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
The OHSAA released the fall sports divisions for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. There are six schools in the Northeast District that will see changes. Moving up from Division 2 to Division 1 will be Beaumont, CVCA, Field, Hawken, and St. Vincent-St. Mary. Moving down from Division 1 to Division 2 will be Akron Springfield, the only school in the state that will fall a division. Other schools that were bumped that may be added to the Northeast District in girls golf include Carrollton and Minerva.
In a memo to coaches sent out today, the Ohio High School Athletic Association announced the golf State Championship schedule for 2024. The Division 3 boys State Championship will continue to be hosted by NorthStar Golf Club. The Division 2 State Championships will take place at Firestone Country Club in Akron. The boys will play on the North Course while the girls will play on the Fazio (West) Course. The Division 1 State Championships will move to NCR Country Club in Kettering, near Dayton. The boys will play on the South Course and the girls will play on the North Course.
Other information included in the release gave the dates for all postseason tournaments, listed below, and established July 29th as the first official day of the 2024 season.
2024 State Tournament Schedule September 18-28- Sectional Tournaments September 30-October 8- District Tournaments October 11-12- Boys Division 3 State Tournament at NorthStar Golf Club October 13-14- Boys/Girls Division 2 State Tournament at Firestone Country Club October 14-15- Boys/Girls Division 1 State Tournament at NCR Country Club
All – We are back again for the 2nd Annual NEO Futures Tour Kickoff Classic. Last year’s event was a huge success. Please see the attached invite to the 2024 NEO Futures Tour Kickoff Classic on Wednesday, August 7th, at Briardale Greens.
Last year we had 12 boys teams and would love to have everyone back. We have also invited several more boys teams for 2024.
We would like to have local girls teams as well. We have included multiple girls coaches on our invite list. If you have other girls teams you would recommend we invite, please reach out to us.
If you wish to participate please reply back via email soon to reserve your spot. We will be working to send invites via DragonFly from VASJ once we have heard back from teams.
Cost: $300
Includes:
18 Holes – 8AM Shotgun Start, Range Balls, Pizza Lunch
All Tournament Team Plaques / Boys & Girls (5 Each)
Four team spots and four individual spots to the State Tournament are up for grabs at Brookledge Golf Club on Wednesday, October 11th. Sixteen Division 1 teams and sixteen individuals from non-qualifying teams punched their tickets to Brookledge last week. Here is all the information you need to follow along with the District Tournament.
Live scoring can be purchased through the OHSAA Golf App
The Course
Brookledge Golf Club
Par 71 5,337 Yards (District Tees) Architect- Arthur Hills
Brookledge Golf Club is nestled on over 120 acres of rolling hills and woodlands, the challenging Arthur Hills layout is unlike any other in the area. The club was opened in 1992 and has consistently improved throughout the years, now ranked as the ninth best golf course in Ohio per PGA.com’s ranking. The course is always in excellent condition and has recently undergone irrigation and bunker improvements to make the course even better! (from Brookledge Official Website)
Aurora won the Old Avalon Sectional with a score of 314. They finished second in the Suburban League American Division and Brooklyn Millard finished as the conference Player of the Year. The team won the Parma Flamingo Frenzy and Millard was the medalist in that tournament. Aurora’s top two players, Millard and Gracyn Vidovic, make up one of the best tandems in the state of Ohio and will look to carry the team to Columbus.
Canfield snuck into the fourth spot at the Old Avalon Sectional, edging out Stow by one shot. They are the champions of the All American Conference. Their best tournament finish was 5th in the morning flight of the Hudson Lady Explorer Invitational. Canfield has a young core that will gain some valuable experience competing in the District Tournament as a group.
Green finished fourth at The Elms Sectional with a team score of 365. Green has two fourth place tournament finishes, The Elms Sectional Preview and the Summit County Cup. They also finished fourth in the Federal League this fall. Freshman Leah Dang has emerged as a top player for Green and the two Shocklee sisters, Sydney and Brooke, have both become more consistent players.
The Blazers from Hathaway Brown finished second in the Old Avalon Sectional, ten shots behind Aurora. They have third place finishes in the morning flight of the Lady Explorer Invitational, the Lady Bruin Invitational, and the Canterbury Invitational. Hathaway Brown has one of the most talented players in Northeast Ohio, junior Dixon Hill, and she is joined by a young core group of layers that will leave a lasting legacy at HB.
