Independence’s boys’ golf team is peaking at the time.
The Blue Devils have played some of their best golf of the fall in the final weeks of the regular season and that carried over into Wednesday’s Division III sectional tournament at Pine Hills Golf Course where they finished third overall to earn a spot at next week’s district tournament at Tannenhauf Golf Club in Alliance.
“I knew going into this that we had a chance to be one of the three teams that make it out,” said Independence coach Mark Echstenkamper. “It seems like as a group they’re kind of peaking at the right time. I knew Gilmour would be No. 1 but I wasn’t sure who the other two would be. We had three scores in the 80s, so the kids played well.”
Gilmour won the tournament with a 318 while Smithville was second at 323 and Independence finished with a 348.
Carson Bianco finished tied for ninth overall with an 82. He’ll play in his second straight district tournament after qualifying as an individual last year.
“I was nervous going in but started off good so I was more calm,” Bianco said. “It feels nice to be able to make it out as a team. Last year I went as an individual, but it wasn’t the same without my team. Hopefully, my previous experience at districts helps me score well and be more familiar with the course.”
Ryan Zygmunt finished 16th with an 87, Sam Spacagna tied for 19th with an 89 and Andrew Teribery tied for 22nd with a 90 to close out the scoring for the Blue Devils.
Tyler Sagi also competed and carded a 93.
“Carson had a really good round today and Zygmunt had a great day and Sam and even Tyler had a nice round today,” Echstenkamper said. “It’s going to be real tough at the district level, but to be able to advance as a team gives everyone a chance to compete at that level. We have an opportunity to go down and do the best we can. We’ll see what happens.”
Division III Sectional Tournament
Pine Hills Golf Club – September 27, 2017
Qualifiers: Top 3 teams and 3 individuals not on a qualifying team.
Team Place: * Indicates qualifying team.
1. Gilmour Academy* 318 (Ben Foltz 81, Joey Hollis 95, Jay Magyari 79, Tucker Morris 79, Liam Ottaway 79); 2. Smithville* 323 (Braden Smith 78, Matt Miller 82, Jacob Mullen 84, Jace Watts 79, Trevor Pertee 104); 3. Independence* 348 (Andrew Teribery 90, Carson Bianco 82, Ryan Zygmunt 87, Sam Spacagna 89, Tyler Sagi 93); 4. Dalton 358; 5. Wellington 359; 6. Mapleton 382; 7. Cuy. Heights 389; 8. Columbia 402; 9. Loudonville 421; 10. Hillsdale 433; 11. VASJ 435; 12. Rittman 447; 13. Trinity 0; 14. Lake Ridge Acad. 0.
Individual Scores: * Indicates qualifying individual.
1. Braden Smith(Smithville) 78, Eric Summers*(Dalton) 78; 3. Tucker Morris(Gilmour Academy) 79, Jay Magyari(Gilmour Academy) 79, Liam Ottaway(Gilmour Academy) 79, Jace Watts(Smithville) 79; 7. Ben Foltz(Gilmour Academy) 81, Alex Dean*(Cuy. Heights) 81; 9. Carson Bianco(Independence) 82, Matt Miller(Smithville) 82; 11. Ryan Odenkirk*(Loudonville) 83, Alex Fehlan*(Wellington) 83; 13. Jacob Mullen(Smithville) 84; 14. Trevor Garfield(Wellington) 85; 15. Davin Amy(Lake Ridge Acad.) 86; 16. Ryan Zygmunt(Independence) 87; 17. Justin Schlabach(Dalton) 88, Cade Cook(Rittman) 88; 19. Collin Green(VASJ) 89, Sam Spacagna(Independence) 89, Joe Rolando(Trinity) 89; 22. Andrew Teribery(Independence) 90, Trevor Kusa(Mapleton) 90; 24. Kooper Koster(Hillsdale) 92, Micaiah Gerber(Dalton) 92; 26. Tyler Sagi(Independence) 93; 27. Zach Howman(Mapleton) 94; 28. Bailey Mull(Wellington) 95, Joey Hollis(Gilmour Academy) 95, Gage Espy(Mapleton) 95, Max Napoli(Columbia) 95; 32. Luke Tandrich(Wellington) 96; 33. Austin McDonald(Cuy. Heights) 97, Jacob Aniol(Columbia) 97; 35. Owen Hinkle(Loudonville) 98; 36. Tristen Shisler(Dalton) 100; 37. Jeff Hershey(Columbia) 102; 38. Zach McGregor(Mapleton) 103; 39. Justin Lambert(Cuy. Heights) 104, Trevor Pertee(Smithville) 104; 41. Will Palmison(Wellington) 106; 42. Anthony Basmagy(Trinity) 107, Evan Sinarski(Cuy. Heights) 107; 44. Zach Raudebaugh(Hillsdale) 108, Jimmy Sprinkle(Columbia) 108; 46. Paul Wise(VASJ) 109; 47. Cody Morris(Loudonville) 110; 48. Frank DelCiappo(Dalton) 112, Tyler Kee(Rittman) 112; 50. Dylan Killey(Hillsdale) 115; 51. Mitch Hershey(Columbia) 117, Adam Stauffer(VASJ) 117; 53. Brayden Snezek(Lake Ridge Acad.) 118, Travis Nalley(Hillsdale) 118; 55. Alex Krinov(Cuy. Heights) 119; 56. Johnathan Cook(VASJ) 120; 57. Luke Miller(Mapleton) 121; 58. Ian Ashby(Lake Ridge Acad.) 123, Tyler Louk(Rittman) 123; 60. Allan Mackey(Rittman) 124; 61. Charles Purdy(Loudonville) 130; 62. Noah Parker(Hillsdale) 131; 63. Joelle Toledo(Rittman) 134; 64. Luke Wessel(Trinity) 148.
