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.”
“I love golf. I love the game. And it’s the people that make it that way.”
These are the words of Alexandria Vardon, a senior at Firestone CLC in Akron and the top player on the Falcons girls golf team. She is a future engineer, a district qualifier in golf, an example to young student-athletes, and is wise beyond her years. She has already experienced success on the golf course and knows that her attitude toward the game will help her experience success in much bigger ways.
Alexandria Vardon lives and breathes golf and is passing the message along. She remembers getting a set of golf clubs from her father at a really young age and started learning the game at the First Tee of Akron not too long after. “I owe it all to my coach, Jimmy Beers,” she explained. “He has seen my game develop and he is the reason I play.” Alexandria knew that she enjoyed the game when she joined the PGA Junior League with Beers as her coach. She realized that she could have an impact on girls golf at that point, but did not realize how much of an overall impact she would have. Alexandria, along with other first tee standouts Raygan Hoover and Reese Latta from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, would often play and volunteer with the First Tee of Greater Akron. While helping at a clinic not long before the Covid pandemic, a girl participating in the clinic made it a point to single out Alexandria. “She’s my favorite coach because she’s the only girl here!” the young lady exclaimed. A thirteen year old Alexandria was humbled, but it was at that point she realized just how important she was to others. That young player still attends matches just to watch Alexandria and the Falcons play.
Alexandria took the confidence and humility she gained from that special moment with her straight into high school. She was so committed to Firestone CLC that she planned to play on the boys team because they were not expecting to have enough numbers to even field a girls team. In her freshman year, they were able to get enough interest to revitalize their girls program and by her sophomore year they had a new coach who was immediately invested in the program. Jon Bozeka, still at the helm of the program, looks to Alexandria almost as if she is one of his coaches. “Alex has a really tough job revitalizing the program,” he said in respect to his top player. “Her success is laying the groundwork for the future of the team.” Coach Bozeka speaks highly of Alexandria’s amazing work ethic, meticulous approach to the game, and most importantly, her leadership, which he describes as her greatest asset to the team.
Alexandria did not just walk in one day and determine that she was the team leader. “It just happens,” she explained. “It’s about who rises up and fills in where they need to.” She uses the offseason to get the “vibe” of the team and works hard to set an example for the other players to follow. “My teammates are newer to the game but they have passion for it,” she said. “We all enjoy each other’s company.” Firestone is in a great place, returning all their players from last year’s team, including three seniors. That staying power is also a testament to Alexandria’s leadership. “It’s amazing to see how the program has grown,” she reminisced. “We went from having to scrape six players out to having nine total.”
Coach Bozeka is very aware of the difficulties being the best player and team leader can bring. “It is tough to be a leader in golf because you still need to be there for teammates regardless of how you play,” he explained. “Alex is able to do that. The little things she brings have rubbed off on the other players. She is the first on the course and the last to leave. We have a lot of beginners. Alex manages everything and takes it in stride.” After she is finished playing, usually in the first group, she makes it a point to go back to check on her teammates and make sure everything is going well.
Golf is a microcosm of so many aspects of life. Alexandria plays golf the way she lives and her personality is on wide display on the golf course. “Great players grind in tough situations,” Coach Bozeka said, referring to her gritty effort at the District Tournament last fall. By all accounts, Brookledge Golf Course in Cuyahoga Falls played exceptionally difficult last October. Alexandria got off to a rough start and shot 52 on the back nine, her first nine holes of the day. Even though she knew qualifying for the State Tournament was out of the picture at that point, she settled in and because of her determination she ended up with a more than respectable 42 on Brookledge’s front nine. It was the round that got her to Brookledge that had people talking, however.
