PICKERINGTON — Mount Vernon senior Ben Bridges qualified for the Division I state golf tournament Tuesday, finishing fourth overall (and third among individual qualifiers) at the Central District tournament at Apple Valley Golf Course.
He will be Knox County’s lone representative at the state level this year, as 15 golfers from three other local high schools saw their seasons end at Division II and III district tournaments last week.
CENTERBURG
Centerburg’s boys golf team finished third out of six teams at the Division II central district tournament at Turnberry Golf Course in Pickerington on Oct. 5.
The top team and individual not on a qualifying team advanced to state.
The Trojans fired a 326, which was 23 strokes behind champion and state-qualifier Columbus Academy (303). Jonathan Alder finished second with a team score of 309.
Centerburg was led by sophomore Bennett Hill, who fired a 78 and finished ninth overall. Hill finished 10 strokes behind Jonathan Alder junior Brady Fox, who won the tournament individually and qualified for state.
Centerburg freshman Nick Meyers fired a 80 at the district tournament, tying for 11th place overall. Sophomore Josh Hackett tied for 16th place with a 82. Senior Dallas Cornett carded a 86, tying for 24th place, while junior Andrew Meyers shot a 92 and finished 33rd overall.
Centerburg qualified for the district tournament by placing second at the sectional tournament at Granville’s Denison Golf Club the week prior. The Trojans won their fourth straight Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference title this fall.
Centerburg’s boys team placed third at districts last year as well, missing the state cut with a team score of 318 at Denison Golf Club (the Trojans were a Division III program at the time).
On the girls side, Centerburg sophomore Avery Glenn fell just short of the state qualifying cut, finishing seventh overall at the Division II district tournament at Darby Creek Golf Course in Marysville on Oct. 3.
Glenn fired a 82, finishing seven strokes behind Columbus South senior Emma Kim (75), who won the tournament individually and qualified for state. The top team and individual not on a qualifying team advanced to the state tournament.
Glenn advanced to districts by finishing sixth overall (and second among individuals not on qualifying teams) at the sectional tournament at Reynoldsburg’s Blacklick Woods Golf Course the week prior.
Her team placed fourth – nine strokes behind third-place Worthington Christian – and the top three teams and individuals not on qualifying teams advanced to districts.
Glenn made it to districts last year as well, but missed the state cut, firing a 93 at Darby Creek Golf Course and finishing tied for 16th overall (21 strokes off the qualifying mark). Her team placed fifth at sectionals last year and did not qualify for districts.
Centerburg’s girls team won its second straight KMAC title this fall, and Glenn earned medalist honors at the conference tournament for the second year in a row.
FREDERICKTOWN
Fredericktown’s boys golf team finished fourth out of six teams at the Division II central district tournament at Turnberry Golf Course in Pickerington on Oct. 5.
The top team and individual not on a qualifying team advanced to state.
The Freddies fired a 341, which was 15 strokes behind third-place Centerburg (326) and five strokes ahead of fifth-place Heath (346). They finished 38 strokes behind champion and state-qualifier Columbus Academy (303).
Fredericktown was led by junior Will Streby, who fired a 77 and finished tied for seventh overall. He finished nine strokes behind Jonathan Alder junior Brady Fox, who won the tournament individually and qualified for state.
Senior Ian Muka carded a 80 and finished tied for 11th place at districts. Sophomore Cayden Statzer tied for 24th overall with a 86, while freshman Robert Streby shot a 98 and placed 34th. Freshman Cooper Lowe rounded out Fredericktown’s lineup, firing a 105 and finishing 36th overall.
Fredericktown qualified for the district tournament by placing third at the sectional tournament at Delaware’s Oakhaven Golf Club the week prior. The Freddies finished second in the KMAC again this year, behind Centerburg.
Fredericktown’s boys team placed fifth at districts last year, missing the state cut with a team score of 355 at Granville’s Denison Golf Club (the Freddies were a Division III program at the time).
EAST KNOX
East Knox’s boys team finished fourth out of six teams at the Division III district tournament at Turnberry Golf Course in Pickerington on Oct. 5.
The top team and individual not on a qualifying team advanced to state.
The Bulldogs fired a 365, which was 58 strokes behind champion and state-qualifier Newark Catholic (307). Mechanicsburg finished second with a team score of 326, while Worthington Christian placed third with a team score of 331.
East Knox was led by junior Dylan Reed, who fired a 83 and finished tied for 14th overall. He finished 10 strokes behind Delaware Christian sophomore Gabe Scherer, who won the tournament individually and qualified for state.
Sophomore Ashton Priest carded a 86 and finished tied for 20th place at districts. Junior Aidric Bocock fired a 95, placing 24th, while freshman Beau Keller shot a 101 and finished 29th overall.
East Knox qualified for districts by placing fourth at the sectional tournament at Marysville’s Darby Creek Golf Course the week prior. The Bulldogs placed third in the KMAC this year, behind Centerburg (first) and Fredericktown (second).
East Knox’s boys team placed sixth at districts last year, missing the state cut with a team score of 358 at Granville’s Denison Golf Club.
The Division II and III state golf tournaments will take place this weekend in Columbus at the Ohio State University Golf Club. The Division I state tournament will take place next weekend at the same course. For more information on how to attend this year’s state tournament, click here.
