Brunswick Blue Devils have been building for this moment and they are confident that the time is now to make a big run. Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble exceeded all expectations as a freshman and now will be joined by her sister Emma, who brings a similar amount of hype. The Blue Devils used 2024 to continue to develop some of their core pieces, especially Rylee Roth and Jess Buzinski, who both took huge steps forward. Brunswick is primed for success if they put in the needed work and come in with the attitude demonstrated by coach Chad Thompson.
In Canfield, it will be time for juniors Aubree Philibin and Alex Conley to take the reigns for the Cardinals. Canfield has continued to grow over the past several years and they are another team that is ready to take the next step. Behind Philibin and Conley are a solid group of seniors ready to contribute and a young group of players ready to make an impact. Once coach Dean Conley sorts out where everyone fits in the lineup, the Cardinals are another team to watch.
After sending two, nearly an unprecedented three individuals to Districts in 2024, Revere will turn the page to a young foundation of players that has patiently been waiting their turn. In pure Revere fashion, four juniors, all who shoot very similar scores, will give the team a balanced look with a high ceiling in 2025. Those juniors are Ryenne Harpley, who nearly qualified for Districts after being the odd one out in a four-for-three playoff at Fox Den last year, Amrita Deo and Kate Banning, who each bring two years of quality experience, and Maddy Addessi, who has been ready for the spotlight since her freshman year. Canfield will grow as a team and learn how to win as a team in 2025.
The emergence of Edisa Plants last year gave Massillon some hopes of jumping onto the radar of contending teams. The Tigers have been slowly improving but will have a lot of work ahead of them, but having a sophomore emerging star is a good place to be. The Lake Blue Streaks are in a similar position. Charlie Brophy established herself as the number one player in the lineup last season and she will get some help from experienced seniors Grace Swihart and Olivia Gant, while the team is also high on a few younger players currently on the roster and entering the program as freshmen. A final team that has quietly been building a solid team is the Lions from Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin. They don’t have the star power as some other programs but their lineup has become deeper over the past couple years to the point where they are fielding a competitive squad. Senior Ava Lewandowski will be joined by three juniors who have played a learned together over the past two seasons. NDCL will look to compete in the new North Coast Conference.
New Look
A number of perennial powerhouse programs will be going through some extensive changes while still looking to stay competitive in the top tier of teams in Northeast Ohio. These teams have typically been able to reload when losing key pieces but they all find themselves in different positions heading into 2025.
The Hoover Vikings have a lot to replace but they are still poised to be the team to beat in the Federal League and make another run toward the State Tournament. They will be led once again by superstar junior Ellie Hutzler, who will be joined by freshman sister Frankie along with several returning potential contributors.
With the Gianna Reginelli era over at St. Joseph Academy, the Jaguars will turn to senior Emerson Glending to step into the team leader role. Glending had a solid season and she will have a lot of help returning, including seniors Tess Gibel, Ellen Mingus, and junior Vera Swartz.
The Hudson Explorers had a roller coaster season in 2024 and have lost mainstay performers Emmy Burling and Julia Van Bokkelen. They will rely on junior Elena Varga, who will be joined by junior McKenna Kiewatt and a young group of players looking to build experience.
In Jackson Township, the Polar Bears are always a factor in the Stark County golf landscape. Even without Cara Murphy, Jackson will continue to bring out a quality lineup and will be a difficult team to beat. Junior Kennedy Farrell and senior Charlotte Raketich will take the top two spots for the Polar Bears.
Julia Gulla will likely be regarded as the best player to ever play at Nordonia High School, making an impact and leaving a legacy that will never be forgotten. Replacing her is impossible, but Nordonia still will be a team that gets the most out of their players. The Knights will have a senior laden lineup led by Natalie Barnes, Carly Sutton, and Maddie Eisner, while also receiving contributions by junior Polly Loney.
Looking to call upon the success of the teams of the mid 2010s, the Green Bulldogs are hoping to reestablish themselves as a Federal League contender. Junior Leah Dang will spearhead the campaign and be joined by seniors Brooke Shocklee and Reese Genet, along with several other experienced upperclassmen.
Athleticism and talent always seem to find their way into the hallways at Kent Roosevelt High School. While they will not be sending out household names like Ashlyn Leavery, Kent still has a group of quality players to keep an eye on. Senior Adrianna Mineo and Coco Golden will be two players to watch for the Rough Riders.
Without the pure left-handed swing of Dixon Hill, Hathaway Brown will be seeking a new team identity in 2025. Saijal Jawa will look to go from unknown in the area golf landscape at the beginning of last year to the face of the Hathaway Brown program this season. The Blazers saw significant improvement from both Adelyn Ehlers and Lily Andrews throughout last season and they will be important contributors in 2025.
Aurora will be another team that sees a complete changing of the guard in 2025. Last season served multiple purposes for the Greenmen, both fielding a highly competitive team and also developing young talent. Aurora will be very young this season, with sophomores Bennett DeLuca and Kelly Macsurak both being key contributors. Senior Courtney Zeid will need to take a leadership role as the young players continue to grow.
Along the western lakeshore, coach Jeffrey Hammond of the Rocky River Pirates will see some changes at the top of his lineup. As Mia Ginnetti moves on to the next level, Rocky River will rely on Ginnetti’s supporting cast from last year to become the main players. This includes seniors Addie Crane and Rylie Quaiser.
Keeping it Steady
These are teams that have a good base to build off and have been strong programs over the past several years. They all return a majority of their players from last season and look to have similar or much better results in 2025.
North Royalton has enough depth to compete in the Suburban League National Division, especially with the division losing a lot of its most talented players. The Bears will need someone to step up and become their superstar in 2025. They will also be competing with the Brecksville Bees, who are building around senior Alice Cho and are in a similar position as North Royalton. Medina had to redefine their program in 2024 after bringing in a new coach and a completely new starting lineup. They have all their contributors back for their senior year, including Corinne Christeon and Lily Zimmerman, and look to make a big step forward. Mayfield also brings back all their important pieces, including junior Julie Paradise and senior Lucy Moran, who will both only get better as the season goes on. The Kenston Bombers are not as balanced as Mayfield but they have two quality players at the top of their lineup, juniors Ava Solak and Stefania Mighton. Solak and Mighton will look to continue Kenston’s reign in the Western Reserve Conference for one final year. Down in Stark County, the Louisville Leopards are working to get back to the dominance they had earlier this decade. The majority of the workload will fall on senior Natalie Warner, who will lead a supporting cast who are gaining more and more experience.
