After soaring into the stratosphere Thursday afternoon, Crestview returned to earth Friday.
The Cougars, who began defense of their Division III state championship with a whopping 39-stroke victory at Thursday’s sectional tournament at Valley View Golf Course in Galion, came up one shot shy at the Minuteman Invitational.
Host Lexington won the event with a team score of 321. Crestview carded a 322 while Ashland was third with a 324. Madison (343), Clear Fork (364), Ontario (369), Marion Harding (435) and Mansfield Senior (468) rounded out the eight-team field.
Crestview, which returned its top four players from last year’s Division III state championship team, lapped the field at Valley View on Thursday. The Cougars, led by medalist Josh Brooks (69) shot a 305. That came on the heels of Crestview’s 57-stroke victory at the Firelands Conference Tournament at Valley View a week earlier.
“They just had the Firelands Conference and the sectionals,” Crestview coach Bob Olewiler said. “This is a time just to blow off some steam and have some fun, the way golf should be.”
Playing on back-to-back days should serve as good preparation for the Cougars. The Division III state tournament is a two-day affair that will be contested at Ohio State’s Scarlet Course on Oct. 11 and 12.
“The next time we (play on consecutive days) is at districts when we go up the day before (to Bowling Green’s Stone Ridge Golf Club) and play a practice round then stay the night and play again in the morning. It’s kind of getting ready for that, too.”
Olewiler’s son, junior Ben, took medalist honors Friday. His 5-over 78 was one stroke better than Ashland’s Dalton Eagle (37-41–78).
“After Thursday, this kind of brings you down to earth,” Ben Olewiler said. “It shows you it’s not always going to be there. You have to work for it.
“Every stroke matters.”
The shot of the day was turned in by Lexington’s Kaleb Smith. The sophomore holed out from 195 yards for a birdie at the par 5 12th.
“I was with him when he hit the shot and I said, ‘It’s going right at the flag stick,’ ” Lex coach Ryan Zahn said. “It was a fantastic shot.
“Every time we play Ashland and Crestview, it comes down to one or two shots. It has been like that all season.”
The Minutemen were led by Matt Barkett and Charles Mikelait, who both carded 79 on the 6,601 yard layout. Joey Zahn shot an 81, followed by Smith (82), Spencer Stierhoff (84) and Tommy Barkett (88).
The Division I Minutemen have high hopes going into next week’s sectional at Eagle Creek in Norwalk.
“I don’t want to jinx it, but we are confident,” Barkett said. “We are mentally tougher than we were last year.”
Bryce Lutz backed Olewiler’s 77 with an 80 for Crestview. Brooks shot an 82, while Joe Stimpert carded an 83. Michael Staniford shot an 87 and Caitlin Smith had a 95.
Madison, which will join Lexington, Ashland and Mansfield Senior at Eagle Creek next week, was led by Adam Sayre’s 79. Austin Hallabrin had an 81, while Blaine Smith shot a 90 and Jacob Seamans had a 93. Kyle Matern and Hunter Clazon both shot 105s.
“Our scores were a little higher than we would have liked, but it was kind of windy out there,” Madison coach Eric Wellman said. “Even though we didn’t shoot as well as we would have liked, this is a good tune-up for our sectional tournament.”
Clear Fork, which finished fifth at its Division II sectional at Sawmill Creek in Huron on Thursday, was led by Luke Watson (90) and Devon Shortridge (90). Anthony Patrlja and Nick Schoonyan had 92s, while James Smith had a 98 and Aaron Leech shot a 104.
Tyler Weber topped Ontarion with an 88. Layne Armsrong had a 90. Andrew Jolley had a 94 while Nick Sgambellone and Jacob Factor both shot 97. Andrew McGee had a 109.
Mansfield Senior was led by Dylan Dudley, who shot a 97. Zach Blank had a 107, while Joey Gallaway had a 129 and David Courts had a 135.
Follow Curt Conrad on Twitter @curtjconrad.