Highland won the Fox Den Sectional with a team score of 293, led by medalist Paige McKendry’s personal best score of 67. Coming off a fourth place finish at the 2022 State Tournament and returning every scoring player, Highland has had an expectedly good 2023 campaign. They easily won the Suburban League American Division and took the top spot in four separate tournaments. They are led by superstar Isabella Goyette but are at least six deep in quality players.
Hoover took the top spot at The Elms Sectional with a very good team score of 324 while Ava Kemp tied with Jackson’s Cara Murphy for medalist honors. Hoover was the champion of the Federal League again in 2023 coming off finishing 8th in the state in 2022. Hoover raced up three tournament wins this fall, the Mahoning Valley Invitational, Dover’s Lady Tornado Invitational, and the Stark County Championships. They are led by the duo of Kemp and Kylie Porter but have really thrived after the emergence of freshman Ellie Hutzler.
Hudson Explorers
Coach- Bobby Bolin
Projected Lineup 1. Emmy Burling (JR) 2. Sherry Du (SR) 3. Julia Van Bokkelen (JR) 4. Elena Varga (FR) 5. Ellie Davis (SR)
Hudson finished third at the Fox Den Sectional with a team score of 319, two shots short of second place Walsh Jesuit. The Explorers were the champions of the National Division of the Suburban League, winning three of the four tournaments. They had second place finishes at the Flamingo Frenzy and the Summit County Cup with a third place finish at the Brunswick Tee-Off Classic. Emmy Burling has had a strong 2023 season along with Sherry Du, and in order to advance Hudson will need good performances from Julia Van Bokkelen, Elena Varga, and Ellie Davis.
Jackson finished the season on a high note with a second place showing at The Elms Sectional. Cara Murphy also tied for the individual Sectional Championship. Jackson was second place in the Federal League this year and had strong showings in many tournaments. They had three second place finishes, the Lady Tornado Invitational, the Mahoning Valley Invitational, and the Stark County Championships. Murphy is the star of the show for the Polar Bears but will also be able to rely on help from any of the other four players at Districts.
Kent Roosevelt had a good showing at the Old Avalon Sectional with a score of 330, good enough for third place. The Rough Riders finished in third place this season in the Suburban League’s American Conference behind Highland and Aurora. They had one tournament win this season at Hudson’s Lady Explorer Invitational and a second place finish at the Terlesky Invitational. The team is led by senior Maddie Kost with a strong supporting cast.
After losing a couple very strong seniors to graduation, the Lake Blue Streaks reloaded and were able to finish third at The Elms Sectional. They also managed a third place finish in the always strong Federal League. Their best tournament finishes this year were at the Lady Tornado Invitational and the Stark County Championships, both third place. The Blue Streaks are led by three experienced seniors who look to have a strong finish to their high school careers.
The Blue Streaks of Magnificat easily won the Springvale Sectional with an amazing team score of 287, 41 strokes ahead of second place St. Joseph Academy. Magnificat won four Northeast Ohio tournaments behind one of the deepest teams in the state. They are led by national phenom Cara Heisterkamp and get plenty of help from Cammy Reed, Maureen O’Leary, Kristina Chill, and freshman Kayla Knaze. The Blue Streaks will look to all five of their stars to punch their ticket to Columbus.
Medina came home from Springvale Golf Course with a third place Sectional finish and a trip to the District Tournament. This postseason run capped off an impressive regular season for the senior-led Bees, who won three of the four Greater Cleveland Conference tournaments to take the league title. in regular season tournaments, the Bees finished fourth at both the Hudson morning wave and the Brunswick Tee-Off Classic. Stella Burns had a breakout year and she leads one of the strongest senior classes in Medina history.
Nordonia had a magical season in 2022 and started their 2023 run with a strong fourth place finish in a very competitive Sectional Tournament at Fox Den. The Knights finished third in the Suburban League National Conference while junior Julia Gulla was the Player of the Year. Nordonia’s best tournament finish this year was a third place finish at Chenoweth in the Summit County Cup. Gulla and senior Brooke Barnes both willshould up good numbers at the District Tournament and will look to get assistance from of their sophomore teammates.
The St. Joseph Jaguars have steadily risen to be one of the top teams on the west side of Cleveland over the past few years, as shown by their second place finish at the Springvale Sectional. Their best tournament finish was second place at the Mahoning Valley Invitational at Yankee Run Golf Course. St. Joseph is led by Gianna Reginelli, who has been a star since she arrived on Rocky River Drive. Emerson Glending has had a stellar sophomore campaign and the supporting cast is rounding into form.