Rebuilding
The race for supremacy in the Greater Cleveland Conference in 2024 was epic. Strongsville and Brunswick battled back and forth the entire season and Strongsville managed to play their best golf at the end of the season to come out on top. The Mustangs will need to replace 80 percent of their lineup this fall, with junior Kanishka Badri as their only returning contributor. Strongsville will use 2025 as an opportunity to establish a new direction for a new group of players under veteran coach Kevin Weir.
Avon Lake is in a similar place as Strongsville, having won the Southwestern Conference in 2024 for the third consecutive year despite starting their own version of a rebuild. They will lose Olivia Tobin but they have several young players coming up, all of who could make an impact. The Shoregals were pleasantly surprised with the performance of freshman Lily Dorsey last year and she will be thrust into a leadership role as a sophomore. They will be opposed once again by the Avon Eagles, who will also be rotating in some new players into the lineup. Seniors Reese Thomas and Emma Fitch return and the Eagles will look deeper into their program to find young players willing to step up. Staying in the Southwestern Conference, North Ridgeville will have to get used to life without Gianna Betonte, who was a stabilizing force in the program for her entire career. The Rangers have a large roster and they will see what players will emerge as their starters this coming season.
Speaking of Rangers in rebuild mode, Eastlake North will be facing a difficult road forward as they will have to find a way to compete without superstar Lauren Iannetta, who ended a spectacular career at the District Tournament last October. North will rely on Iannetta’s supporting cast from last year to step into the spotlight this season.
Led By the Star
Northeast Ohio, from Cleveland to Akron to Canton to Youngstown and everywhere in between, is a hotbed for talent on the links. There are a few programs that heavily rely on one superstar to carry their team. These players are natural leaders and instrumental to the success of their teams. No player epitomizes a quality player and leader by example as much as Serena Wu from Solon High School. Her dedication permeates through her teammates and the Comets are a better team because of it. Solon’s supporting cast will be vastly improved in 2025 and the Comets will compete in a very difficult conference because of it.
Olivia Berlingieri had a breakout season playing in the number 1 position for Stow last season. The senior will continue in that role as she mentors a squad comprised of mainly juniors, some with varsity experience. The Bulldogs still expect to be a factor in the Suburban league led by Berlingieri.
Another breakout player in 2024 was Cloverleaf sophomore Quinn Malarkey. She was thrust into the number 1 spot in their lineup very early and she made the most of the opportunity. The Colts are a young team looking to continue to dominate the Metro Conference and bring back some of their past glory.
After going to the Division 2 State Tournament two seasons ago, St. Vincent-St. Mary was not able to replace their graduated seniors and had to send their players to tournaments as individuals last season. They are looking to come back as a team in 2025 and have a solid one-two punch that will lead the team. Seniors Caitrin Coyle and Rylee Hoover are quality players who give the Irish a rock solid foundation to build from.
New and Almost New
Behind juniors Sydney Barker and Kaylee Naymik, the Riverside Beavers successfully completed their first season as a team in 2024. Riverside brings back their entire lineup, which also includes junior Kaylee Kirk, senior Madi Tas, and sophomore Isabella Gigliotti. Riverside was competitive last year and will be even more competitive returning all their talent in 2025.
In Medina, the Buckeye Bucks are hoping to be able to field a team of at least four players in 2025. Buckeye has never had a girls program but senior Grace Palermo and sophomore Angelina Vannello are pushing for this year to be the first. Buckeye would be an excellent addition to the Lake Erie Girls Golf Association and would bring even more quality to Northeast Ohio Golf.
We are writing to you today to raise funds for the Ohio Girls Golf Foundation (OGGF). Our mission is to promote and grow girls’ golf in Ohio. We provide opportunities for girls of all ages and skill levels to experience the joy and benefits of the game.
Your generous donation will directly impact the lives of girls in Ohio by:
Providing scholarships for girls to attend college and financial aid to attend tournaments
Funding junior golf programs for beginner to advanced players throughout the state
Supporting the development of high school girls’ golf teams
Promoting the LPGA and inspiring the next generation of female golfers
The top 5 coaches’ names who donate the most over the course of the fundraiser—now through Friday, January 31, 2025—will be put in a drawing to win a 9-Hole Playing Lesson for their team with PGA Golf Professional Joshua Diemer at Chagrin Valley Country Club.
Your donation is tax-deductible and will be greatly appreciated. Please see the invitation for the donation QR code. Questions? Feel free to call or text us at 216-233-5111 (Kristin) or 440-308-9894 (Krystine).
Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to working with you to grow girls’ golf in Ohio.
Sincerely,
Kristin Reboul and Krystine Frisch, Coaches and Board Members, OGGF
2024 was another amazing year of girls golf in Northeast Ohio. The reason behind our website is to showcase the wealth of talent that we have in this area. Here are the top players in both Division 1 and Division 2 listed by grade. There are some incredible players on this list. It is difficult to compile these lists each year because there are so many players deserving of recognition. Thank you to all the coaches who offered feedback throughout the year. Congratulations to all of our top players in 2024!
