GALION, Ohio — Jeff Gottfried might need to invest in some name tags.
Clear Fork’s golf coach has spent the preseason getting to know his new crop of players after losing just about everybody off last year’s district-qualifying team.
“I had to introduce myself on the first day of practice,” Gottfried joked. “Of the six guys we are counting on this year, only one of them played varsity regularly (last fall) and three others got a taste.”
The new-look Colts acquitted themselves nicely at Wednesday’s six-team Ed Koehl Jr. Invitational at Sycamore Creek. Clear Fork carded a team total of 356, two strokes behind champion Galion.
Clear Fork won last year’s event with a team total of 322.
“We shot about how I expected,” Gottfried said. “A couple of guys shot a little higher than they would have liked, but we got a good score from Brock Dettmer.”
A sophomore, Dettmer won medalist honors with an 80. Jared Lind shot an 89, while Gage Wolfgang carded a 92 and Dan Lifer had a 95. Taylor Johnson (97) and Gannon Seifert (98) rounded out the field for the Colts.
Team Title: While the Colts are rebuilding, Galion coach Bryce Lehman welcomed back everybody from last year’s team. The Tigers looked like a veteran bunch on a steamy Wednesday afternoon, finishing with a 354. All six of Galion’s players finished within four strokes of one another.
“We are still a young team, but we have a lot of experience,” Lehman said. “We only have two seniors in the lineup, along with one junior and three sophomores.”
Jack McElligott led the way with an 87. Nick Kruger, Brevin Owens and Kaleb Harsh carded matching 89s, while Mitchell Dyer had a 90 and Matt Kingseed had a 91.
“We had a couple of big numbers on the front, but they were able to pull it back,” Lehman said. “It’s nice to win your own tournament. It’s the first time we’ve won it in four years.”
Youth Movement: Both Madison coach Eric Wellman and Mansfield Senior’s Scott Toney have young teams. The Rams carded a team total of 402, while the Tygers shot a 517.
“We only have two seniors and only one of them has significant (varsity) experience,” Wellman said. “It’s going to take some time, but I have seen improvement already.”
River Wiseman led Madison with a 92, followed by Bronson Henry (97) Jacob Koehler (102) and Austin Schroeder (111). Jonah Amend (115) and Matt Rice (116) rounded out the field.
The Tygers have just four players on the roster and all four are freshman.
“It’s a complete rebuild,” Toney said.
Tanner Harless led Senior High with a 101. Nick Sayers (121), C.J. Hock (147) and Blair McClenathan (148) also scored for the Tygers.