Strongsville got out of the Springvale Sectional with a team score of 344, which was good for fourth place. The Mustangs were nearly edged out by Medina in the Greater Cleveland Conference after the two teams went down to the wire in the final league tournament. Senior Natalie Kostalnick did take home the conference Player of the Year award. Strongsville took third place in the Kent Lady Rider Invitational for their best tournament finish of the year. Kostalnick is complemented by Hannah Lee, who had a great day at Springvale, and Kendall Grau, who has been playing the best golf of her career over the past couple weeks.
Walsh Jesuit had their best performance of the season at the right time, as they shot 317 to take home second place at the Fox Den Sectional, two shots ahead of Hudson. The Warriors handily won the Crown Conference Championship in its final year year while senior Annie Stencel was the Player of the Year. Walsh finished second in the Lady Bruin Invitational at Pine Hills and added two third place finishes on top of that. Stencel will lead a young squad to Brookledge and look to get to Columbus to finish off a great high school career.
The Individuals
Gabby Berlingieri (Stow)
Shot 77 to finish tied for second individual Old Avalon Sectional
Medalist at Summit County Cup at Chenoweth
First Team All Suburban League
Olivia Berlingieri (Stow)
Shot 77 to finish tied for second individual at Old Avalon Sectional
First Team All Suburban League
2nd Place at Suburban League #3 at Fox Den
Mia Ginnetti (Rocky River)
Shot 82 to finish fourth individual at Springvale Sectional
2nd Place at Rocky River Invitational at Big Met
Medalist at LEGGA Postseason Tournament at Springvale
Madison Harpley (Revere)
Shot 79 to finish third individual at Fox Den Sectional
15th overall in Suburban League American Division
Shot 85 at Suburban League #1 at Old Avalon
Chloe Holton (Rocky River)
Shot 81 to finish third individual at Springvale Sectional
Medalist at Rocky River Invitational
2nd at LEGGA Postseason Tournament at Springvale
Lauren Iannetta (Eastlake North)
Shot 75 to finish tied for first individual at Fox Den Sectional
Medalist at Western Reserve Conference Tournament at Erie Shores
Set school record by shooting 71 at WRC Tournament at Erie Shores
Emily Lamb (Shaker Heights)
Shot 75 to finish tied for first individual at Fox Den Sectional
2nd overall in Greater Cleveland Conference
Finished 2nd twice and 3rd once in GCC tournaments
Saumya Mahajan (Revere)
Shot 81 to finish fourth individual at Fox Den Sectional
19th overall in Suburban League American Division
Shot 90 in Suburban League #3 at Fox Den
Zoe Mort (Marlington)
Shot 77 to finish first individual at The Elms Sectional
Medalist at Elms Sectional Preview, Marilyn Jackson Invitational, Stark County Championships
Medalist at Tri-County Conference Postseason Tournament at Zoar Village
Anna Myers (Louisville)
Shot 88 to finish tied for third individual at The Elms Sectional (advanced in playoff)
Shot 84 at Tri-County Tournament at Zoar Village
Shot 86 at Stark County Championships at Pleasant View
Madigan O’Leary (Avon)
Shot 77 to finish first individual at Springvale Sectional
Tied for second place in Southwestern Conference Tournament at Springvale
Shot 76 at Edison Invitational at Thunderbird Hills (3rd Place)
Sarah Quayle (Avon Lake)
Shot 79 to finish second individual at Springvale Sectional
Southwestern Conference Player of the Year
Medalist at Southwestern Conference Tournament at Springvale
Sophia Rivera (Boardman)
Shot 79 to finish fourth individual at Old Avalon Sectional
Medalist at All-American Conference Tournament
Shot 77 at All-American Conference Tournament
Caroline Roush (Copley)
Shot 88 to finish tied for third individual at The Elms Sectional (advanced in playoff)
22nd overall in Suburban League American Conference
Shot 84 at Suburban League #1 at Old Avalon
Natalie Ullum (Perry- Mass)
Shot 83 to finish second individual at The Elms Sectional
21st at Federal League Preseason Tournament at The Elms
27th at Federal League Postseason Tournament at The Elms
Serena Wu (Solon)
Shot 68 to finish first individual and medalist at Old Avalon Sectional
Highland looks to keep the streak alive at Fox Den
The Highland Hornets have been dominant at the Fox Den Sectional, winning the tournament each year since 2020. This year looks to be no exception. Hudson, Walsh Jesuit, and Nordonia have the best chance to give Highland a run at the title but they will most likely be battling for second place. Last year, Nordonia edged out Hudson for second place on a tie breaker and used the momentum to propel them all the way to the State Tournament. Walsh Jesuit was kept out of advancing by a strong performance from the North Royalton Bears, a team that will look to make a similar run this year.
