Cleveland, OH
North Ridgeville
By Terra Carlson
The Lake Ridge Academy boys golf team finished second in the Division III district to advance to the state tournament. The Lions finished with a team score of 332 in the district tournament.
Taking first was Gilmour Academy, also with a team score of 332. The district tournament took place at Seven Hills Country Club in Hartville.
Leading the Lions was Spencer Scheeler with a score of 79. Behind Scheeler was Nick Nemetz (82), Mitchell Rice (83) and Ryan McCarthy (88).
With the win at districts, the Lions golf team becomes the first team in school history, in any sport, to advance to the state tournament. This ends a 47-year drought without a team making it to the state tournament.
“We stayed patient, focused on the game plan and they kept their composure on the back nine,” Lake Ridge Academy head coach Andrew Edgar said. “Once again, they utilized the strength of balanced scoring.”
Edgar said his team felt like they were the second best team in the districts coming into the tournament. They wanted to focus on team play, rather than individual scores.
“I credit our top three of Rice, Nemetz and Scheeler with sticking to the plan and doing what they needed to accomplish the task,” he said. “The Seven Hills greens were pretty tough, and I know each of them wasn’t overly thrilled with their individual scores, but when they could see how it played out in the end, they knew the actual score didn’t matter.
“What did matter is they achieved the team goal of making it to state. When they missed out by two strokes at last year’s districts, it was a good learning experience about what it takes to reach it to the next level.”
Edgar has heard his team talk about making it to the state tournament since their close encounter with it last year. He knew how badly his team wanted to make it happen this year.
“They’ve been talking about it for a year now and to go out and get the job done is a credit to their positive work ethic and ‘team first’ attitude,” Edgar said. “The boys took early ownership of the team goal setting process and it’s been a pleasure to see them experience this level of success so far this season.”
Although the team has relied on Rice, Nemetz and Scheeler this year, Edgar realizes that winning districts was a total team effort.
“Besides the experience and steady play from our top three, another highlight was a solid fourth score from freshman Ryan McCarthy, who scored an 88,” he said. “Although fourth position player Thomas Tavolara’s 90 would’ve still been enough, Ryan gets on the 18th green and drains a 20 footer for par that drew cheers from the rest of the team and parent gallery watching from the clubhouse balcony.
“It was a memorable moment, and I’m sure a thrill for Ryan to be a part of the team scoring.”
tncarlson1987@gmail.com
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