Division 1
Maureen Adler
Player of the Year- Serena Wu (Solon) Coach of the Year- Maureen Adler (St. Joseph Academy) Senior MVP- Gianna Reginelli (St. Joseph Academy) Junior MVP- Serena Wu (Solon) Sophomore MVP- Kayla Knaze (Magnificat) Freshman MVP- Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble (Brunswick)
Gianna Reginelli
All-Senior Team MVP- Gianna Reginelli (St. Joseph Academy) Avery Albright (Highland) Emmy Burling (Hudson) Mia Ginnetti (Rocky River) Julia Gulla (Nordonia) Dixon Hill (Hathaway Brown) Lauren Iannetta (Eastlake North) Ava Kemp (Hoover) Zoe Mort (Marlington) Cara Murphy (Jackson) Maureen O’Leary (Magnificat) Kylie Porter (Hoover) Cammy Reed (Magnificat) Gracyn Vidovic (Aurora)
All-Sophomore Team MVP- Kayla Knaze (Magnificat) Alex Conley (Canfield) Leah Dang (Green) Amrita Deo (Revere) Kennedy Farrell (Jackson) Ryenne Harpley (Revere) Ellie Hutzler (Hoover) Yumi Kohara (Walsh Jesuit) Aubree Philibin (Canfield) Rylee Roth (Brunswick) Quinn Malarkey (Cloverleaf) Elena Varga (Hudson) Anna Yacknow (Copley)
Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble
All-Freshman Team MVP- Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble (Brunswick) Charlie Brophy (Lake) Kendyl Brown (Alliance) Bennett DeLuca (Aurora) Lily Dorsey (Avon Lake) Vivian Eich (Walsh Jesuit) Saijal Jawa (Hathaway Brown) Kelly Macsurak (Aurora) Edisa Plants (Massillon) Calli Reed (Magnificat) Ava Scott (Wooster) Taniyah Spencer (Marlington) Sarah Vojtko (Walsh Jesuit)
Division 2
Cindy Fesemyer
Player of the Year- Taylor Blazek (Southeast) Coach of the Year- Cindy Fesemyer (Southeast) Senior MVP- Taylor Blazek (Southeast) Junior MVP- Annie Johnston (Edgewood) Sophomore MVP- Anuja Patel (Orange) Freshman MVP- Elizabeth Pollock (Chagrin Falls)
Taylor Blazek
All-Senior Team MVP- Taylor Blazek (Southeast) Ellie Jackson (Columbiana) Kennedy Lewis (Southern Local) Macey McGhee (Independence) Dally Meek (Hillsdale) Gracie Ryan (Chagrin Falls) Katie Santee (West Branch) Dani Slack (Woodridge) Mia Steigerwald (East Canton) Avery Vencill (Edgewood) Sadie Villers (Northwest) Madison Wade (Dalton) Addison Williams (Bristol)
Annie Johnston
All-Junior Team MVP- Annie Johnston (Edgewood) Alexis Askew (Keystone) Reagan Burnight (Chagrin Falls) Anna Drago (Rootstown) Nicole Ferguson (Elyria Catholic) Hailey Franks (Canton South) Ava Miller (Rootstown) Jessi Mix (Southeast) Emma Murphy (United) Zoe Naus (Edgewood) Jillian Peters (Perry) Katie Pregibon (Cardinal Mooney) Aubree Varga (Southeast)
Anuja Patel
All-Sophomore Team MVP- Anuja Patel (Orange) Kennedy Accavallo (Keystone) Aeryn Berena (Brookfield) Caseabella Fye (Keystone) Maddie Jackson (Columbiana) Maggie Kothera (Kirtland) Isabella Linger (West Branch) Kate Murphy (Chagrin Falls) Avery Rodocker (Tuslaw) Hannah Samblanet (Canton South) Anistyn Williams (Bristol) Natalie Vernosky (Chagrin Falls) Brilea Woods (Champion)
Elizabeth Pollock
All-Freshman Team MVP- Elizabeth Pollock (Chagrin Falls) Mollie Berbari (Tuslaw) Sophia Clarico (Keystone) Abbey Cottrell (Independence) Mao Edwards (Lake Catholic) Payten Frye (Mapleton) Morgan Giebel (Rootstown) Hannah Gott (Wellington) Emma McLaughlin (West Branch) Jennifer Mix (Southeast) Samantha Morgan (Southeast) Khloe Shodd (Heartland Christian) Emilee Urbas (Tuslaw)
The Northeast Ohio Golf Coaches Association has released the All-District teams for 2023. These awards were voted on by members of the NEOGCA. Please visit https://www.neogca.com/copy-of-2023-all-neo-teams for all boys and girls honors.
Girls Division I
1st Team
Elizabeth Coleman (Highland) 1st Team All Ohio
Serena Wu (Solon) 1st Team All Ohio
Gianna Reginelli (St. Joseph Academy) 1st Team All Ohio
I became the head coach of the Hudson Girls Golf team in the spring of 2019. When taking over a program with such tradition, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the questions you have and by all the questions you receive. I don’t really remember most of the questions that came in that whirlwind. But one does stand out. The first time I met with our parent representative, she asked, “Do you know Doug Snelling?” I did not know Doug but was curious as to why it was so important that I meet him immediately. She gave me his phone number and I gave him a call the next day. That phone call made everything very apparent. Doug knew golf. He knew how to coach, he knew how to instruct, he knew how to organize, and most importantly, he wanted to share his knowledge with whoever would listen.
Doug had the faintest hint of a Scottish accent when he spoke. He wasn’t from Scotland and I’m not sure if he even has any trace of Scottish ancestry at all. But I always told myself that he subtly picked it up because of his love for the Scottish game that was so dear to him. He had a passion for the game of golf and a desire to teach the sport whenever he could. He started as the JV girls coach at Hudson in 2007 and took over the program in 2010. In his first year, he took the Explorers to the State Tournament, where they finished 9th in the state. He continued to coach at Hudson until he retired after the 2015 season. He saw a ton of success over that time, including three undefeated seasons, five district appearances, and two league championships. More importantly, he had an impact on every player he coached. His players spoke highly of his knowledge and ability, but even more of his integrity and character.
Not long after I took over at Hudson, Doug became an assistant coach at Highland High School, where his experience and ability helped them to an unprecedented run of success. Even while he was coaching at a rival school, Doug would still take time to help me and my players. He excelled at giving short game lessons, emphasizing topics like chipping styles and learning the fall line on putts. He also shared with me his scoring spreadsheet, something I still am figuring out. As coaches, we ironically spent countless hours trying to become more efficient. I cannot tell you how long and how much dedication it took for Doug to perfect that spreadsheet, but I know it did not happen overnight. He was so proud to share it with me and explain how it worked.
Getting to know Doug Snelling made me a better coach and a better person. His legacy will live on in the Hudson Girls Golf program and the Highland Girls Golf program for decades to come. It was truly a pleasure to be able to work with him, learn from him, and enjoy his friendship for many years. Doug’s contribution to the game of golf is unmistakable and he will be missed by the entire golf community.
Congratulations to the Magnificat Blue Streaks and Coach Danny Gallagher on bringing Northeast Ohio its first Division 1 girls golf state championship since 2007. Magnificat held off highly favored Dublin Jerome by 16 strokes with an overall team score of 618 (308-310). The Blue Streaks were led by sophomore Kayla Knaze who shot 77 on the first day and backed it up with 74 on day two at NCR Country Club. The wind was howling and the rain was occasionally falling over two chilly days in Dayton, but it didn’t stop Magnificat from making a huge statement. Senior Cammy Reed finished a single shot behind Knaze as she went 73-79 over the two days. Her freshman sister Calli showed that there won’t be any setbacks in the future as she brought in 80-77 to easily take the lowest score of all freshmen. Senior Maureen O’Leary contributed 78-80 and junior Kristina Chill shot 80-86. It was Magnificat’s first state championship in golf. They join Walsh Jesuit as the only other Northeast District team to win the D1 title. Highland was in contention for most of the tournament and ended up finishing fourth overall, compiling a team score of 643. Hoover finished just behind them in sixth place as they shot 672 and Walsh Jesuit ended up in 10th place with a team score of 699.