Isabella Goyette from Highland is the favorite to be the medalist for the third consecutive year. She has already set the course record and had a hole-in-one at the Fox Den Sectional and now looks to add to her legend. Paige McKendry and Elizabeth Coleman will add to Highland’s high flying attack, while senior Kavya Chada also hopes to have a very strong showing. Hudson will have Emmy Burling back after missing two weeks with an injury. Burling and Sherry Du combine for a formidable one-two punch for the Explorers, who have more depth than they’ve had in previous years, getting scores throughout the year from Julia Van Bokkelen, Elena Varga, and Ellie Davis. Walsh Jesuit will look to the veteran leadership of seniors Annie Stencel and Annie Cors along with the rising talent of Yumi Kohara and Colleen Stadler as they battle for one of the four qualifying spots. Julia Gulla from Nordonia could give Goyette the best run at the individual title. Gulla won the Suburban League National player of the year and would love to add a Sectional Championship to her resume. North Royalton will feature freshman Chloe Yoon and has their sites on jumping in for one of the final spots. Another team right on the brink is the Minutemen from Revere. They will showcase three freshmen with the intent of gaining valuable tournament experience.
Individual players that will contend for District berths include Emily Lamb, who has had a terrific season for Shaker Heights, Alexandria Vardon from Firestone, and several players from Revere, one potentially being junior Saumya Mahajan.
Things will be tight at Old Avalon
Low scores tend to abound during Sectionals Week in Warren. There are a good number of teams looking to take advantage of a scorable course on a day where the forecast looks to be ideal. Hathaway Brown lapped the field in 2022 but this year looks to have more parity. The Blazers still have Dixon Hill, one of the top players in Northeast Ohio, but lost two important scoring seniors to graduation. Blake Cody and company will look to support Hill and move on to Districts.
With the reemergence of Brooklyn Millard and the significant improvement of Gracyn Vidovic, Aurora has a dynamic duo that can compete with any top two players in the state. They will head to Old Avalon as the favorites. Millard and Vidovic will be supplemented by Manisha Girn and Nina Newkirk, both of whom have had some strong finishes this season.
One of the hottest teams in Northeast Ohio over the past two weeks have been the Stow Bulldogs. Stow won both the Summit County Cup and the final Suburban League National tournament and would love to add in a Sectional Championship. Behind sisters Gabby and Olivia Berlingieri, Sophia Thompson has been on fire recently, and the Bulldogs have been able to get fourth scores from Jules Leffel-Elliott and Lily Gualtiere.
Another team eyeing a spot at Brookledge in the District Tournament is the Rough Riders from Kent Roosevelt, who have shown some signs of brilliance this year but have also struggled on occasion. Maddie Kost can put up a low number and Kent will rely on Ashlyn Leavery and Izzi Wood to help give the team a chance to move on.
Other team contenders include the Cardinals from Canfield and the Comets from Solon. If Solon does not make it out of Sectionals, Serena Wu will be a heavy favorite to grab an individual spot along with several players from Canfield, including junior Miya Cohol and sophomore Chloe Leskovac. Another individual to watch for is Sophia Rivera from Boardman, who has experience at Districts from last year.
Who jumps in behind Magnificat at Springvale
Similar to Highland, Magnificat has the firepower to boat race the competition at Springvale. Behind national phenom Cara Heisterkamp and a cast of many, including Cammy Reed and Maureen O’Leary, Magnificat has more depth than any team in Northeast Ohio. The Blue Streaks have thrived under first year head coach Danny Gallagher and Sectionals should be just another step in the process to reach their ultimate goal.
