St. Ursula turns in 5th-place finish at Division I state golf

KETTERING, Ohio — For more than two decades, St. Ursula has been the go-to place for northwest Ohio girls golfers looking to shape their games and compete for state championships.

Of the Arrows’ current group of competitors, four had at least one previous season of competing at state, including senior Emma Myers, who qualified for Ohio’s premier event in each of her four prep seasons.

That experience paid off for Myers and her teammates at the Division I tournament Monday and Tuesday in Kettering on NCR Country Club's North Course as they turned in a fifth-place finish with a 663.

Myers led the way with a tie for eighth with a 152 that earned her second-team all-Ohio honors.

“It’s a nice way to end my senior year,” Myers said. “As a team, we’ve worked really hard this year, and it’s a good accomplishment to finish fifth. It was a little weird being the only senior [on the team], but overall, it was really fun because we have good relationships with each other.”

St. Ursula has been to state 23 times during coach Jim McGowan’s 25-year tenure as coach, including each of the past four seasons.

Myers shot 72 during the opening round to put her in contention for the individual title before coming back with an 80 on the final day of competition.

Rocky River Magnificat shot 618 to capture the team championship, and Cincinnati Sycamore junior Eva Becerril shot rounds of 75 and 68 for a 143 total that gave her individual medalist honors.

“We’ve got one star and three juniors who worked hard all year and have really gotten a lot better,” McGowan said. “A couple of them have played [this course] and things got a little nicer [in the afternoon], but it was really, really cold. It was hard out there today.”

Also for St. Ursula, junior Sydney Socha turned in two rounds of 77 for a 154 that tied her for 12th overall. Juniors Kennedy Donnelly (176) and Lindsey Kornowa (185), who along with Myers and Socha also competed last season when the Arrows placed 10th, and sophomore Olivia Rodgers (190) were the other competitors.

“After all the hard work we’ve put in, comparing us to other teams from around the area, we’re very fortunate to be here,” Socha said. “We’re going to keep bonding as a team and figuring out where we want to go next year. [Myers was] a leader and an example for the team with all her hard work and dedication.”

Also competing in the girls tournament was Anthony Wayne, which placed 11th (764) as junior Sophia Stanton led the way with an 83 during the final round and a 164 total.

There were no seniors in the Generals’ lineup.

“[Stanton] played here previously, and it’s a really tough course for high school players,” coach Jason Gwin said. “This was the first time in school history for us being at state, and they’ve got a lot to be proud of.”

In the Division I boys tournament on NCR Country Club’s South Course, St. Francis de Sales finished 11th (686) as Akron Hoban won the title with a 595. Hoban senior Chris Pollak was the individual medalist with a 142.

Anthony Wayne junior Michael Distefano shot rounds of 76 and 78 for a 154 that tied him for 18th overall.

Leading the way for St. Francis was senior Nick Miller, who carded a 76 during the final round for a 158 that tied him for 25th.

Also for the Knights, junior Jack Schoen shot 170 and senior Jack Julius carded 172.

“It was a fantastic experience for us,” St. Francis coach Dan Sutton said. “This course is just a beast and it challenged my guys. They’ve had a great season and it was a heck of an accomplishment. It gives our young guys inspiration to get back down here next year as well.”

Miller, who was the Northwest District Player of the Year, made his second state appearance and also has qualified twice for the state tennis tournament.

“For tennis, I just wanted to have a lot of fun, and when it came to golf, I was more focused but I was so relaxed,” Miller said. “Yesterday I couldn’t hit any greens and my chipping wasn’t very good. Today I was more relaxed and happy to play. We have three juniors, and they were all so willing to do whatever it takes to go to state. It was a very lively team and a very special team.”