GALION — As the scores trickled in Thursday afternoon, the members of Crestview’s Division III sectional championship team were nowhere to be found.
Instead of leaderboard watching, the Cougars were on the practice green getting in some extra work with a friendly putting competition.
“It’s a game we call putt-back,” senior Ben Olewiler said. “We each shoot at a different hole and if someone makes it, we rotate. We keep score, but it’s all in good fun.”
The Cougars were all business on the course. Led by co-medalist Olewiler’s round of 1 under 71, Crestview ran circles around the rest of the field at Valley View with a team total of 313 for its third consecutive sectional crown.
New London was a distant second at 348. Mohawk earned the third and final district qualifying spot with a 349.
The Cougars left nothing to chance on a magnificent Thursday morning, taking command after the opening nine holes. Olewiler and classmate Bryce Lutz made the turn at even par 36. Fellow senior Michael Staniford was one shot back and junior Joe Stimpert had a 41.
“These kids have all worked very hard and it’s good to see it pay off,” Crestview coach Bob Olewiler said. “For the seniors, you always envision it happening that way. You’d hate to see them fall flat on their faces.”
The younger Olewiler shared medalist honors with Hopewell Loudon’s Bryce Gorrell.
“I’m really pleased with the way I played, especially after the way I played at the (Firelands Conference) tournament here last Thursday,” the younger Olewiler said. “I shot a 77, but a lot of that was just scrambling.
“Today I didn’t have to do that. My putting was pretty solid and my short game kept me in it.”
After shooting a 78 at the FC tournament, Lutz rebounded with a 1 over 73.
“I’ve been playing terrible,” Lutz said. “My putting has been bad, but today it was really good. I don’t think I three-putted once today.”
The Firelands Conference medalist, Staniford shot an 84. Stimpert carded an 85. Freshman Jake Salyers had a 105.
Back to Stone Ridge: The Cougars will be making their forth straight appearance at the district tournament at Bowling Green’s Stone Ridge Golf Club on Oct. 2.
“Having played the course before and been successful there, that gives us confidence,” Lutz said.
The elder Olewiler agreed.
“Four teams go to state from the northwest district and looking at it realistically, if we shoot close to our averages, we have a good chance of getting out,” Olewiler said. “Then again, it’s a one-day tournament. If one of our top four players comes out flat, we’re in trouble. We don’t have the wiggle room we’ve had in the past.”
The Cougars are gunning for their third straight trip to the state tournament. Crestview won a Division III state title in 2012 and finished third last year.
Best of the Rest: Mansfield Christian, Plymouth and St. Peter’s all were in action Thursday. The Flames shot a 404, while the Big Red had a 439 and the Spartans carded a 463.
Nathan Roblin led MCS with a 95. Nick Bishop had a 93 for the Spartans and Randall Porter had a 103 for the Big Red.
“We’ve improved a great deal from where we were last year,” MCS coach Tyler Sanders said. “We’ve got a young team. I expect us to be a lot more competitive next year.”