Elizabeth Coleman from Highland lit up the scoreboard on her way to a tie for second place overall in the individual competition. Coleman’s one over par 71 set the tone and she added a 75 on day two. She finished three shots behind state champion Eva Becerril from Cincinnati Sycamore and tied with Meadow Tian from Lewis Center Olentangy. Solon’s Serena Wu and St. Joseph’s Gianna Reginelli were both in the chase for the entire tournament and finished tied for fourth place, each shooting 148 over the two days, two shots back of Coleman and Tian. Zoe Mort from Marlington finished tied for 12th and Lauren Iannetta from Eastlake North finished in 32nd place.
In Akron, the Tom Fazio West Course at Firestone Country Club hosted the Division 2 State Championship. The Northeast District was strongly represented by the Southeast Pirates and Chagrin Falls Tigers. Cindy Fesemyer’s Southeast squad sat in fourth place after the first day and Chagrin Falls, under the direction of Kristin Reboul, ended day one in seventh place. Southeast’s consistent rounds of 355 and 356 were good enough for fifth overall in the tournament, putting an exclamation point on their first ever trip to the State Championship. Taylor Blazek led the way for the Pirates with rounds of 77 and 80 to finish sixth overall individually. Chagrin held on to seventh place as they shot 372 on the second day, 13 total shots better than their 385 on the day one. Their freshman phenom Elizabeth Pollock ended the championship with 88 and 83, which tied her for 19th place overall.
Individually, Anuja Patel, the standout sophomore from Orange High School, capped off an amazing tied for eighth place with rounds of 76 and 82. Katie Pregibon from Cardinal Mooney finished tied for 36th overall with rounds of 91 and 99.
Congratulations to all the teams and individuals who represented Northeast Ohio in the State Championships at Firestone Country Club and NCR Country Club!
Jessica Porvasnik is a big fan of the year 2024. The former Highland High School and Ohio State University golf standout already has a rather significant list of accomplishments, but now she can add two more huge life events to that list. In August, Jessica tied the knot and married her fiance Sam. Within a month of that momentous occasion, she received notice that she had officially earned a spot on the LPGA Tour.
The moment Jessica found out that she had earned her card is immortalized on Instagram. “How do you guys know that?” Jessica asked in the video. A simple response: “Math.” She had mathematically made the jump every female golfer dreams of and she had not even thought to check into it. “I was like ‘what?'” she explained. There were three events left in the season and she still had some work to do to earn fully exempt status, but one thing was certain: Jessica Porvasnik would be playing on the LPGA Tour in 2025.
Jessica has an untraditional story of her rise in the sport of golf. She was never exposed to the game and her parents were not golfers. “I started kind of late, at age 12,” she said. “I played many other sports and was really into softball. I was visiting my aunt in Battle Creek, Michigan and she suggested we take a golf lesson together.” The pro who gave the lesson was impressed. “Hey, you’re pretty good.” That was all it took. Jessica’s aunt helped her find out that the Highland golf program had a middle school club team. She joined that and made it a point to play with her grandfather every Sunday. Her sister Alicia also picked up the sport around the same time.
Jessica was able to make the Highland varsity team as a freshman. “It was a lot of fun,” she recalled. “It was a family atmosphere for me. It made my game get better just because of the competition. I grew to love the game and loved being with them.” Her best high school memories are the same as pretty much any high school golfer you ask and they include being big into flamingos, singing on van rides, and the camaraderie of the team. One of her goals was to win the individual state championship and she was able to accomplish that goal her senior year. “That was really cool,” she said happily.
It didn’t take Highland golf coach Mary Becker long to know Jessica might be on a different trajectory. “I began to believe that Jessica was a special kid after her freshman year,” Coach Becker explained. “She came back as a sophomore and made a huge jump. Just watching her development, passion and hunger to learn more and more about golf, and how to become a better player was something you saw in her every day.” Going to Ohio State was the right decision, according to Becker. “I was super excited for her to choose Ohio State to play her college golf. Number one, it’s a great national level program with great resources and facilities. Number two, after getting to know coach Hessian from OSU, I knew it was the right choice. She played on the tour and had a track record of developing tour players, which made her program a great fit for Jess.”
Jessica ended up having a stellar career at Ohio State, where she won the Big Ten Tournament her freshman year as an individual while the Buckeyes won it as a team. They ended up winning the conference three of her four years there and also made it to Nationals three of those seasons. After graduating with a degree in finance, Jessica knew she wanted to pursue her golf career. She committed herself and was happy to have more time to dedicate to improving her game. “I could now spend my time focusing on golf, fitness, and nutrition,” she said.
Jessica turned pro in the summer of 2017, right after her graduation. She continues to show appreciation for her coaches from Ohio State, who have been extremely supportive of her and have even caddied in some of her events. She went through LPGA Q-School to try to earn her tour card that fall but did not make it through the first round. She faced similar results the next two years. But she continued to play in state opens and on mini-tours. In 2020, she played on the Women’s All Pro Tour, which had an incentive where the top five on their money list got to skip Stage 1 of Q-School. With her struggles getting through Stage 1, this was exactly what Jessica needed. She won the first event on the WAPT and then the tour shut down due to Covid. “The year was a wash,” she explained. She didn’t back down and was able to get into the top 5 in 2021. In fact, she finished first overall on the WAPT and was able to get status on the Epson Tour as a result of her Q-School performance.
2024 was Jessica’s third season on the Epson Tour. She ended up finishing strong in most tournaments she played in. She had two second place finishes and six top 10s on the Epson Tour. If she finished in the top 10 overall she would receive a full card and 11 to 15 would earn her a partial card. When she found out she had mathematically qualified for the LPGA Tour with three events left, she still had a little work to do. She finished third in the next event to solidify a top 10 finish. With one event left on the Epson Tour, Jessica is sitting in third place and is ready to start making plans for her 2025 season on the LPGA Tour. “It hasn’t quite set in yet,” she said. “I think it will after this last event (at Indian Wells in Palm Springs).”
Jessica is very excited to live the LPGA lifestyle. “I can’t wait to see new courses and travel. I look forward to seeing new places. That was exciting with the Epson Tour. I got to visit a lot of places I had never been to. I can’t wait to see the new places on the LPGA Tour.” She is also excited to visit some of her host families and friends she has made along the way. Many of them still stay in touch and are following her journey.