The real storylines start after Magnificat as at least five teams will be battling for the final three spots. Greater Cleveland Conference foes Strongsville and Medina battled neck and neck the entire season with the Bees barely edging out the Mustangs for the conference title. The two teams tend to post very similar scores but do it in very different ways. Strongsville is led by standout senior Natalie Kostalnick and junior Hannah Lee, who both can go low on any given day. Medina brings a more balanced attack, although 2023 has proven to be a breakthrough year for senior Stella Burns. Medina features a lineup of all seniors who are all very similar players and that balance has benefited them this year.
St. Joseph Academy is a team that on a good day can also compete for that second spot at Springvale. Their style is nearly identical to Strongsville. Junior Gianna Reginelli will lead the way for the Jaguars but their fate may be in the hands of the performance of sophomore Emerson Glending, who has had a fine year up to this point. Rocky River is a formidable team featuring senior Chloe Holton and junior Mia Ginetti. The Pirates won the LEGGA this season and will look to get out of Sectionals as a team. Southwestern Conference champion Avon Lake is also in the mix to get into the top four. The Shoregals have five starters who can all step it up on any given day. Olivia Tobin, Ava Lamb, Sarah Quayle, Mia Machovina, and Olivia Ritter all could end up in the scoring column on Wednesday.
Outside of the players on contending teams, contenders for individual spots include Madigan O’Leary from Avon, Jessica Buzinski and Aislinn Leffel from Brunswick, and Lizzy Iliff from Amherst. On top of those candidates, players from Westlake, Olmsted Falls, and North Ridgeville will also have an outside chance of qualifying.
Federal League may dominate The Elms
Throughout the history of girls golf in Northeast Ohio, Stark County has been dominant most years. While the talent has spread out more over the past few seasons, there are some teams from the Elms Sectional that will make a splash at Districts. Hoover, a state qualifier from a year ago, will lead that Stark County charge. They return Ava Kemp and Kylie Porter and feature star freshman Ellie Hutzler, a threesome that will compete with anyone in Northeast Ohio. A good day from junior Alyssa Evans will mean Hoover is dominating the competition.
Districts would not be the same without the Polar Bears from Jackson. It looks like a good bet that they will also be making the trip from North Lawrence to Cuyahoga Falls next week. Cara Murphy has had a remarkable season and the team looks to be at full strength with Katie Sieverts, Milena Grametbauer, Charlotte Raketich and Katie O’Connell all healthy and ready to go.
There looks to be a decent gap from Hoover and Jackson to the rest of the field at The Elms. Lake has improved a significant amount throughout the season and Green has the pedigree to move on. Audrey Nichols and Evanne Mast will lead the Blue Streaks while Sydney Shocklee is the star of the show for the Bulldogs. They will be challenged by GlenOak, Louisville, and Cloverleaf for the final spots.
Individuals to watch for at The Elms include Zoe Mort, a very strong player from Marlington, Miya Downing from Dover, who will be playing in the Northeast District for year two now, Corrie Schorsten from GlenOak, and Peyton Biery from Louisville.
Best of luck to all Division 1 teams and players this week!
Punderson Golf Course will see a large amount of quality teams, making this arguably the most difficult Sectional Tournament to get out of in the state of Ohio. Independence is the perennial top dog at Punderson but they will see a challenge from some up and coming teams this year. Southeast has had an excellent season to this point and will be in contention. Laurel has improved a ton over last year and have one of the top players in the state, senior Siena Maschke. Chagrin Falls and Edgewood are both teams that will be contending for one of the top four spots to move on to Good Park. Teams on the brink of making an impact include Perry and Lake Catholic while Bristol, Rootstown, and Berkshire could have a chance to sneak in. Several of these schools would have had a chance to get out of the other two Sectionals but will have to play very well to compete at Punderson.
Players to Watch Taylor Blazek- Southeast Emily Capitosti- Perry Sam Holtz- Chagrin Falls Annie Johnston- Edgewood Theresa Lazanich- Lake Catholic Siena Maschke- Laurel Molly McGreal- Independence Avery Vencill- Edgewood Gracie Westover- Southeast Anistyn Williams- Bristol
Teams that could step up at The Pines
St. Vincent-St. Mary looks to be a lock to take the Sectional title at The Pines but Canton South will have their voice heard on Wednesday. It gets much more interesting after that. Columbia is not as strong as their magical 2022 year but still have a good chance to move to Districts. There are several other teams that will have their shot with a good day. East Canton is listed as only sending individuals so it appears that they will not be able to post a team score. Keystone and Woodridge could be two teams to watch for to catch fire at The Pines.