The Sectional Tournament at Fox Den Golf Course in Stow is typically one of the most competitive sectionals in the state. Highland, who seem to punch a ticket to Columbus every year, was the unquestioned best team at Fox Den. Nordonia and Hudson, both of whom respectively had one of their best teams in school history, each looked to have a good chance to get out. The final spot looked to be a battle between Walsh Jesuit, North Royalton, and Streetsboro. Firestone knew they would have a tough time advancing out as a team but Alexandria was also up against some pretty talented individuals from non-qualifying teams. Alexandria got off to a good start. “The first drive was a good one, and that set the tone.” She played well on the front nine, shooting a solid 43, and continued at a steady pace. Alexandria and Coach Bozeka both knew there was a chance for her to advance. The pressure was on. Nobody in recent memory from Firestone had ever advanced to the District Tournament. Alexandria had that in the back of her mind. On the 16th hole, a short par four, Alexandria hit a great approach shot and knocked in the birdie putt to put her in great shape to advance. That approach shot was the key. It took the pressure off and let her coast in to the clubhouse with confidence and a final score of 83. “That’s what separates her,” Coach Bozeka reiterated, “When a big shot is needed, she makes the shot look easy. She responds late in the round when the pressure is rising.” Athletes refer to this phenomenon in many ways: the “it” factor, being clutch, stepping up under the spotlight. No matter what it is called, it’s pretty clear that Alexandria Vardon possesses it.
Alexandria’s 83 looked like it would last, but that didn’t stop the jitters during the wait after the round, which any golfer will tell you is the most difficult part of any tournament. “It was a wonderful day,” Alexandria recalled. “I knew I played well. I was on the edge of my seat for 45 minutes. It was the longest day of my life.” It was now out of her control and many things were happening at once. North Royalton came in with an excellent team score and beat out both Walsh Jesuit and Streetsboro. That was bad news for Alexandria because Annie Stencel from Walsh Jesuit shot an 80 to all but guarantee herself one of the four individual qualifying spots. Alexandria had beaten all five of North Royalton’s players. There were several good players out on the course still and it got even more nerve-racking when Emily Lamb from Shaker Heights came in with a 79. Alexandria continued to wait but by the end of the day, nobody else came within three shots of taking her spot. She ended up with the third qualifying spot and Lauren Iannetta from Eastlake North took the final spot with an 86, winning a tiebreaker over Walsh Jesuit’s Annie Cors.
Alexandria Vardon had become the first female golfer at Firestone in this century, possibly ever, to qualify for the District Tournament. Districts is a different animal and that experience will be crucial to Alexandria’s progression. It was not a great day at Brookledge, although the front nine provided a lot of positive points. The six hour round was grueling and her group never did quite find a rhythm. The takeaways are extremely important as Alexandria hopes to have a chance to tackle Brookledge again. “Shot making was important,” she explained. “It’s a tournament of perseverance.” Her goal is to get back there her senior year and take the next step. There will undoubtedly be another quality field descending on Brookledge in 2023 but Alexandria has a very good chance to be in the mix yet again.
Not many golfers have played even nine holes under par. Alexandria accomplished that feat on August 29th of 2022 in a match against Canton South at Mud Run Golf Course in Akron, carding a one under par 33. “I’m not a very long hitter,” she mentioned. “So I have to make up for it on and around the green.” That she does and her continuous improvement is evidence. Alexandria plans to play over the summer on the Northern Ohio PGA Tour and will still be around the game of golf working at Portage Country Club when she is not playing. Her goals for 2023 are high and include shooting consistently in the low 80s, breaking 80 for the first time, and hopefully having a chance to play golf in Columbus in late October at the State Tournament. Off the course, Alexandria is planning to pursue a degree in chemical, aerospace, or mechanical engineering. She has qualified for States and Nationals in the robotics competitions the past two years. She also is a member of the International Baccalaureate.
Alexandria loves golf for a few reasons. “The fact you are outside is great,” she explained. “And that pure shot that keeps you coming back.” Her favorite part about playing in Districts was how it reminded her of playing in the summer. “I played with Madolyn Kost (from Kent Roosevelt) and it was so much fun. That was when I knew that I made it.” Alexandria Vardon definitely has made it both on and off the golf course and will be a force to be reckoned with her senior year.
The date was October 14th, 2022. The place was the first tee box at Ohio State University’s Gray Course. A junior from a small high school in eastern Ohio stood on the tee ready to represent her school and her community. The pressure was nothing new for Mati Zines. She stuck to her routine, took the club back, swung, and followed through. She began her journey to shooting 81-80 at the State Tournament and finishing tied for 11th place overall out of 71 competitors on the biggest stage in Ohio Division II Girls Golf.
