WEST LAFAYETTE — A slight westerly breeze and sunshine filled the air in East Central Ohio, almost fit for an afternoon spent floating on the ocean.
It was, indeed, a good day to be a Pirate.
Garaway’s golf teams each came away district golf titles, with both advancing to the Division III state tournament thanks to victories in fifth-score playoffs. The boys were the beneficiary in a tight battle with defending champion Hiland at River Greens, while the girls prevailed in a nip-and-tuck affair with Tuscarawas Valley on the rolling hills at Cambridge Country Club.
It marked the 27th straight year that Garaway’s boys program will be represented at the state tournament, but the boys are making their first trip as a team since 2020. The Pirates’ girls are heading back for the fifth time under coach Angie Miller.
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Gibson helps Pirates turn tables on Hiland
A year ago, Trace Gibson and his teammates stood and watched as the Hawks took home the district crown after winning a scorecard playoff at River Greens.
The pill was rancid to the core, even as Gibson earned the lone individual state nod on his way to earning a scholarship to Cleveland State.
The tables turned this time.
Tied at 319, the Pirates earned the state bid as sophomore Austin Tedrick’s 86 won a fifth-score playoff by 11 shots over sophomore Grant Bille. It backed the strong play of Gibson, whose 72 earned medalist honors by three shots over Hiland’s Camden Bille, who claimed the individual berth.
They advanced to play next Friday and Saturday at North Star Golf Club in Sunbury.
“Nervous? Definitely,” Gibson said. “It was coming down to the wire there and it always does against Hiland. I was glad we were on the other side of it this time.”
It was another Chamber of Commerce Wednesday in the Tuscarawas Valley, with the return of sunlight and temperatures in the 70s.
On the course was another matter. Turbulence was everywhere.
Garaway, Hiland and third-place Strasburg, which shot 329 behind 76s from junior Gage Bonifant and sophomore Gavin Weaver, were the only teams to shoot better than 344. That was largely due to a flat, mostly narrow course that played significantly longer following three days of rain that allowed the primary rough to grow longer. It also eliminated any significant roll off the tee.
The Pirates conquered it best, as No. 3 man Henry Swartzentruber provided a big lift with a 77 that helped offset a rare off day from No. 2 man A.J. Miller, who had 85 with No. 4 man Nick Maust.
Hawks No. 1 man Jack Maust was part of the 76 crowd that missed by a shot. Andrew Beun, a sophomore, and freshman Jesse Conn had 81 and 87, respectively.
Players from the Inter-Valley Conference accounted for all but two of the scores in the 70s — Beverly Fort Frye’s Chatum Courson (77) and Crooksville’s Bo White (79) were the others.
“Last year we tied and it went the other way and they won the tiebreaker,” Garaway coach Mikayla Johnson said. “It’s always a good battle. I respect Hiland a lot but I am so proud of my boys. We’re just excited.”
The win didn’t come without some drama in the clubhouse.
After the group confirmed their scorecards, Camden Bille questioned Swartzentruber’s score on the final hole, insisting he miss-hit a shot that Swartzentruber adamantly said was a practice swing that took a divot. The third member of the group, Woodsfield Monroe Central’s Caedyn Silva, sided with Swartzentruber.
Any type of penalty would have put the Hawks back in the state, and Swartzentruber’s score would have not counted since he would have signed for a lower score. The decision was ultimately left in the hands of tournament director and River Greens PGA professional Doug Davis, who said he spoke with the group and felt Swartzentruber was being honest.
Johnson said Davis handled the matter in the best manner he could.
“We were up by six going into the last hole,” Johnson said. “I hated how we finished, but at the end of the day we won and it’s win or go home. We found a way to get it done. At the end of the day, we are just super happy and I am proud of these boys. They fought all year long.”
New Lineup, Same Story for Garaway girls
CAMBRIDGE — Tuscarawas Valley had its eyes set on ending Garaway’s streak of three straight district titles on Wednesday at Cambridge Country Club.
The Trojans nearly did with a score of 349, but freshman Reegan Gerber, Garaway’s No. 5 girl, shot 100 to help the Pirates win the district championship and earn a fourth straight state tournament berth with a total of 344.
Sophomore Kylie Miller led Garaway with a 75, junior Sara Weaver carded an 80 and senior Camryn Ianniello posted an 89 to round out the team scoring. Sophomore Abby Steiner also had 109.
Senior Addelina Carroll’s 80 paced Tusky Valley, while senior Autumn Rohr shot 89, and senior Gabby Burgess and junior Taryn Campbell chipped in 90s. Junior Kylee Fender also had 116.
It will be the fifth time coach Angie Miller has led the Pirates to the Division II state tournament, which will be played at Firestone Country Club in Akron on Oct. 13 and 14.
None of this year’s lineup competed in last year’s state tournament for Garaway.
“It came down to our freshman who didn’t have to be special. She played well enough to help us advance,” Miller said. “These girls were the cheerleaders for last year’s seniors, and (Camryn) has been waiting her turn. This group has great camaraderie. They support each other, get excited for one another and pick each other up. I’m excited this group gets their chance at state.”
Ianniello felt “pressure” to make the most of this season, but her patience over the past three years was rewarded.
“I kept practicing and believed I could do it,” she said. “It means a lot because we had a new top five. It feels good to get this chance, and I’m proud of this team and what we’ve done.”
The course was challenging after several days of rain. Miller had her team prepare for the conditions by playing rounds in the wet weather this weekend.
“The greens were slower, and I told the girls to attack the pins,” she said. “The girls also stayed relaxed. I told them to do what we do every day, and they did.”
The team’s preparation was rewarded, noted Ianniello.
“You have to hit different shots and take different swings in softer conditions,” she said. “When you get on the greens you try to get it close to the hole. It took a couple holes to get the speed down. We had to stay patient.”
Ridgewood finished third (361) behind an 85 by Brynn Harstine, an 86 from Jacey Hess, an 87 by Josie Stanton and a 103 from Zoe Martin, while Sandy Valley was sixth (422), as Ashlynn Glaser shot a team-best 94.
Malvern’s Lauren Brown had an 86 and Kami Rayborn a 90, while River View’s Kortnee Mickle shot 88. Fort Frye’s Denay Layton tied for the top score with a 75.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Garaway Pirates golf teams survive at district tournaments
