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Columbiana ready for major challenge
By Curtis Pulliam
Unknown territory awaits the Columbiana High School boys golf team.
The group has never played NorthStar Golf Club or made a state tournament.
“We have no seniors,” head coach Jeff Jackson said. “Which is encouraging for next year.”
What about this year?
“The key for us is consistency,” Jackson said. “Our first four scores are pretty consistent.”
The young Clippers are led by Jared Wilson in the number one slot.
“He’s a strong player for us,” said Jackson about his freshman.
Wilson, who has played in big individual tournaments before says state should provide a different challenge.
“I am really excited,” Wilson said. “It’s going to be fun being with my team.”
Jackson’s team finished second in the district tournament behind Warren JFK.
“We didn’t play our best that day,” Jackson said of districts. “However, the kids hung in there and did not give up.”
The Clippers shot 332 in districts with Wilson shooting a 74.
Joe Lucci shot an 83, Bruce Wiggins a 84, Griffin Williams an 87, and Mike Vargo shot 112.
“Griffin Williams has been really good but he’s had some higher scores too,” Jackson said. “He’s a key for us.”
Jackson feels NorthStar is an unpredictable course.
“It’s a links course and [most of the time] pretty windy,” Jackson said. “It will be a good test for us.”
The other test is getting the team to relax.
“I have to get the boys to treat this like just another tournament,” Jackson said. “It’s a great accomplishment for them. But they just have to separate all the emotions and focus.”
Wilson doesn’t think the pressure will hurt the Clippers.
“The course is tough as it has a lot of water [hazards],” Wilson said. “We just have limit the big numbers and avoid mistakes. We just have to play golf.”
Jackson doesn’t see Wilson as a freshman.
“He’s much more mature than his age,” Jackson said. “He carries himself well and the kids really respect him as a leader.”
The Eagles beat the Clippers by six strokes in district play.
Warren JFK Coach Jim St. George said he believes familiarity with the course helps.
“We have a couple of guys who know the course,” St. George said. “We have to prepare for the elements.”
St. George says a hot start is necessary.
“We have to have a good day one,” St. George said. “If you have a bad day one, it’s too hard to fight back.”
For the most part St. George knows what he’ll get from Ryan Fowler and Daniel Lapolla.
It’s the next guys he needs to step up.
“Ryan [Theis] and Zach [Shoaf] are key for us,” St. George said.
All four were part of the 2012 team that finished eighth in the state.
“The course plays a little longer so we have to have extra clubs,” St. George said. “Course management will also be important.”
Individually, Western Reserve’s Nolan Snyder and Newton Fall’s Jacob Harrah qualified.
At districts both shot a 77 and played a four-hole playoff which Snyder won.
“I just have to keep my composure,” Snyder said. “If I do that, then I think I’ll have a heckuva round.”
Snyder says his putting is important.
“If do well in my short game, my score will be there.”
The team tournament starts today at 9 a.m.