GALION — Matthew McMullen and Spencer Keller have led the Galion golf team to unprecedented heights during their first three seasons.
It will be interesting to see what the dynamic duo does for its final act.
Juniors, McMullen and Keller shared the Richland Source Golfer of the Year award for 2019 after leading the Tigers to a sixth-place finish at the Division II state tournament at NorthStar Golf Club in October. They shot matching two-day 157s, good for a 10th-place tie and All-Ohio status.
“They are our leaders. Our younger guys look up to them,” Galion coach Bryce Lehman said at the time.
McMullen and Keller tied for first at the Sawmill Creek sectional with matching 80s as Galion cruised to a six-stroke victory over Sandusky Perkins in the team standings with a 340. A week later at Sycamore Springs, Keller carded an 81 to tie for seventh and McMullen fired an 83 to tie for 12th as the Tigers defended their district title with a 336. Galion beat Genoa on a fifth-score tie-breaker to secure its third straight trip to the state tournament.
Keller carded an opening-round 73 at state, while McMullen shot a 75. Conditions worsened during the closing round, with temperatures in the upper-30s and wind howling from the north.
“This morning was super cold and then the wind started blowing. That made it real rough,” Keller said at the time.
“The conditions were tough and the course was set up really long,” McMullen added.
Galion will return all five players next year.
“We’ve got a good thing going,” Keller said. “We want to see it continue.”
Trevor Dials, Lexington: Dials became the first Lexington player to qualify for state in more than 30 years, firing a 75 at the Sycamore Springs district for a third-place finish. The junior tied for 48th at Ohio State’s rugged Scarlet Course, shooting a two-day total of 168. Dials also tied for third at the Mohawk sectional, carding an 81.
Tyler Sabo, Ashland: Just a sophomore, Sabo tied for eighth at the Division I state tournament at Ohio State’s Scarlet Course with a two-day total of 152. The Arrows qualified as a team, finishing 11th with a two-day 688. Sabo opened with a 79 before closing with a 1-over 73. Sabo tied for first at the Mohawk sectional (77) and tied for first at the Sawmill Creek district (74).
Lincoln Finnegan, Shelby: A junior, Finnegan placed fourth at the Sawmill Creek sectional to qualify for the Division II district. He shot an uncharacteristic 90 at Sawmill Creek to tie for 26th, missing out on a trip to state. Finnegan landed a spot on the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference second team.