United High School is not big, encompassing a total of about 530 students. Many schools of similar size struggle fielding teams in smaller sports, such as golf. When Mati started at United her freshman year, the school did not have a girls golf team and she was still fairly new to the sport. Mati had to join the boys golf team and figure out high school golf while being thrown into the deep end. Fast forward to 2023, Mati will be entering her senior year having established herself as one of the top players in the state and having helped build a fully functioning girls golf program at United High School. It hasn’t been a long journey, but the rewards have been plentiful and impactful.
“I only got into golf in junior high,” Mati explained. “I started playing golf a lot later than most girls my age.” It wasn’t until the end of her freshman year that Mati realized she had a bright future in the game. “It was Columbiana’s coach, Bob Hall, who was the one to mention it to my parents,” she said. With Coach Hall’s recommendation, Mati started working even harder on her golf game and began competing in tournaments outside of the high school season. She gained skill, experience, and confidence by competing in Youngstown’s Greatest Golfer league and the Northern Ohio PGA Tour.
Mati went from being the number five player on the boys team to the number one player on the newly formed United girls golf team in 2021. “I was super happy to finally have a team my sophomore year,” Mati said. They only played a handful of matches that year but it was the first time in the history of the school that they had enough players to field a girls team. Mati also had a really successful sophomore season as she reached the District Tournament after firing an 87 at the Pine Lakes sectional.
Success as a sophomore led to a huge confidence boost for Mati. She knew that she had the ability to compete at the highest level and now she just had to demonstrate it as she entered her junior year and remained as the leader of United’s squad. The team played a full schedule in 2022 compared to only a few matches the previous year. Although they competed independently, they were able to play in the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament, which featured local opponents Columbiana, East Palestine, and Southern Local. Mati easily won the tournament shooting an 84, twelve shots above the nearest competitor, and the United Golden Eagles finished in second place behind Columbiana. She had momentum going for her as the Sectional Tournament approached.
At Sectionals, United came up short as a team from advancing but it was a great day for Mati Zines. Her round of 80 was good enough to earn medalist honors and easily propel her to the District Tournament at Sable Creek. The round at Districts had a little bit of everything. “It was a roller coaster of emotions to say the least,” Mati recalled. “I started off well the first 8 holes, but that all changed on the 9th hole.” A triple bogey to finish off the opening nine could have ruined the day, and would have for many players. Mati was able to get her emotions back in check and made par on the 10th hole. She then faced a problem that would not have even been an issue before 2022 and had to make a very difficult decision.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association made live scoring mandatory at any OHSAA tournament starting in 2022. Players now had access to leaderboards whenever they wanted to check. That new wrinkle left a lot of players with another decision that could affect their mental game. Should they check the leaderboard to see where they stand? “My coach doesn’t like it when I check the scoreboard,” Mati said. “But curiosity always kills me.” She felt that it would be better for her to know exactly where she stood. It proved to be the right choice in that circumstance. “I knew that I was in the top three when I got to the 18th hole,” Mati said, giving her the assurance she needed. “I was nervous because I was afraid I might get excited and have a another hole.” She didn’t. Mati finished the back nine at Sable Creek with an even par 36, giving her a total of 77 and putting her in a tie for first place, which earned her a spot at the State Tournament in Columbus. She had to still break a tie with Abbie Retherford from Ravenna, who also shot a 77, but by that time it didn’t matter. “When I heard there was a tie, I didn’t really mind,” she explained. “I was just happy I got to State. That might have helped me play loose.” She birdied the 11th hole to win the playoff. “Plus, it was fun to play with Abbie for those two holes.” Sable Creek did not play easy during the District Tournament, which made Mati’s (and Abbie’s) round that much more impressive. There were only four scores in the 70s and nine scores in the 80s from a field of 69 golfers.
Most players and coaches will say that the District Tournament offers the most difficult test of the high school season. Getting to the State tournament probably brings out more pressure than even playing in the State Tournament. Columbus was a great experience for Mati Zines as she played consistent golf on her way to the 81-80-162 for a tie in 11th place. The memories that come from OSU’s Gray Course are even better. Mati smiled as she explained her favorite: “My swing coach, Joe Allen, promised me if I made it to State he would caddy for me during my practice round. Well, he didn’t account for the fact that it was going to be windy and cold during the whole weekend. So he had to drive all the way down to Columbus to caddy for me in the wind and cold. But even if it was cold and windy, and I didn’t play as well as I would’ve liked, I still had a good time.”
