CHAPIN: Area golfers begin state quest

It wasn’t a misprint.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association calendar states the prep golf season began on Aug. 6.

Weeks before scholastic golfers were sitting in classrooms this school year they were out on area courses competing for their schools. Now their season reaches the high point as they begin, starting next week, the quest for the state tournament.

A year ago the area was represented at Columbus by teams from Warren JFK and East Liverpool and by individuals Rachel Sines of Poland, Logan Beechy of Newton Falls and Leetonia’s Luke Janci.

Sectional tournaments are scheduled next week for boys Division II and III schools and for girls Division II schools.

Division I boys and girls sectionals are the following week, Sept. 30-Oct. 4, the same week as the district tournaments for Divisions II and III. The Division I districts are the following week.

The state tournaments for the smaller schools are Oct. 11-12 and for the Division I schools they are Oct. 18-19.

Action begins Monday with the Division II boys sectional at Windmill Lakes in Ravenna where Cardinal Mooney, Ursuline, Struthers, Campbell, Hubbard, Liberty, Girard, Salem, Lakeview, Champion and LaBrae will compete.

Also being played Monday is the Division III sectional at Salem Hills Golf Club which includes Lowellville, South Range, Springfield, Western Reserve, Columbiana, Leetonia, Sebring, Heartland Christian, Lisbon, Wellsville and Southern,

Other Monday action has East Liverpool and Beaver Local competing in the Division II boys sectional at River Greens near West Lafayette and the girls from Lakeview, Champion and LaBrae at the Division II sectioanl at Punderson Golf Course near Newbury.

On Tuesday, undefeated East Palestine joins United and West Branch in the Division II sectional at Elms Country Club west of Massillon.

Wednesday’s tournaments include the girls Division II tournament at Pine Lakes in Hubbard and the boys Division III sectional at Riverview Golf Course in Braceville. Also, Beaver Local’s girls play Wednesday at River Greens.

Teams at Pine Lakes include Cardinal Mooney, Poland, Struthers, Hubbard, Lowellville, Jackson-Milton, Western Reserve, Niles, McDonald, Mineral Ridge, Mathews, Lordstown, Warren JFK, Salem, West Branch, Columbiana, Crestview, East Palestine and United.

Area schools at Riverview are Brookfield, Newton Falls, Jackson-Milton, McDonald, Mineral Ridge, Lordstown, Mathews, Warren JFK, Maplewood, Badger, Southington and Bristol.

Some schools will enter only individuals in the girls’ competitions.

The following week, girls Division I golfers compete on Sept. 30 at Tamer Win in Bazetta. Area schools there will be Austintown Fitch, Boardman, Canfield, Warren Harding and Howland.

The same five schools, plus Niles, will compete in the boys Division I sectional on Wednesday at Windmill Lakes.

Doug Chapin is a sportswriter at The Vindicator. Write to him at dchapin@vindy.com.