Poland girls lead by 6 shots

State golf

Poland is halfway toward a second straight state title in Division II.

STAFF REPORT

The Poland High girls golf team leads the Division II state championships by six strokes heading into the final day of competition.

The Bulldogs began defense of their 2008 state title by shooting a team total of 326 at the Ohio State Gray Course on Friday.

Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin is in second place with 332, followed by Hathaway Brown at 349.

Poland coach Judy Young described the conditions as “nasty.”

“It was cold but we were dry,” she said. “It was about 48 degrees but windy. We handled it pretty well, though.”

Senior Angela Molaskey led Poland with an 18-hole round score of 80. Mariah Groner, a senior, shot 81, while junior Allison Mitzel fired an 82 and sophomore Maria Mancini had an 83. Senior Meredith McKay finished with a 98.

“We’ve got to play in this nasty cold again [today],” said Young.

Competing as an individual, Warren JFK sophomore Kelsie Teaberry shot an 88, for 11th place among the individual qualifiers.

Boys

The Lowellville team, competing at state for the first time, shot a team score of 393 at the Ohio State Scarlet Course in the Division III championships.

Senior Mauro Amendola led Lowellville with a round of 88, while junior Anthony Alfano shot a 94.

Senior Tyler Vitus added a 105, junior Ray Carlson a 106 and freshman Joey Smith a 111.

Strasburg-Franklin led the teams with a round of 331, followed by Minster (334) and Columbus Wellington School and Gates Mills Gilmour Academy (336).

Centerburg’s Troy Lemke was the low individual on the day with a 79.

In the Div. II boys tournament at Northstar Golf Resort in Sunbury, Thomas Lydic, a sophomore at Champion, fired a first-round 80, tying him for fourth place among the individual qualifiers.

Morgan Dobbins of Jackson shot a round of 72 to lead the individual qualifiers, while Corey Richmond of West Union shot a 76 and Grant Weaver of Apple Creek Waynedale shot a 78. Wes Drees of Versailles also shot an 80.

Dayton Oakwood leads the team standings with a score of 308, with Kettering Alter in second place at 313 and University School in third with 314.

All the tournaments continue today, weather permitting. The Division I state championships for boys and girls are next weekend.