AKRON—Orange sophomore Anuja Patel played her way onto the leaderboard after the first day of the OHSAA Division II state golf championships at legendary Firestone Country Club on Sunday.
Patel, who is in fourth place with a 76 (37-39), is one of 12 Chagrin Valley Conference golfers competing at the state championships.
“I think it went pretty well,” she said. “I made some adjustments early in the round to help myself make some pars and give myself some birdie chances. Overall, a pretty good round today.”
Orange coach Cody Kovach credited Patel’s short game and putting for her success on day one.
Kovach believes if Patel can stay focused, she can move up the leaderboard on Monday.
“Just not get too high or too low,” Kovach said. “Just kind of keep doing what she’s doing, going out there looking to make pars and birdies. She’s capable of doing that, so it’s just being in that mindset that you can go out and shoot low scores, and she knows she can do that.”
In addition to Patel, Chagrin Falls’ Elizabeth Pollock carded an 88 (45-43) which currently has her tied for 21st.
The additional scores for the Chagrin Falls Girls team in the first round were Reagan Burnright (97), Natalie Venorsky (99), Gracie Ryan (101), and Kate Murphy (103).
Chagrin Falls sophomore Noah Risman is tied for 14th place after the first round.
Risman didn’t get off to the start he hoped he would, but he bounced back and improved as the round progressed.
Chagrin’s Owen Adelman and Jack Watson both shot 82 on the first day of action while Henry Cimperman and Charlie Pollock finished with an 84 and an 85, respectively.
West Geauga’s Dylan Phillips carded an 82.
Kirtland’s Nick Nead placed 20th in the Division III tournament. He shot an 85 in the first round and a 74 in the second.
Independence’s Kaden Schuette finished 21st with an 85 and a 75.
