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Area golfers set to begin postseason

The path to an Ohio State Golf Championship is officialy laid out for area players.

The postseason for golf opens Monday with Division II teams taking part in the sectional, while Division III tees it up on Tuesday and the female players open their quest on Wednesday.

In Division II, the district is broken down into two sectionals with each section sending four teams and four individuals who aren’t members of a qualifying team to the district.

Teams competing at the Cadiz Country Club include: Barnesville, St. Clairsville, Indian Creek, Cambridge, West Muskingum, East Liverpool, Harrison Central, Martins Ferry, Edison, Beaver Local, Buckeye Local, Union Local and Steubenville.

Competing at River Greens are Garaway, John Glenn, Carrollton, Maysville, Minerva, Meadowbrook, Sandy Valley, Ridgewood, Claymont, Philo, Indian Valley, Coshocton and Buckeye Trail.

Locally, Barnesville and Harrison Central have established themselves as the premier teams. The Shamrocks won the OVAC Class 3A tournament and Thursday’s OVGL crown after an undefeated regular season in league play.

“We’ve advanced (to the district), but we’ve never won a sectional team championship, so I am challenging our kids,” Shamrocks head coach Jerry Robinson said.

“Obviously, finishing in the top four to advance is the main goal, but we want to have the mindset to win it because we know it’s only going to get tougher from here on out.”

The Shamrocks are led by seniors Payne Johnson and Jim Byler as well as sophomore Carter Wells. Dryden Bauman and Jude Hannahs.

“I don’t want these kids getting too high or too low, but I like our mindset right now,” Robinson explained. “Our one through three have been solid all year, but our younger guys are coming around. It’s going to take four guys playing together to advance, and we know that.”

The Huskies, meanwhile, are the hosts of the tournament and have been solid all season, too. They won the OVAC Class 4A title as well as the Buckeye 8 championship.

Coach Todd Dunlap’s team is led by Sam Santille, Cruz Capers, Nick Coffland and Jacob Hudson.

Martins Ferry’s Luke Krol — champion of the OVAC Class 4A, OVGL and Buckeye 8 — is one to keep an eye on during the next few weeks. He narrowly missed a state berth last season, finishing second among the individuals, just a shot away from going to state.

“I am ready for the postseason,” Krol said. “I think I’ll play well and I am hoping to make it to the state tournament. I’ve played at Cadiz about three times. I think the pins and greens will be a lot tougher for the tournament. I just have to try to keep my head on straight, have some fun and not concentrate on scores.”

St. Clairsville is another team to keep an eye on. The Red Devils are led by talented sophomore Will Foster, who has been solid all season. He’s coming off an all-OVGL finish last week.

The Division II district is ticketed for Sept. 30 at Eagle Sticks, which is located near Zanesville. Unlike last season, the East District will send two teams and two players who aren’t on qualifying teams to the state tournament, which is slated for North Star Golf Club in Sunbury.

IN DIVISION III, the Cambridge Country Club is the site. Area teas competing there include: Shadyside, River, Monroe Central, Steubenville Catholic Central, Toronto and Bridgeport.

Four teams and four individuals not on a qualifying team will advance to the second week of the postseason.

The Division III district is slated for Sept. 30 at River Greens, but only one team and one individual not on a team will advance to state, which is at the Scarlet and Gray Course at Ohio State University.

GIRLS

All area girls compete in Division II. The sectional is Tuesday at Carroll Meadows in Carrollton.

Local schools who will enter at least one female into the tournament are Bridgeport, Buckeye Trail, Cambridge, Edison, River, Shadyside, St. Clairsville, Steubenville, Toronto and Union Local.

The top six teams and six individuals not on a team will advance to the district, which will be played at Cambridge Country Club.

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