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.
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.
Ohio High School Golf 