Players to Watch Abby Ankenman- Orrville Caitrin Coyle- St. Vincent-St. Mary Josephine Eifert- Manchester Raygan Hoover- St. Vincent-St. Mary Isabella Jenior- Waterloo Delaney Kruger- Canton South Taylor Kuhrt- Columbia Reese Latta- St. Vincent-St. Mary Dally Meek- Hillsdale Mia Steigerwald- East Canton
Pine Lakes will be Tight
There are legitimately five teams that could win the Pine Lakes Sectional. With only four spots available for Districts, that means someone will be going home. Ursuline, West Branch, and Columbiana have all been very competitive with each other throughout the year, so it is only fitting that they could be fighting it out on Thursday. Champion and Poland will also be very competitive to try to take home the Youngstown area crown in 2023. There are some excellent individuals that will be on display at Pine Lakes, including United’s Mati Zines and several players on the top teams.
Players to Watch Addison Bycroft- East Palestine Kennady Grace- Champion Ellie Jackson- Columbiana Kennedy Lewis- Southern Local Shaylee Muckleroy- West Branch Katie Pregibon- Cardinal Mooney Katie Santee- West Branch Gia Schiavone- Ursuline Mati Zines- United
Attached you will find a registration form for the Portage County Amateurs including the Matt Mishler Junior Portage County Amateur and the Kids Am.
The dates at the end of July are fast approaching.
Just a reminder: The Kids Am is a great first tournament for junior golfers from age 6 and under through ninth grade. Coaches, high school golfers and graduates are on the course at Sunny Hill to help with rules and scorecards if needed.
The Junior Amateur includes youth in several divisions including 12 and under, 13-15 and 16-19 for both boys and girls.. If you have team members playing in the tournament you would like to watch, please let me know and I can arrange to include them in consecutive tee times.
High school golfers are welcome to play in the Portage County Amateur. We have found the adult golfers enjoy seeing the prep golfers and competing against the talented high school students from across northeast Ohio.
The Kids Am is at Sunny Hill Golf Course (Brimfield) for one day; four, six or nine holes depending on the grade.
The Junior Am plays two consecutive days at Windmill Golf Course (Ravenna) and Sunny Hill, 18-holes for 13-19 each day and nine holes each day for 12 and under but youth golfers used to playing 18-holes may move up an age division.
The Amateur competes at Raccoon Hill (Kent) and Windmill Lakes.
Registration is available via mail-in, on-site at host golf courses or visiting the website PCGolf.net for online registration and payment.
This is the 93rd season for the Portage County Amateur, the 17th Junior Amateur and the ninth Kids Am. (The Amateurs also host the Senior Amateur at the end of August for men and women ages 50 and older.)
If you have any questions, would like to register numerous members of your team or need additional information, please do not hesitate to text (330-206-9083) or return email (golffam2@gmail.com).
Looking forward to seeing the junior golfers during the month of July.
The Amateurs appreciate the golf courses providing a great experience for the youth golfers as well as the Fairways at Twin Lakes and Birdie Shack (Kent) for sponsoring this season’s Kids and Junior Amateur.
By Krystine Frisch, Avon Lake High School Girls Varsity Golf Coach
The Ohio Girls Golf Foundation is hosting its high school showcase on Monday, July 31 at Avon Oaks Country Club. Incoming freshmen are invited to play as well as out-going seniors, so girls have the opportunity to play for five years.
This year LPGA Tour Professional Barb Mucha will headline this premier golf event, which consists of game improvement clinics, an 18 hole individual and team tournament, plus an awards dinner.
Former player and scholarship recipient Emma Davies has only good things to say about the event. “I loved the OGGF event because it was so organized and it was an amazing way to bond with your team before the school year starts. I also loved how they included pre-freshman year and post-senior year because it was a great way to meet more people,” Davies said.
Her former teammate Maggie Owens had this to say: “OGGF was one of my favorite tournaments while playing golf in high school. This was a fun and calming tournament to play during the summer. Since this tournament was before the season had begun, it was always an event that my teammates and I looked forward to. Overall, it was a refreshing and relaxing day that started out with clinics and warming up, followed by an 18-hole tournament, “ Owens said.
Liv Ritter will be a senior and has played in the OGGF. “It’s a good ready-to-go tournament. It is a great pre-season event before the season starts. It gave me advice to improve my short-game…which is half of my game. My short game is important.”
Ohio High School Golf 