Few Valley golf programs know the state tournament like Warren JFK

October 13, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

Few golf programs know the state tournament like Warren JFK

CANFIELD

The Warren JFK Eagles are one of two local entries to qualify for this year’s Division III boys golf tournament, which takes place Friday and Saturday at the Ohio State University Scarlet Course in Columbus.

The Eagles, district runners-up, will be making their fourth consecutive state foray as they join this year’s district champion Columbiana Clippers.

In qualifying a fourth straight year, Warren JFK become the first Trumbull County school to accomplish the feat while Columbiana has done so on two separate occasions (1980-83 and 1994-97), finishing as state runners-up in 1992.

If the Eagles are to add a fourth state title (they were state champs in 1974, 2000 and again in 2001), then maintaining focus and hoping that someone will step up like Ryan Fowler did a season ago will be the key.

Fowler, currently a freshman at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Fla., earned medalist honors last year when he shot a course-record 143 (71-72) at NorthStar Golf Course in Sunbury.

“This might just be the most unified team that I have ever coached. We lost the Division III state medalist in Ryan and a total of three seniors, so we’ve had to replace a lot of leadership,” Warren JFK head coach Jim St. George said. “Co-captains Zach Shoaf and Ryan Theis helped bond this group as they picked up one another and contributed each time out the entire season.”

St. George noted that freshmen were a big part of their success this year, which produced an 87-47 invitational mark.

“They say that freshmen have to earn their stripes, well, this year we had two freshmen in Jimmy Graham and Gannon Fridley and they definitely earned their stripes,” St. George said. “Both dove right in and contributed right from the outset.”

Shoaf, the only senior, averaged 84 this season and is one of two players (the other is Theis) who will be making a third state appearance.

“It’s been a very special year in that we had the right chemistry from the outset. All of us play together away from school and have worked hard in the off-season to get to this point,” Shoaf said. “The competition will be very tough, but two good days of golf and anything can happen.”

Graham averaged a team-best 78, noting that he got more comfortable as the season progressed.

“Being a freshman, I was nervous at the beginning of the season but as it progressed I understood what coach [St. George] wanted, which was all business, hard work, show up on time and offer no excuses,” Graham said. “We don’t have long hitters, so staying out of trouble, keeping the ball in the fairway and converting our green opportunities will be the key to our finish.”

Theis, who sports an 85 average, is also making a third consecutive state appearance.

“We view this as just another tournament, except on a bigger stage. In district play we had four solid scores and shot our number in order to get back to state,” Theis said. “Now that we are back to the state tournament, good course management, knowing where to put the ball and shooting our number will decide how well we fare.”

Freshman Gannon Fridley, who averaged 93, shot a season-best 88 at Pine Hills during the North Coast League Championships.

“We’re a young, talented team and have to play with confidence at state,” he said.

Nick Macali, a junior with a 93 average, called returning to state one of the goals the team wanted to accomplish this season.

“Good tee shots, chipping well and converting our green opportunities will be big if we expect to remain in the hunt on Saturday,” Macali said.

Play each day begins at 9 a.m.