MOUNT VERNON — Four years ago, Austin Hammond had never swung a golf club.
On Saturday, he took part in the Kent Miller Colonial Fall Classic – the annual home tournament for the Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets – for the first time as a varsity team member. But Hammond didn’t feel the pressure. At least, he didn’t show it. Not on his face, nor on his scorecard.
By the time he walked off the 18th, he had carded his all-time career best round of golf.
“I felt really good,” the Mount Vernon sophomore said of his 6-over 78. “I made a lot of mistakes out there. But…”
Hammond’s teammate, Griffin Beach, finished with his best tournament score as well. Out of 95 of the best young golfers in Central Ohio, he finished tied for 12th.
Beach’s 1-over 73 led the Jackets to a ninth-place finish (307, +19) in the 51st edition of the tournament, held at Vernon View Golf Course in Mount Vernon.
Teammate Spencer Hughes, the lone senior for the Jackets, finished with a 5-over 77. Tyler Marsell finished with a round of 79, while Tanner Burgess carded an 85.
“My teammates have played in tournaments. But, playing in a varsity tournament is significantly different,” Hughes said. “I try to help them understand that it’s a different game. We play harder courses. These courses are punishing. I try to help them keep their head in the game.”
Hammond’s round hit its groove during the ninth hole. After missing the fairway, he took a bad second shot and slammed his club to the ground.
His approach, however, fell about four feet from the hole. Hammond easily made the birdie putt.
St. Francis DeSales won the team title for the second year in a row, scoring a 4-over 292 as a team. Cincinnati St. Xavier and Thomas Worthington (298, +10) tied for runner-up.
Mount Vernon was the runner-up last year. But that team included six seniors, including Ben Bridges, who finished ninth in the State Tournament. Heading into this season, only Hughes has any significant varsity experience.
Unlike many high school golf tournaments, the Colonial Fall Classic allows all five golfers on a team to play as one group, instead of being split into foursomes with players from other teams. It was a rule put in place during the Covid season of 2020.
“I’m able to watch each player and their entire rounds,” Mount Vernon coach Anthony Savage explained. “Typically, I see a shot here, go to a different hole, see a shot there. I can see where we struggle and where we play well.”
Jack Marsh, a Thomas Worthington sophomore who was named 2022 PGA Southern Ohio Junior Player of the Year, defeated Westerville Central’s Cody Widener in a one-hole playoff after each carded a 4-under 68.
The Colonial Fall Classic began in 1973 with five teams. It has grown over the years to become one of the premiere high school golf events on the calendar, historically attracting teams from all over the state. Nineteen teams took part on Saturday.
In recent years, the tournament was renamed for Kent Miller, a former Mount Vernon coach who has dedicated most of his life to the growth of golf among youth.
Mount Vernon plays Monday at Little Turtle in a tournament hosted by Columbus Academy.
