SANDUSKY — A fifth consecutive trip to the OHSAA state championships is one step closer for the Galion boys golf team.
The Tigers beat Mid Ohio Athletic Conference rival Shelby by five strokes (324-329) to win the Division II sectional tournament title on Thursday at Woussickett Golf Course in Sandusky.
This year’s result was just a bit tighter than the 2020 tournament at Thunderbird Hills in Huron, which saw the Tigers roll to a 31-stroke victory over Perkins to advance to the district tournament.
Four Tigers finished among the top 20 golfers at Woussickett to pace Galion to the win. Senior Max Longwell and freshman Nate McMullen each shot 79 to lead Galion to the sectional tournament victory. They were among a group of five players who finished tied for second place with identical rounds of 79.
Longwell fired a 39 to open his day and closed with a score of 40 on the final nine holes. McMullen shot 41 on the opening nine holes and closed his tournament with a score of 38.
Junior Nick McMullen finished in a tie for seventh place after shooting 80 (38-42). Sophomore Logan Keller recorded a final score of 86 (44-42) and finished in a five-way tie for 17th place.
Junior Nate Barre rounded out the scoring for the Tigers, shooting a 90 (42-48) to finish in a four-way tie for 27th place.
Shelby sophomore Ty Keinath finished in that five-way tie along with Longwell and McMullen for the match runnerup spot. He also shot 79. Juniors Brody Miller and Carson Brubaker shot 82 and 83, respectively, for the Whippets. Sophomore Will Magers finished with a score of 85. Sophomore Ashton Hoffbauer shot 89.
Joining Galion and Shelby in moving on to the Division II district tournament is yet another MOAC squad in Ontario. The Warriors shot 349 to edge fellow MOAC member Clear Fork (350) for the final district tournament berth.
Ontario senior Ryan Chapman was also among that group tied for second place with a round of 79. Sophomore Charlie Danuloff shot 80. Junior Jordan Reed and sophomore Hunter McCarthy each shot 95. Junior Robbee Mangan finished with a score of 105.
Clyde freshman Josh Swartz was the tournament medalist, shooting 78 to earn a spot in the district tournament. Joining him as individuals advancing to the district tournament are Perkins senior Cole Hupp (79), Clyde teammate Gavin Gill (83) and Huron junior Adam Murray (83).
The Division II boys district golf tournament is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 7 at Catawba Island Club in Port Clinton. Tee time is 10 a.m.
Galion won the district tournament by a whopping 25 strokes in 2020 to advance to the OHSAA state tournament.
Division II Boys Sectional Golf Tournament
Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021
Woussickett Golf Club, Sandusky
1. Galion 324 (Nick McMullen 80, Logan Keller 86, Nate McMullen 79, Max Longwell 79, Nate Barre 90)
2. Shelby 329 (Ashton Hoffbauer 89, Brody Miller 82, Carson Brubaker 83, Will Magers 85, Ty Keinath 79)
3. Ontario 349 (Ryan Chapman 79, Charlie Danuloff 80, Jordan Reed 95, Hunter McCarthy 95, Robbee Mangan 105)
4. Clear Fork 350
5. Perkins 350
6. Clyde 352
7. Bellevue 358
8. Huron 369
9. Willard 371
10. Wynford 374
11. Vermilion 377
12. Edison 383
