Headed north again: Lakota East returning to state girls golf tournament

Three members of Lakota East’s girls golf team decided to jump for joy Tuesday after the Thunderhawks finished third in the Division I district tournament at Glenview Golf Course, earning a return trip to state. RICK CASSANO/STAFF

Three members of Lakota East’s girls golf team decided to jump for joy Tuesday after the Thunderhawks finished third in the Division I district tournament at Glenview Golf Course, earning a return trip to state. RICK CASSANO/STAFF

The pressure that comes with earning a return trip to the Division I state tournament didn’t faze Lakota East High School’s girls golf team.

The Thunderhawks are headed back to state after a third-place showing in Tuesday’s district tournament at Glenview Golf Course, powered by the play of senior Bree Wilson (38-41—79) and junior Grace Honigford (38-41—79).

“Oh, it feels great,” Honigford said. “We’ve been excited for this all year, and now it’s finally happened. I think we all had a positive mind-set and thought we could do it.”

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East advanced to Columbus for the first time in program history last fall and finished seventh. Do the Thunderhawks have the collective game to compete for a state title next Friday and Saturday at the Ohio State University Gray Course?

“I think they do,” first-year East coach Ali Green said. “They all five need to be playing on their game, but if they do, I think they have what it takes to give it a run.”

“I think we can do better than that,” Honigford added of last season’s finish. “We played fine last year, but I think we’ve got a good team this year. We could play really well.”

The Thunderhawks put up a 325 total at Glenview on Tuesday and will be joined at state by Centerville (314) and Mason (323).

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Centerville senior Marissa Wenzler was the medalist with a 35-33—68. That 4-under-par score was nine shots better than Mason freshman Ally Madden (39-38—77), who had the day’s second-best round.

“We’ve been out here a couple times for practice rounds, so we’re very familiar with the course,” third-year Mason coach Chad Layton said. “It was challenging today. The greens were a lot quicker than they were when we practiced out here, so that took some adjustments. Overall, I’m just happy we made it out.”

It will be the Comets’ eighth state appearance as a team, but first since 2014. Layton noted that Vivienne Su represented Mason at state as in individual in 2016.

“That was a great experience, but the whole time I was up there with her, I couldn’t help but think about how great it would be to be up there as a team,” he said. “If everybody’s on, we can go toe-to-toe with anybody, so we’re looking forward to getting up there to see how it all shakes out.”

Lakota East’s Ellie Yeazell hits out of a sand trap and onto the green Tuesday during the Division I district girls golf tournament at Glenview Golf Course. RICK CASSANO/STAFF

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It was a good day for the Greater Miami Conference and another close finish in the East-Mason rivalry. Beyond the two teams headed north, Colerain senior Alex Schutte (39-42—81) also earned a state berth by defeating Lebanon senior Maddie Owens (41-40—81) in a one-hole playoff for the final individual spot.

Said Layton, “It’s a great thing for everybody involved in our league.”

Freshmen Samantha Bernardo (40-43—83) and Ellie Yeazell (42-42—84), along with junior Camryn Eddy (42-46—88), also competed for East.

“It was a fight for them,” Green said. “I think they came into it with a lot of pressure on themselves because they made it last year, so they were very nervous. But they fought really hard and did what we needed to do to qualify, and that’s all we really needed.

Lakota East’s Grace Honigford watches a putt on her final hole of the day Tuesday during the Division I district girls golf tournament at Glenview Golf Course. RICK CASSANO/STAFF

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“I know the girls are super excited and I’m super excited to be able to help them get there. It’s just great to see how the program has transformed within the last five to seven years.”

Fairfield senior Heather Zaglauer (43-46—89) and Lakota West junior Alyssa Trevis (43-52—95) also represented the GMC, but failed to advance to state.

Schutte, Ursuline junior Katie Fuller (40-40—80) and Beavercreek junior Sarah O’Connor (37-43—80) were the individual state qualifiers.

Team Standings

Top Three Teams Advance To State

1. Centerville 314; 2. Mason 323; 3. Lakota East 325; 4. Ursuline 339; 5. Sycamore 343; 6. St. Ursula 366; 7. Mercy McAuley 372; 8. Springboro 377; 9. Kings 378; 10. Oakwood 380; 11. Beavercreek 404; 12. Vandalia Butler 423

Top 10 Individuals

1. Marissa Wenzler (Centerville) 35-33—68; 2. Ally Madden (Mason) 39-38—77; 3. Grace Honigford (Lakota East) 38-41—79, Bree Wilson (Lakota East) 38-41—79, Julanna Zhang (Mason) 41-38—79; 6. Katie Fuller (Ursuline) 40-40—80, Sarah O’Connor (Beavercreek) 37-43—80, Kayla Ramsey (Centerville) 40-40—80, 9. Maddie Owens (Lebanon) 41-40—81, Alex Schutte (Colerain) 39-42—81

Individual State Qualifiers

Katie Fuller (Ursuline) 40-40—80; Sarah O’Connor (Beavercreek) 37-43—80; Alex Schutte (Colerain) 39-42—81

Note: Schutte won a one-hole playoff with Maddie Owens (Lebanon) 41-40—81

Local Individual Results

Fairfield: Heather Zaglauer 43-46—89

Lakota East: Grace Honigford 38-41—79; Bree Wilson 38-41—79; Samantha Bernardo 40-43—83; Ellie Yeazell 42-42—84; Camryn Eddy 42-46—88

Lakota West: Alyssa Trevis 43-52—95

Lebanon: Maddie Owens 41-40—81

Lakota East’s Bree Wilson finishes her day on the last green Tuesday during the Division I district girls golf tournament at Glenview Golf Course. RICK CASSANO/STAFF

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Lebanon’s Maddie Owens tees off for her first shot during a playoff with Colerain’s Alex Schutte on Tuesday at the Division I district girls golf tournament at Glenview Golf Course. Schutte won the one-hole playoff to earn the last individual state-qualifying spot. RICK CASSANO/STAFF

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Lebanon’s Maddie Owens (right) and Colerain’s Alex Schutte shake hands after Schutte won a one-hole playoff Tuesday at the Division I district girls golf tournament at Glenview Golf Course. Schutte was the last individual to qualify for a trip to the state tournament. RICK CASSANO/STAFF

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Lakota East’s girls golf team finished third Tuesday in the Division I district girls golf tournament at Glenview Golf Course, earning its second straight trip to state. RICK CASSANO/STAFF

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