HINCKLEY, Ohio -- The order changed, but the schools stayed the same atop the team competition of the Division I boys district golf tournament at Pine Hills on Wednesday. Playing under ideal conditions -- the slick putting surfaces notwithstanding -- Medina, St. Ignatius, Uniontown Lake and Stow earned qualifying spots for the 85th annual state tournament on the Scarlet...
Chardon High’s Mike Maxwell knocks his second shot onto the seventh green Wednesday at Pine Hills in Hinckley during the Division I boys district golf tournament.
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(Chuck Crow / The Plain Dealer )
HINCKLEY, Ohio -- The order changed, but the schools stayed the same atop the team competition of the Division I boys district golf tournament at Pine Hills on Wednesday.
Playing under ideal conditions -- the slick putting surfaces notwithstanding -- Medina, St. Ignatius, Uniontown Lake and Stow earned qualifying spots for the 85th annual state tournament on the Scarlet Course at Ohio State next week.
The same four teams qualified last year. Only the order of finish was different. And, this time, Stow did not need to win a scorecard playoff against Massillon Jackson in order to advance.
"Welcome to Pine Hills, gentlemen," said tournament manager John Jasin in reference to the course's greens, which some players said were like putting on a pool table.
This was Medina's year after the Bees won the school's first district championship in six years with an 18-over 306, led by junior Mike Bishop's 2-over 74. It marks the third straight trip to the state tournament for Medina, which finished third last year with a score of 316.
With junior Beau Titsworth also shooting a 74, St. Ignatius finished second at 308 after winning the school's 11th district title last year with a score of 310.
Lake, paced by medalist Jake McBride's 72, finished third at 312. The Blue Streaks were second last year at 313 and will make their fourth state appearance.
Only Stow duplicated its finish of a year ago. The Bulldogs finished fourth with a total of 319 as senior Cody Nickson shot a team-leading 77.
Area players also earned the final two of four available individual qualifying spots as Mentor's Cory Vinborg (75) and St. Edward's Zach Champa (76) slipped in behind Canfield's Boo Timko and Marlington's Ryan Headley, each of whom shot 74.
Junior Bobby Koch (75), sophomore Sean Sherman (76) and junior Austin Schreiber (81) completed Medina's scoring.
"This is awesome," said Bishop, who teamed with Koch to produce 10 birdies. "St. Ignatius got us last week at the sectionals, but I'd rather win the districts. It looks better."
Koch stressed the Bees' concept of team golf.
"Not once has it been an individual sport for us," he said, before grabbing Bishop in a bear hug. "We are a team."
St. Ignatius, third in last year's one-day -- because of inclement weather -- state tournament, got a big lift on the back nine by junior Matt Gerard. After coming in with an uncharacteristic 7-over 43, Gerard turned things around with three consecutive birdies on the back to finish at 77. Junior Christian Wagner (78) and senior Connor McCafferty (79) completed the Wildcats' scoring.
"We didn't play our best but the idea is to get out," said Titsworth.
Freshman Ian Holt (78), juniors Brandon Nixon (79) and Max DeCheco (85) backed Nickson's 77 as Stow advanced for the third straight year.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: , 216-999-5169 trogers@plaind.com