Jessica has some experience on the big stage. She qualified to play in the 2014 Women’s US Open at Pinehurst. She did not make the cut but still mentioned that it was a great learning experience. She Monday qualified to get into the LPGA event at Toledo at Highland Meadows, where she did make the cut, and at the Pierce Silk Tournament in Virginia. “I haven’t met a lot of people yet,” she said. I’m looking forward to the new journey, meeting new people (she mentioned Nelly Korda), and seeing familiar faces.”
Jessica is ready to face the challenges of being on the top women’s golf tour in the world. There is a lot that goes into being a professional golfer that many people don’t realize. She is currently working on sponsorship deals, finding an agent, and getting a caddie. “I typically pushed (the bag and cart) myself or had my dad, husband, family, or coaches caddy for me,” she explained. She also knows that she needs to constantly work on her game. “I’m still asking people ‘Can you give me a lesson?’ and I am still taking a ton of lessons,” she said. “Your first year on the Epson Tour you are learning the ropes: Pro-Am parties, being in the Pro-Am, etc. I look back and hope my first year on the LPGA Tour will be easier.” She knows that she needs to get advice and continue to ask questions. “Where do I stay? What hotels do you recommend. I didn’t use a lot of the resources on the Epson Tour and it was a learning process. You don’t have a lot of time on the LPGA Tour. You need to perform to keep your card. Going out and asking questions will be huge so I don’t go out and face too many challenges.”
Asking questions is so important. Jessica wanted to remind that to junior players and high school golfers who are looking to make it big one day. “When you are a freshman, be outgoing,” she explained. “Ask the seniors questions. You need to be outgoing and ask questions because it will only help you.” She continued to explain what has worked for her. “The game is growing so much. There are a lot more female golfers right now. Give it your all, stay patient out there: PATIENT AND POSITIVE. It’s a grueling sport. You will have it one day and you won’t have it the next. Stick with it and have fun. That’s the key. I’ve always loved the game. There’s always something to bring me back in and give me that itch. I need to be out there. Most importantly, dream big!”
Jessica also offered some words of wisdom to parents and coaches of young golfers. “Don’t push too soon. I’ve seen a lot of parents make that mistake. If you keep pushing them they are going to get burnt out. Take a step back and be very supportive. They have got to want it themselves. My parents didn’t push me because I had the drive. They would drop me off at the golf course early and pick me up in the evening. I’d spend the whole day there.”
Even those that are not planning to become LPGA pros can really benefit from learning the sport, according to Jessica. “This is a great sport to go play in the business world or go make a bunch of connections. Having a lady in your scramble who plays from the red tees is a huge advantage!”
Coach Mary Becker sums up Jessica’s story perfectly: “Hers is a great story of perseverance and hard work, never giving up on her dream. I could not be happier for her.”
We would like to offer our utmost thanks to Jessica Porvasnik for taking the time to talk about her journey. We wish her the very best and we are really excited to follow her on the LPGA Tour this coming season!
We haven’t posted a tournament update in a while and now that the season is already winding down it’s time to check in on what has been going on in girls golf from late August through the beginning of September.
(Please keep us updated on tournament results, team/individual accomplishments, and other interesting stories as they develop this season!)
The girls golf world loves heading to Avon Oaks Country Club, one of the most supportive clubs in Northeast Ohio for girls golf. The Magnificat Blue Streak Invitational was a huge success with a thrilling finish as Dublin Jerome held off Magnificat by a single stroke. Magnificat’s Cammy Reed defended her home turf with medalist honors and a very impressive -3 round of 69. Emma Myers from Toledo St. Ursula was the runner up with a round of 71.
Great event today at Avon Oaks CC! Congratulations to our team champion Dublin Jerome, our medalist Cammy Reed & our all-tournament team pictured below! Thank you to the entire AOCC staff! @MagnificatGolf @SportsKee1 @avonoaksturf pic.twitter.com/eTecssyfCE
One of the most fun events of the golf season is the Flamingo Frenzy, appropriately hosted at Ridgewood Golf Course in Parma. The teams brought it strong with some amazing flamingo gear and some even better golf. Magnificat continued their impressive season with a victory, shooting a team score of 308 and holding off their rival St. Joseph Academy by ten strokes. Hathaway Brown’s Dixon Hill always seems to have a good day at Ridgewood and she had a phenomenal day this year. Her -5 67 easily took medalist honors. Julia Gulla from Nordonia and past champion Gianna Reginelli from St. Joseph Academy tied for second place.
Huge thank you to Ridgewood and the City of Parma for hosting the Flamingo Frenzy! And to all the teams who came out and made it amazing!
Another staple on the schedule for many teams is the Independence Blue Devil Classic, held at Shawnee Hills. The Highland Hornets were victorious by 18 strokes over the Jackson Polar Bears in a 17 team field. Solon’s Serena Wu and Highland’s Elizabeth Coleman both went 2 under par and tied for medalist honors with scores of 69. Wu and Chester both continued their dominant fall seasons combining for seven total birdies in the round.
Highland shoots a 310 and takes 1st 🥇 place at the Blue Devil Invitational, Shawnee Hills GC. Elizabeth (69) runner up after a 5th scorecard tiebreaker. Solid team win! Elizabeth 69, Mirabella 78, Avery 80, Gabby 83, Kendall 85. pic.twitter.com/eANoe7eCgg
At the beautiful Country Club of Hudson, Highland was able to pull out a victory at the Walsh Jesuit Invitational following their win at Independence. Highland topped a very strong field with a score of 301, followed by Magnificat with a 311. Gracyn Vidovic had an amazing tournament, finishing -4 and three shots ahead of her nearest competitors. Cara Murphy from Jackson and Elizabeth Coleman from Highland tied for second place with scores of 71.
Great day for golf at beautiful CC of Hudson at the Warrior Invitational. Highland takes 1st 🥇 place of 17 teams with a team season low of 301! Elizabeth runner up 71, Mirabella 75 PR 🔥, Kendall 76 PR 🔥, Allie 79 PR 🔥, Avery 80.
Big Met Golf Course will be hosting the west side Sectional tournament starting this year and Rocky River’s Invitational provided a preview of what to expect from the course. Brunswick played a stellar round to easily lap the field for the victory. The Blue Devils shot 338 and their superstar freshman Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble was medalist with a 75 and three Brunswick players finished in the top five. Host Rocky River came in second with 356 and their superstar senior Mia Ginnetti finished runner up individually one stroke back of Ellie with a 76.
