Collectively, the Olentangy Liberty boys golf team didn’t have its best day at the Division I district tournament Tuesday at Apple Valley.
Grant Smeltzer had himself quite a day, though, birdieing the first playoff hole against Central Crossing’s Caleb Davern to nab medalist honors and punch a ticket to the upcoming state showcase at OSU.
“He teed off middle of the fairway and Caleb went right, under a tree and had to punch it out,” Liberty coach Ryan Snivley said. “Grant’s second shot went about a foot from the hole. He tapped it in and Caleb wasn’t even to the green yet, so the playoff was over.
“His irons were on fire today.”
Smeltzer fired a 36 on the front nine and 35 on the back to finish with a 71. Davern was just as consistent, closing with a 35 on the front and 36 on the back to force the playoff.
Hilliard Davidson’s Caleb Stimmel and Dublin Jerome’s Jackson Chandler tied for third among individuals, finishing with 72s.
Jerome won the event, carding a combined 293, while St. Charles earned runner-up honors and the second and final state-qualifying spot with a 309.
Olentangy Orange and Olentangy Liberty finished third and fifth with respective rounds of 313 and 317.
Pioneer scorers included Jonathan Green (77), Alex Cabungcal (78), Corbin Bentley (79) and Jake Smith (79).
The Patriots, meanwhile, counted to the scores of Andrew Blosser (80), Josh Steyer (81) and Logan McCarrell (85) to go with Smeltzer’s 71.
Other area standouts in action included Olentangy’s Cameron Casto and Olentangy Berlin’s Bryce Reed and Brady Casto. All three competed as individuals. Cameron Casto tied for 11th overall with a 77 while Reed and Brady Casto finished with respective rounds of 79 and 84.
The state tournament is slated for October 19-20. The boys will play the The Ohio State University Scarlet Course while the girls will take aim at the Gray Course.
GIRLS GOLF
Olentangy Orange qualified for states as a team and Olentangy Berlin’s Leila Raines made it as an individual thanks to solid showings at Tuesday’s Division I district tournament at Cooks Creek.
The Pioneers shot a combined 315 to finish behind first-place New Albany, which won its first district title in program history with a 298.
Ashley Au and Riley Dean led Orange with 73s while Natalie Au and Natalia Sompolvorachai finished with respective rounds of 84 and 85.
Raines, meanwhile, shot an even-par 72 to become the first state qualifier in school history. Only New Albany’s Madison Spiess, who finished with a 71, had a better day.
Olentangy Liberty was also in action. It’s solid season came to a close as Kavya Manocha (76), Juliana Renda (84), Sarah Latzke (87) and Gracie Baun (89) combined for the team’s sixth-place effort of 336.
Finally, Delaware Hayes freshman Hayley Dye competed as an individual, firing an 85 to finish tied for 26th.