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CINCINNATI — In the shadow of the Cincinnati Municipal Airport, the Clinton-Massie girls golf team soared Tuesday in the Division II Sectional at Reeves Golf Course.
“We set this goal at the end of last season. These girls have put in the work and it has paid off,” Clinton-Massie coach James Brady said. “We challenged ourselves all season by playing more difficult course and teams. Four years ago, we didn’t beat a single opponent (at sectionals), now we are back-to-back league champs and district qualifiers.”
The Falcons were fourth in the team standings and held off Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy for the final district qualifying spot in the tournament. Massie had a 352. The Eagles finished with 354.
The Division II Southwest District tournament will be held Oct. 2 at Pipestone Golf Club in Miamisburg. The top two teams and top two individuals not on a qualifying team will advance to the OHSAA Division II State Tournament.
Grace Boone was medalist for the Falcons with an 80 (38-42).
Stormie Stroud shot a 90 (47-43) while Charlotte Robinson (47-44) and Rylee Long (44-47) both had 91s. Samantha VanPelt had a 108 (54-54).
Brady said the round started with “the most significant amount of rain we have had in months.” The course held up well but it made for conditions much different than the super dry layouts all teams have experienced this season.
Undaunted, Sammi VanPelt started Massie’s day with a booming drive. “That first tee is very nerve-wracking,” said Brady. “Everyone is watching you, that official announces you. It took a few of them a hole or two to calm down.”
Boone was locked in early, said Brady. She parred nine holes on the day. Long had six pars and played well down the stretch. Stroud was a grinder, keeping her demeanor on even keel all day. Robinson, confidence growing with every swing, also played well.
Brady said the tournament was delayed for two hours by a second storm.
“That pause really put us in a tough spot,” he said. “We sat in the clubhouse, trying not to get stiff or lose our m0mentum. I was trying to quietly do some calculations as to where we were at that point and I knew it was going to end up being close.
”Right before we returned to the course, I decided to share where I thought we stood. ‘Bogey or better’ became our mantra for the rest of the round. Those girls held that ground in pretty soaked conditions. Char’s finishing hole was excellent scoring a par. That gave us a shot. It then came down to Boone.”
Brady opted to keep the team’s standing from Boone. “Grace does not like to know where she stands or where we are overall. She does very much care about how her teammates are doing and is excited to hear how they are playing.,” he said.
“I still was not 100 percent sure myself because the online scoring system was not the official scorecard for the day. Grace hits a fantastic drive, right down the middle. A decent second and a solid third to get her to about a 10 foot slightly uphill putt. She hit dead center of the cup, drain-o for a par.”