Girls shoot 338 to win the Rocky River Invitational by 18 shots at Big Met!!!
Seven teams descended upon Akron and looped around Mud Run Golf Course two times in the Lady Irish Open hosted by St. Vincent-St. Mary. Irish junior Caitrin Coyle shared medalist honors with Ryenne Harpley from Revere with scores of 82. The Minutemen won the tournament with a score of 339, finishing nearly 100 strokes above their nearest competitor. Northwest, led by a 93 from Sadie Villers, was the runner up in the tournament.
Congrats to the Lady Minutemen Golfers who won the St. V. Irish Invitational Saturday at Mud Run GC.
Ryenne Harpley-medalist with 82
Kate Banning 3rd- 84
Maddy Addessi 85 Amrita Deo 88 Ava Sucato 99 Sarah Riley 100
The Hoover Vikings took home another victory at the Mahoning Valley Tournament hosted by Ursuline. The Vikings put up a team score of 322, led by Medalist Ellie Hutzler, who shot a 74. The Polar Bears from Jackson finished in second place with a 335.
Fittingly, it was Columbiana who dominated the Columbiana County tournament, as their two teams took the top two spots in the tournament. Nine of the top ten scores came from the Clippers, who were led by Ellie Jackson’s 82 and Maddie Jackson’s 84. The top non-Columbiana player was Kennedy Lewis from Southern Local, who shot 97.
The Greater Cleveland Conference met up in Medina to take on Bunker Hill Golf Course in their second conference tournament. It was the Brunswick Blue Devils who prevailed with a ten stroke victory over the Strongsville Mustangs. Brunswick’s win put them in command of the conference after also winning the first tournament. Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble from Brunswick absolutely dominated the individual side of the tournament as she shot 72 and was 13 strokes clear of Strongsville’s Hannah Lee, who ended up in second place with an 85.
The girls shoot 356 at Bunker Hill and win GCC #2 by ten shots!
Ellie 72 (hole out EAGLE 🦅 on #16) Rylee 87 Jess 94 Autumn 103 Jensen 103 Abbey 114
The girls will play next in the Blue Devil Classic on Saturday at Shawnee Hills. Great WIN today girls!!! pic.twitter.com/JvfyVnL0f8
Back to back days saw conference tournament action at Fox Den Golf Course in Stow. The fun started with the third Suburban League Tournament on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. While most of the area was watching the debacle that occurred at Cleveland Browns stadium, fourteen schools looked to anchor their spot in the Suburban League standings. Highland put themselves in a commanding lead in the American Division with their third victory in the conference. Their 310 was the lowest score in both divisions. Aurora had their best showing in the conference as they finished second to Highland with a 328. Hudson won the National Division with a 324, 13 shots ahead of Nordonia. Hudson has won two of the first three league tournaments and will look to hold off Nordonia for the league title. Individually, in the National Division, Solon’s Serena Wu continued to dominate as she shot an impressive -4 67. Stow’s Olivia Berlingieri stayed hot as she posted an even par 71 to finish second. In the American Division, it was Gracyn Vidovic from Aurora who shot 69 to take medalist honors. Second was Elizabeth Coleman from Highland with a 72.
Congratulations to Highland and Hudson girls’ golf teams for finishing first in Sub. Lge. tournament # 3 at Fox Den. Gracyn Vidovic (69)-Aurora and Serena Wu (67) – Solon were individual conference medalists. Some great scores on a beautiful day for golf!⛳️⛳️⛳️ pic.twitter.com/hT7GNYA1SH
The third Greater Cleveland Conference tournament at Fox Den was one of the most exciting events of the year. Strongsville and Brunswick battled for 18 holes while scores went back and forth with both teams usually being separated by less than three shots. It came down to the final hole and the Mustangs from Strongsville prevailed by a total of 2 shots, bettering Brunswick 339 to 341 and keeping them alive for a possible share of the conference championship. Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble all but solidified her claim to player of the year with a -1 70. Hannah Lee from Strongsville once again took second place as she put up a 78.
Could not be prouder of these girls. They have fought all season long and played some great golf today. Congratulations to Hannah Lee on finishing 2nd overall with a 78 and Sydney Bass with a PR of 83 and finishing 3rd overall. https://t.co/HFC8VJKdD7
At Mill Creek in Youngstown, Canfield absolutely crushed the competition as they took the crown in the All American Conference tournament. Canfield’s 332 was just under a hundred shots better than their nearest competitor. Howland finished second with a 429. Individually, it was all Cardinals as Miya Cohol took medalist honors with a 79, followed by teammate Alex Conley’s 82 then two more Canfield players. Gianna Ross from Boardman finished 5th overall with an 87.
Congrats to our Lady Cards as they won the AAC Championship today at Mill Creek! Leading the Cards was Miya Cohol-79(Low Medalist),Alex Conley-82,Natalie Sawicki-85,Aubree Philibin-86, and Mia Tisone-91. pic.twitter.com/wWYNHeYTao
Teams are starting to round into form as we hit the peak of the season. 2024 is proving to be an extremely competitive season with some big surprises.
(Please keep us updated on tournament results, team/individual accomplishments, and other interesting stories as they develop this season!)
Heading to the far east part of our coverage area, it is great to welcome the Brookfield Warriors as one of the newest girls golf teams in the state of Ohio. Brookfield is coached by Shawn Hammond and they have gotten off to a very respectable start. We will have an updated page for the Warriors on our site asap.
The week started off with the first of several co-ed events of the year at Arrowhead Golf Club. The host Hoover Vikings swept the tournament by winning on both the girls and boys side with nearly identical scores of 315 and 314 respectively. The boys defeated Canfield on a fifth score tiebreaker. For the girls, Ellie Hutzler, Ava Kemp, and Kylie Porter all shot in the 70s to pace the Vikings as they outplayed Dublin Jerome and Walsh Jesuit.
Hoover wasn’t done with just one tournament win. In historic Zoar, Ohio, the Norse of North Canton also won the Dover Lady Tornado Invitational, bettering their score from Arrowhead by one stroke. They beat second place Jackson by 20 shots. Kylie Porter’s even par 72 was four shots better than Jackson’s Cara Murphy, her closest competition. Led by an 87 from junior Olivia Gant, Lake managed to help the Federal League take all three of the top three spots in the tournament.