One of the best things that younger players can learn from Mati is to set high, yet attainable goals, and more importantly, to keep pushing yourself toward even higher goals. After achieving her first goal of making the team at United, she decided that making Districts as a sophomore would be the next step. She was able to achieve that and the new goal was to get to Columbus her junior year. After getting to the top of the mountain, it begs the question: What’s next? And the answer, of course, “Now that I made it to State, I have newer and higher goals for myself.”
Mati plans to play golf at the next level. She is enjoying the college recruiting process and the search for the perfect fit. She made sure to emphasize that academics will always be the priority but she definitely plans to play golf when she finds the right place. In terms of golf, she feels most comfortable with her irons, especially from 120 yards in. She has a solid short game but also knows that any golfer can improve that aspect of their game. When asked about her favorite feeling on a golf course, Mati said that there are two. “The first is when I get a birdie, especially on a par 3. I believe getting a birdie on a par 3 is the hardest birdie to get. You can’t get bailed out with a long drive, you have to be accurate with your irons, and make the putt.” Her second favorite feeling really brings out one of the great aspects of girls golf in this area: meeting new people and making new friends. “My second favorite feeling is playing with girls like me and being able to have fun while playing. It definitely helps me do better. Each player golfs differently. Some have to be completely focused on their shot, however, I wear myself down focusing all the time. It’s nice to talk to new people and connecting with them while also giving your all to your game.”
Mati has made good friends through the game of golf and tries to stay in touch as much as she can. “Samantha Calderone (Warren JFK) is someone I met two years ago through Greatest Golfer, and we found out that we are more like each other than we first realized.” Another is Shaylee Muckleroy from West Branch. “We were on an AAU basketball team before Covid, but didn’t get to know each other very well because of the pandemic. When we golfed together, we realized that we had already met. I got to play with her during a match and Sectionals, which was awesome.” Mati really enjoys playing with players who have similar interests or a similar style of play to her.
One unique aspect of Mati’s golf journey is that she gets to take it with someone who is really close to her. Stacey Zines, Mati’s mother, is the girls golf coach at United. “It’s nothing new,” Mati explained. “I’ve had both parents be my coach my whole life.” She played basketball, soccer, and softball when she was growing up. And, as is the case in many similar circumstances, Mati’s parents may be just a bit tougher on her than the other players. “They have high expectations for me because they want what’s best. In golf, my mom is supportive of me and loves coaching my team. She kept repeating how easy our team was to coach, so I’m glad we weren’t too much trouble for her.”
Stacey Zines is very proud to be able to coach her daughter. “Being a teacher in the school district where she attends, I have had the opportunity to coach Matilyn in many different sports and activities (Academic Challenge),” she explained. “Mati works hard, has a great attitude, and understands the difference between me as a mom and me as a coach. Her dad has also been her coach throughout youth and now high school softball so the whole family has had a lot of experience with different roles we play.” She loves being able to have a front row seat to everything Mati accomplishes. Coach Zines also explained how golf has impacted Mati’s life. “She is very even tempered on and off the course. With that being said, she is a totally different person on the course than off. She likes to meet and talk to new people she meets while playing golf. She is more outgoing on the course than in other areas.” One area that Mati continues to excel at is the classroom, which is where her mother/coach is most proud of her. “In school she definitely maintains her focus. Academics are very important to her so she takes school very seriously.”
Mati offers three pieces of advice for younger or newer players:
The main thing is to have fun when you play. If you take yourself too seriously, you’ll never learn to love the sport.
Focus on your short game!
“Drive for show, putt for dough”. I think this is a great quote because it tells you how important short game is. All the best golfers are focused on short game, and I know it can be boring for new players but it is something that will make you leagues better in the future.
Mati Zines will be a player to watch in the Fall of 2023. Look for the girls on the United Golden Eagles golf team to look up to their unquestioned leader and make an impact in Division II girls golf.
We would like to take today to honor all our past, present, and future golfers on National Women in Sports Day. We are so proud of the strides we have taken as a society in supporting our female athletes. Thanks to Olmsted Falls High School for sharing this awesome video!
Ohio High School Golf 