Pluchinsky is lone state golf qualifier

Staff report

HARTVILLE

South Range’s Brandon Pluchinsky was the lone qualifier to state among area Division III boys following his round of 76 during the district golf tournament at Seven Hills Country Club on Thursday.

The junior tied for medalist with Gilmour Academy’s Andrew Bieber, but lost a one-hole playoff.

Trinity’s Jimmy Wild carded 77 to squeak in as the second-highest individual not on a qualifying team.

Gilmour finished with 315 and Lake Ridge carded 332 to qualify to next weekend’s state tournament as teams.

Warren JFK (343), South Range (347) and Columbiana (355) were area teams unable to qualify.

A highlight was Pluchinsky’s eagle on the par-4 No. 5 hole.

“I chipped in for eagle,” Pluchinsky said of the 350-yard hole on the front nine. “The drive hit the cart path twice and made pin-high bounces, then rolled about 10 yards to the edge of the green about 5 yards from the hole,” he said. “It was a short little chip that rolled around the lip and fell. I got kind of got lucky there.”

The Div. III state tournament will be at North Star Golf Resort in Sunbury next Friday and Saturday.