At Alliance Country Club, the North Royalton Bears claimed their first tournament victory of the season at the Marilyn Jackson Invitational, besting the Massillon Tigers by 24 strokes and the Louisville Leopards by another 16. Rena Steffas and Lily Pastore matched 95s to lead the Bears to a victorious team score of 387. Marlington’s Zoe Mort continued her impressive run as she claimed the medalist spot with a round of 81. Natalie Warner from Louisville finished second with a 94, one better than the Bear Pair.
Dublin Jerome brought their A team to Mill Creek and dominated the Canfield Invitational with a remarkable team score of 291. Walsh Jesuit edged out Canfield for the runner up spot by one stroke with a 323. Ellie Ryu added another first place trophy to her case as she carded an impressive 68. Scores were low across the board as Caitlyn Mundwiller from Jerome tied Magnificat’s Cammy Reed with a round of 70.
Hathaway Brown checked in with a win at the Chagrin Falls Invitational at Tanglewood as superstar Dixon Hill shot 72 for the Blazers. Look for a lot more news out of Tanglewood as they are under new ownership and have really dedicated themselves to supporting high school golf. Hathaway Brown took a big step forward as they pursue a deep run in the postseason.
At Spring Hills Golf Club in Clinton, the Northwest Indians hosted the Griffiths Cup. The Quakers of New Philadelphia were the tournament champions as they held off Massillon Perry by 10 strokes and the hosts from Northwest by 13. A three way tie for medalist included Sadie Villers from Northwest, Hailey Franks from Canton South, and Kiersten Creighton from New Philadelphia, all shooting rounds of 86.
The Suburban League had a quick turnaround as both the boys and girls headed out to Aurora to play the beautiful Club Walden. The American Division was once again won handily by Highland as they soared to a 31 stroke victory over Aurora, Kent Roosevelt, and Revere. The Hornets shot 314 while the others shot 345. Highland’s Elizabeth Coleman shared the top spot in the American Division with Gracyn Vidovic from Aurora, each shooting 73. The National Division didn’t put up the team scores to compete with Highland, but the individual scores were impressive. Serena Wu from Solon tied Olivia Berlingieri from Stow with three under par rounds of 69. Julia Gulla of Nordonia also went under par with a 71 and Emmy Burling from Hudson added an even par round of 72. Hudson held off Nordonia to win the National Division by two shots, 329 to 331. Hudson and Nordonia are now tied with one tournament victory each, while Highland has won both tournaments on the American side.
It was a wild first week of the high school golf season around Northeast Ohio. There were multiple tournaments each day, conference play started in many places, and the talented players in this area made their impact known right off the bat.
(Please keep us updated on tournament results, team/individual accomplishments, and other interesting stories as they develop this season!)
The week started with an invasion of teams from different parts of the state. Columbus was well represented on Monday and Tuesday. Perennial power and state championship favorite Dublin Jerome won the afternoon flight of the Lady Explorer Invitational and Brunswick Tee-Off Classic on back-to-back days. They were joined by New Albany, Olentangy, Olentangy Orange, Granville, and Marysville from Central Ohio. Centerville made their debut in the Lady Explorer Invitational and finished in 5th place. St. Ursula and Notre Dame Academy came from Toledo and each participated in two tournaments.
As expected, the Northeast Ohio teams were all looking up at Magnificat, who finished runner up at the Lady Explorer at Lake Forest Country Club and the Brunswick Tee-Off Classic at Brookledge. After two second place finishes, Magnificat dominated the field at Padua’s Bruin Invitational, taking home the trophy. Gianna Reginelli of St. Joseph Academy had a 74, which was good enough for the individual championship at Pine Hills.
Canfield got off to a fantastic start as they won the morning flight of the Lady Explorer Invitational, which was bolstered by a hole-in-one from Miya Cohol. She ended the tournament with an 84, placing her in 6th place overall. Serena Wu from Solon High School was the individual medalist with an impressive 69 at a very difficult course.
Miya Cohol with an ace on the 3rd hole at Lake Forest. Courtesy of Josh Cohol.
Riverside High School participated in their first ever tournament as a program in the afternoon flight at Lake Forest. They watched along with many others as Dublin Jerome won the team title and Ellie Ryu from Jerome took the individual title with a one under par 71.
Ryu also took home the medalist honors at Brookledge in the Brunswick Tee-Off Classic on Tuesday, beating Highland’s Elizabeth Coleman by one shot, and helping her team to victory.
Coleman had one of the craziest rounds of golf in recent memory on Wednesday during the Suburban League tournament at Good Park in Akron. After taking a 10 on her fifth hole of the day, she birdied five of six holes, put up a 31 on the back, and finished the day with a 75 to take medalist honors in the American Division. The Hornets took the team title as well, finishing 18 strokes above Kent Roosevelt. In the National Division, things were a little tighter as Nordonia edged out Hudson by five strokes in what looks to be a season long battle. Serena Wu once again was the medalist with a great round of 72.
On Monday at Chenoweth, Cloverleaf and Copley came down to the wire at the Springfield Lady Spartan Invitational. Cloverleaf ended up winning the tournament by one shot over the Indians. Medalist honors went to Caitrin Coyle from St. Vincent-St. Mary. In the team competition, Rootstown took third place.
The Greater Cleveland Conference made their way out to Warren to take on Old Avalon, a course known for yielding some low numbers. It didn’t disappoint. Brunswick set multiple school records and took home the first GCC points of the year as they shot a 323 to defeat Strongsville by 15 strokes. Freshman sensation Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble was the medalist with 72 and her teammate Rylee Roth’s personal best 76 was good enough for second.
In Stark County, Hoover continued their amazing run as they won the Federal League Preseason Tournament with a score of 308. Jackson finished second with 335 and Green third with 360. Cara Murphy from Jackson had a career day as she shot six under par 66 to win the tournament in convincing fashion.
Avon snuck past Avon Lake in the nine hole Southwestern Conference Preview Tournament. Kylie Kittrell and Reece Thomas, both from Avon, shared the low round of the day with 42 apiece. Olmsted Falls finished third holding off Berea-Midpark by one shot at Sweetbriar.
Cloverleaf was in complete control at the MAC Preseason Tournament, beating their nearest competitor by a whopping 50 strokes and establishing themselves as the team to beat in the conference. Four Colts took four of the top five spots with sophomore Quinn Malarkey bringing home the top score of 86 at Pine Valley. Malarkey edged out Woodridge’s Dani Slack by four shots.
