Stevens, Warriors finish second in state

Atkinson, Clark earn spots in Top 5

Staff report

SUNBURY

Three members of the Brookfield High School boys golf team posted top-five finishes in the Division III state tournament.

The Warriors, who began Saturday’s competition 14 strokes behind Columbus Wellington School, made up seven strokes, shooting 308 to finish state runner-up with 617 at Northstar Golf Club.

Wellington, which shattered the state record with Friday’s 295, shot 315 to win the state crown with 610.

Brookfield coach Larry Smoot said the course record in the state tournament had been 316.

“Any time you can finish in the final group, that’s what we want,” Smoot said. “Wellington played so well. We were able to play side-by-side and tried to put pressure on them.

“That deficit was just too much.”

Conner Stevens led the way with a 73 to finish state runner-up with a two-day total of 147. The only golfer who did better was Worthington Christian’s Tyler Jones who shot a 70 to finish on top with 145.

“I putted well both days,” said Stevens, who finished third in 2017. He said he felt confident, partly because it was his third time at state and partly because “we played so well at districts.”

The Warriors began in second place and finished 26 strokes ahead of third-place Canton Central Catholic.

“We just tried to chip away” at the Wellington lead, Stevens said. “We fell a little short.”

Stevens said he did not know how close he was to Jones when he reached the 18th tee.

“I made par,” Stevens said, then found out he was only two shots back.

Brookfield’s Justin Atkinson finished fourth in the state with 150 after shooting 77. His total was one stroke behind Wellington’s Aidan Schumer whose 77 on Saturday gave him 149.

Anthony Clark shot a 77 to tie for fifth place with Wellington’s Garrett Thesing with 151.

Jake Shingledecker shot 81 to finish with 169 for 23rd. Jon Hiner, the Warriors’ only senior, shot an 88 to finish with 179 to tie for 42nd.

“I’m so proud of them,” said Smoot after the Warriors’ third straight trip to state. They finished fifth the first two times.

Campbell’s Dean Austalosh shot an 81 for a two-day total of 158. He tied for 10th place with Wellington’s Jack Doody, Newton Local’s Chet Jamison and Toledo Ottawa Hills’ Nick Durfee.

DIVISION II

In Columbus, Poland senior Alex Rapp ended his varsity career by shooting an 82 in the Division II boys tournament at the Ohio State University Scarlet Course.

Rapp’s two-day total of 160 tied him for 11th in the state with Gahanna Columbus Academy’s Griffin Mitchell. It was Rapp’s second straight trip to the state tournament.

Bexley’s Trevor Binau won the state crown with 146.

In the Division II girls tournament at Ohio State’s Gray Course, Cardinal Mooney finished sixth with 737, four strokes behind Shaker Heights Laurel. Lima Central Catholic won with 652.

Hadley Spielvogel shot an 83 for 169 to finish tied for 20th with Bellefontaine’s Sydney Wesson.

Jayne Bernard shot 84 for 173 for 27th. Alexandria Patrone shot 95 for 192, Alyssa Rapp 104 for 203 and Grace Ogden 104 for 209.