“We see them everywhere we go, and we generally play right with them,” East assistant coach Tara Liebert said. “We know what we’re up against. We’ve just got to make more putts. That’s all it is. A few more putts drop and we’re right there.”
The Thunderhawks totaled 326 strokes to place second behind Mason’s 320 as the Greater Miami Conference rivals dominated the sectional. Kings (350) and Springboro (351) were the other two district-qualifying teams.
Credit: DaytonDailyNews
Mason had the top two individuals — sophomore Jenna Harter (38-38—76) and senior Julanna Zhang (38-40—78) — on the par-72 course. East senior Bree Wilson (39-40—79) and Fairfield senior Heather Zaglauer (37-42—79) tied for third.
“We all can shoot low- to mid-70s,” said Wilson, this year’s GMC individual champion. “We didn’t quite show it today, but I know we have the potential, especially next week and eventually if we make it to state.”
The district tournament will be held next Tuesday at Glenview Golf Course.
Individual district qualifiers from the Walden Ponds sectional were Zaglauer, Lebanon senior Maddie Owens (43-38—81), Turpin junior Elizabeth Chamberlin (42-40—82) and Seton junior Lily Bryant (42-44—86), who won a one-hole playoff against Lebanon sophomore Grace Swartz (42-44—86) for the final spot.
The state tourney is set for Oct. 19-20 at the Ohio State University Gray Course. The Thunderhawks made it there for the first time in 2017 and finished seventh.
“This is a good team,” Liebert said when asked about East’s state chances. “I don’t really want to put a number on it. I don’t want to put any added pressure on them, but they’re definitely a low 300 team, so that’s our goal.”
Mason has been a state qualifier seven times and won championships in 2008, 2009 and 2010, but hasn’t made it to Columbus since 2014.
Comets coach Chad Layton said Monday’s performance was good, but not great.
“We’re happy with it, but I think we’re all not satisfied,” he said. “There’s a few strokes out there that are attainable, so we’ll just spend the next few days refocusing and zoning in and getting things ready to go next week.”
Layton believes the Mason-East rivalry provides good motivation for both sides. The Comets fought off the Thunderhawks 159-163 in August and 627-629 at the GMC tournament last month.
“The girls are very familiar with each other from the season and playing together in the summer, so we’re not looking for blood out there,” Layton said. “It’s a nice, friendly rivalry, and it’s good to have competition that pushes you to play better.”
Wilson said there’s no question East wants to start beating Mason again, but the atmosphere will be good-natured either way.
“It’s really like playing with some of our good friends,” Wilson said. “After the round we’re always hugging and cheering each other on, no matter what side we’re on.”
Wilson’s bid for the individual crown came apart on the 18th hole when she took a triple-bogey 8. She said the course was in excellent shape and the greens were fast.
“I started off bogey-bogey and kept it under control at least until that last hole,” Wilson said. “I hit it in the hazard and had some trouble getting out of there. I know I can play better, but I’m OK with it.”
Also competing for the Thunderhawks were freshmen Samantha Bernardo (40-40—80) and Ellie Yeazell (45-37—82), junior Grace Honigford (43-42—85) and junior Camryn Eddy (43-46—89).
Fairfield finished seventh as a team, but Zaglauer’s round was strong enough to send her to district for the first time.
“I’m usually in the mid-80s,” said Zaglauer, who won the Fairfield City women’s title this year. “It was amazing. Everybody was crying for me and my whole family’s so proud of me, so it feels good.”
Zaglauer said she had some early putting issues, but her driver was once again her strength.
“It was going straight and really far,” she said. “I got lucky on a lot of shots … I chipped in a couple times. It ended up just working out in the end.”
She plans to be a factor in the race for a state berth next week at Glenview, a course she enjoys playing.
“I think I can make it,” Zaglauer said. “I want to really bad.”
Team Standings
Top Four Teams Advance To District
1. Mason 320; 2. Lakota East 326; 3. Kings 350; 4. Springboro 351; 5. Lebanon 357; 6. Turpin 372; 7. Fairfield 389; 8. Milford 391; 9. Seton 392; 10. Harrison 407; 11. Walnut Hills 470; 12. Talawanda 475; 13. Franklin 482; 14. Edgewood 488; 15. 510
Top 10 Individuals
1. Jenna Harter (Mason) 38-38—76; 2. Julanna Zhang (Mason) 38-40—78; 3. Bree Wilson (Lakota East) 39-40—79, Heather Zaglauer (Fairfield) 37-42—79; 5. Samantha Bernardo (Lakota East) 40-40—80, Catherine Zhang (Mason) 41-39—80; 7. Maddie Owens (Lebanon) 43-38—81; 8. Elizabeth Chamberlin (Turpin) 42-40—82, Lexie Ramby (Springboro) 38-44—82, Ellie Yeazell (Lakota East) 45-37—82
Individual District Qualifiers
Heather Zaglauer (Fairfield) 37-42—79; Maddie Owens (Lebanon) 43-38—81; Elizabeth Chamberlin (Turpin) 42-40—82; Lily Bryant (Seton) 42-44—86
Local Individual Results
Edgewood: Sarah Abner 47-45—92; Becca Vogel 61-54—115; Morgan Kinney 57-66—123; Jessie Beiser 78-80—158; Samantha Schatzle 74-91—165
Fairfield:Heather Zaglauer 37-42—79; Kaylee Allen 48-53—101; Luci Stangby 46-57—103; Leah Schmitz 50-56—106; Anna Wyrick 52-54—106
Lakota East: Bree Wilson 39-40—79; Samantha Bernardo 40-40—80; Ellie Yeazell 45-37—82; Grace Honigford 43-42—85; Camryn Eddy 43-46—89
Lebanon: Maddie Owens 43-38—81; Grace Swartz 42-44—86; Kaylyn Brown 46-45—91; Savannah Rutherford 51-48—99; Kayelee Carman 51-58—109
Middletown: Amanda Campbell 58-60—118; Cassidy Lyninger 71-61—132
Talawanda: Hannah Heitger 58-57—115; Alysse Alor 61-57—118; Grace Clausen 58-62—120; Jada Tegge 53-69—122; Sophia Moore 69-67—136
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