The Keystone Wildcats looked to defend their home turf at Grey Hawk Golf Course in LaGrange at the LEGGA Preview Tournament. They nearly won the tournament but were narrowly beaten by the Rocky River Pirates, 405-408. Rocky River was able to win without their number one player Mia Ginnetti. Julia Schmid from Rocky River tied with freshman Sophia Clarico from Keystone for the individual honors.
With a score of 340, Tusky Valley won the Preseason Tri-County Conference tournament at Pleasant View. Massillon was the top conference team in the tournament with a score of 372. Garaway’s Kylie Miller won the tournament carding a 75. Zoe Mort of Marlington was the top Tri-County player as she shot 76.
Last Saturday at Twin Lakes, Kent Roosevelt’s Lady Rider Invitational took on Mother Nature. Mother Nature took an early lead as they washed out half of the morning flight and the tournament was switched to a nine hole event. The Rider Invitational got its revenge on Friday as the weather was absolutely perfect. Southeast won the shortened morning flight with an impressive score of 161. Walsh Jesuit had a very strong performance on Friday, putting up a team score of 323 to take home the trophy. Dixon Hill of Hathaway Brown was on fire as she shot a 68 to take the individual medal.
I am going to take a quick break from covering high school golf to share something that is really special to me. This past Sunday, I gathered some of my best friends, family members, fellow coaches, and Hudson golf alumni and we played in a fun, and slightly competitive, golf tournament at Manakiki Golf Course. I called it the Golden Age Classic to pay homage to my passion of golf course architecture but also because I truly feel that I am living in a golden age of my life. I have so many relationships that I hold so dear and it’s great to see those paths cross while doing something we all love and enjoy. Fittingly, we held the tournament at Willoughby’s Donald Ross gem, which fits right into my favorite era of golf course design.
The weather at Manakiki was perfect and the course showed its muscles for most of the players in the field. The par fives played formidable and the par threes actually were gettable. Michael Schuller overcame the difficult conditions by winning the men’s Black Division with an impressive +3 75, beating his closest competitors, Jerry Du and Brandon Sopko, by nine shots. Schuller birdied the first hole and didn’t drop a stroke until number 8. He finished +1 on the front nine and got some strokes back by getting birdie on the back-to-back par fives, 12 and 13. He played consistent golf from beginning to end, posting no score worse than bogey. High school phenom Jerry Du finished with an 84 and Brandon Sopko tied that score as he came in with the last group. Bobby Bolin and Devin Cunningham, one of four sibling rivalries on the course, ended up tying at 88, followed by Darren Butler and Ryan Sopko with 91.
In the men’s Blue Division, Fangming Du held off John Schuller by two shots and his 80 was good enough to take the title. He used a stellar short game to recover from a tough start. After bogeying three of the first four holes, Du turned it on and was five over par throughout the rest of the round. Having five scores of three on the scorecard always help keep scores down, and Du did just that as he parred all four par threes and birdied the dogleg right 16th hole. John Schuller played well but fell just short as he ended up with 40 on the front and 42 on the back. Sam Smith put up matching 43s on both nines to finish in third place. Gil Van Bokkelen had a strong front nine with 41 but a 47 on the back took him out of contention late. He tied with Cole Chluda, who played better on the back than the front.
The Du family was not done quite yet. 2023 high school graduate Sherry Du won a very competitive Women’s Division as she posted a six over par 78 to take home the trophy. She did not score worse than bogey and had an eight hole stretch of holes where she played even par with eight consecutive pars. Like her dad, Sherry also had par on each of Manakiki’s memorable par three holes. Finishing second was Julia Van Bokkelen with a very strong score of 80, followed by Ally Siewert’s 82. Lucille Petkac had a good showing with an 85 while Mallory Zammataro and Krystine Frisch finished in 5th and 6th place.
There are so many people to thank for making this tournament a success. First, the participants. You are some of the most important people in my life and some of my best friends. I am so happy we were able to spend a day together on the golf course doing something we can all bond over. A huge thanks goes out to Ryan and Emily Bolin and my amazing wife, Megan, for helping out with logistics and taking all the pictures that you see below. I’d also like to thank Ben Ladaika and Milt Johnson along with the entire staff at Manakiki for helping make this a reality. Also a huge thanks to all those who could not attend this year but were supportive of this venture. We hope to have even more participants next year!
Final Results
Women’s Red Division 1. 78 Sherry Du, Hudson High School Girls Golf ’24, University of Pennsylvania 2. 80 Julia Van Bokkelen, Hudson High School Girls Golf Senior 3. 82 Ally Siewert, College of Wooster Sophomore (Nordonia High School) 4. 85 Lucille Petkac, Padua High School Girls Golf, Ursuline College ’24 5. 101 Mallory Zammataro, Hudson High School Girls Golf ’22, Miami University 6. 108 Krystine Frisch, Avon Lake High School Girls Golf Coach
Men’s Blue Division 1. 80 Fangming Du, China 2. 82 John Schuller, Midpark High School, Bowling Green State University 3. 86 Sam Smith, Normandy High School, Miami University 4. 88 Cole Chluda, Hudson High School, Ohio University 4. 88 Gil Van Bokkelen, Skyline High School, University of California Berkeley, Stanford University 6. 90 Luke Harris, Avon Lake High School, Cleveland State University 7. 91 Mike Dame, Greater Lowell Regional High School, Cossett Creek Golf Course 8. 98 Al Evangelista, Strongsville High School, Kent State and Cleveland State University, Olmsted Falls Girls Golf Coach 8. 98 Ken Frisch, Brookside High School, Bowling Green State University 10. 100 Mike Hayes, Valley Forge High School, John Carroll University 11. 101 Tim Maddocks, Midpark High School, Kent State University 12. 109 Doug Benzel, Amherst Steele High School, Bluffton University 13. 110 Brandon Harris, Avon Lake High School, Case Western Reserve University 13. 110 Kevin Van Bokkelen, Walsh Jesuit High School, Lebanon Valley College
Men’s Black Division 1. 75 Michael Schuller, Berea-Midpark High School, Heidelberg University 2. 84 Jerry Du, Hudson High School Sophomore 2. 84 Brandon Sopko, Valley Forge High School, Geneva College 4. 88 Bobby Bolin, Buckeye High School, Baldwin-Wallace College 4. 88 Devin Cunningham, Cloverleaf High School, Kent State University 6. 91 Darren Butler, Reynoldsburg High School, University of Akron 6. 91 Ryan Sopko, Valley Forge High School, Muskingum University
Ohio High School Golf 