With its record-setting performance at the Division I state tournament Oct. 20 and 21 at Ohio State’s Scarlet Course, the Dublin Jerome High School boys golf team diminished the disappointment that took place the last two seasons.
The Celtics shot a 607 over two rounds, setting a course record in Division I to win the seventh championship in program history.
Jerome, whose 295 in the opening round also set a state record, had placed second at state in 2015 and third last season when the tournament was shortened to one round because of bad weather.
“It feels great,” junior Jackson Chandler said. “Last year, just coming up short having one day, it was kind of disappointing. It’s probably not going to sink in for a while.”
Olentangy Liberty, which finished runner-up with a 616, got to within four strokes of the lead during the final round before Jerome closed it out.
“It feels so great just having this accomplishment, just unreal,” senior Blake Solomon said. ”(We weren’t) nervous, but (we knew) we were going to have to start playing well again. Near the end, we found out we were still leading and it was a reassuring feeling coming down the stretch.”
Solomon tied for second with a 147 to make first-team all-state, while Chandler placed sixth with a 150 to make the second team.
Also competing for the Celtics were junior Mason Wagner (tied for 11th, 153), senior Davis Root (tied for 20th, 157) and sophomore Ethan Snyder (tied for 44th, 168).
“It’s a great feeling,” first-year coach Taylor Harle said. “I give these guys a lot of credit. I’m proud of these guys and I know what they’ve put into it.”
Jerome finished 23-1 to win the four-round OCC-Cardinal Division tournament, ahead of Thomas Worthington (19-5), Scioto (18-6), Worthington Kilbourne (11-13), Hilliard Bradley (9-15), Hilliard Darby (5-19) and Delaware (0-24).
Snyder was league Player of the Year with a 73.3 average. Wagner (77.0) was second-team all-league and Root (73.3), Solomon (74.3) and Chandler (75.3) all were honorable mention all-league after playing in three rounds. Senior Will Birkholz averaged 74.0 in two rounds.
Jerome shot 280 to win a sectional Oct. 3 at Darby Creek as Chandler was medalist (65), and shot 294 to win the district tournament Oct. 10 at Apple Valley as Chandler and Root each carded a 72 to tie for third.
