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Spielvogel, Horvath top players in soggy sectional
Spielvogel, Horvath top D-II field
with rounds of 81 at Pine Lakes
By Dan Hiner
Hubbard
Cardinal Mooney golfer Hadley Spielvogel’s connection to Cardinals golf coach Mary Theresa Bellino goes back to when she was a child.
On Wednesday, the Cardinals’ senior shot a tournament-low 81 — tied with Springfield’s Madison Horvath — to lead Cardinal Mooney to a Division II sectional title at Pine Lakes Golf Club in Hubbard.
Horvath competed as an individual and also qualified for districts.
“Hadley’s been Mooney’s No. 1 since her freshman year,” Bellino said. “I’ve known her since she was 5. She actually lives next door to me. My husband actually taught her how to golf so I couldn’t be more proud.”
The weather was a factor during the first couple hours of the tournament. The rain and wind during the morning dampened the course, and by the time the golfers made the turn, the course was playing longer than usual.
“I started on the back nine. My first drive was awful so I thought the entire day wasn’t going to be that good, but I ended up shooting a 41,” Spielvogel said. “With the weather and stuff I thought that was pretty good.”
This will be Spielvogel’s fourth trip to districts. She qualified as an individual as a freshman and sophomore before the team made the cut last season.
Cardinal Mooney shot a 363 and will advance to districts for the second straight season. All five of Mooney’s golfers shot 96 or under and will participate in the district tournament at Tam O’Shanter Golf Course on Tuesday.
“I am really pleased,” Bellino said. “This is my first year coaching Mooney and I couldn’t be happier with the way the girls have played all season long.
“We look one match at a time. That’s our philosophy and we practice a lot. We’ve improved a lot over the season. I couldn’t be more pleased.”
Hubbard shot a 405 and finished a distant second. Jacqelyn Adler led the Eagles with an 83.
“The weather and the conditions were terrible but she just really grinded and played phenomenal golf [Wednesday] for it being the way it is,” Hubbard coach Abby Cook said. “The good ball strikers are the ones who played well today, and that’s what she did. She struck the ball very well.”
Champion finished third with a 421 and Lakeview was fourth with a 426 to round out the team qualifiers.
In addition to the four team qualifiers, four individuals advanced to districts.
Crestview’s Ariana Rodi shot a 93 and Salem’s Kelly Hutton and Jessica Himes both shot 98 to take the final individual spots.
Horvath advanced to districts last year, but fell two strokes shy of qualifying for state.
“I was very determined this year,” Horvath said. “I’m really striving to go to state this year. I came in here, practiced a lot, hoping that I’d do well and I’m pretty happy with what I did.”
Ursuline finished outside of the top four teams. The Irish came in fifth with a 449.
Struthers and Salem tied for seventh with a 455, Columbiana finished ninth with a 457 and East Palestine rounded out the top 10 with a 464.