COLUMBUS, Ohio -- They gathered on the 18th green of the Scarlet Course, trophies in hand, medals around their necks and smiles on their faces, as family and friends took photo after photo. Some would say it was a perfect picture on a picture-perfect day for golf.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- They gathered on the 18th green of the Scarlet Course, trophies in hand, medals around their necks and smiles on their faces, as family and friends took photo after photo.
Some would say it was a perfect picture on a picture-perfect day for golf.
It was a group shot of 10 golfers, five girls from Hathaway Brown and five boys from University School, plus coaches and assorted others.
On Saturday, they were the face of Northeast Ohio golf during the final day of the Division II state tournament, played under ideal conditions on a beautiful fall day in Central Ohio.
They had reason to celebrate, as did others.
Hathaway Brown did not play as well as it did during Friday's first round -- when its superb play built a 22-shot lead -- but it stormed to the school's first state championship with ease. The Blazers won by 23 shots -- 658 to Poland Seminary's 681.
University School's attempt at winning its sixth state title fell two strokes short to two-time champ Dayton Oakwood, but senior Scott Smith capped a marvelous four-year career by winning the individual state title with a two-day total of 7-over 149 to win by six shots.
Smith, a Plain Dealer All-Star last year, said it was a bittersweet day while acknowledging that a second-place finish was something to celebrate.
"I'm psyched that I won, but it's not the same as winning as a team," said Smith, who closed his tournament with an even-par 71 to erase a two-stroke deficit after the first 18 holes. "We got here as a team and we lost as a team. I know what the guys are going through. I just had the good fortune of coming out strong individually. It's just not the same. It's still a team sport."
Smith, who trailed Dayton Oakwood's Adam Bogdan at the day's outset, made the turn at 1-under 35 and his thoughts turned to last year when he was in contention through the first 15 holes at Northstar Resort but faded to a tie for seventh.
"I began preparing for this tournament the day after last year's tournament," he said. "I came here with my game top-notch. Last year I was in contention but I choked on 16, 17 and 18. Today, I stood on the 16th tee and I was never going to give up."
After a making a double bogey on the 13th hole, Smith closed with five straight pars to cap a round that included one bogey and three birdies.
Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy senior Jacob Forsythe shot a final round 78 to finish in third place with a score of 157, two behind Waynedale's Grant Weaver, an Ohio State recruit.
While Hathway Brown did not have the individual champ -- the honor went to Columbus Academy's Morgan Ransom, who avenged her runner-up finish of a year ago to win by seven shots with a final-round of 1-under 69 -- the Blazers can boast of posting one of the widest margins of victory.
Just as they did on Friday, sophomore Ashley Yarbrough and senior Sydney Kirby led the Blazers' attack. Yarbrough added a final-round 78 and was the Blazers' low scorer at 155. Kirby, who has an opportunity to win another state title as a member of the school's field hockey team, shot 80 on Saturday. She finished her round with five consecutive pars for a tournament total of 157.
"We played well at the right time of the season," said head coach Paul Barlow, who has won a state title in the third year of getting a team to Columbus, just as he did with the school's basketball team. "We won the Walsh tournament and we won our conference tournament for the first time, but I thought we really started playing well in the post-season. We really played well as a team, not just one or two players."
That certainly was evident in this tournament. On Friday, sophomore Nia Marshall shot 78 to back 77s by Yarbrough and Kirby. On Saturday, it was junior Annie Ames who came through with the solid support. After opening with a 93 on Friday, Ames shot 88 on Saturday.
Kirby, who earned second-team all-Ohio honors with Yarbrough, told Barlow she felt she had let the team down when she reached the 14th tee.
"He said I wouldn't let the team down if I parred the last five holes," said Kirby. "I said 'OK' and I parred them."
Yarbrough was the only team member to shoot both rounds in the 70s. She said the team put Friday's round behind them before they teed it up on Saturday.
"This was my first time shooting in the 70s in a tournament and it feels amazing," she said. "We forgot about what happened on Friday and I think it helped us stay focused and go out and play our game," she said. "It was nice having that big lead."
Orange junior Brynn FitzGerald shot a final-round 79 and finished in a tie for third in the individual competition with a total of 152.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: trogers@plaind.com, 216-999-5169