Minerva girls golf completes extraordinary rise with state tournament finish
After going winless just four years ago, Lady Lions cap undefeated season and district title run with strong improvement at Firestone and a bright future ahead.
Peyton Beaumariage, Hannah Kirkpatrick, Mady Bartley, Delaney Sell and Emery Sell
Submitted
Four years ago, the Minerva girls’ golf program was mired in a wasteland, suffering through a winless season. Then Kenny Beaumariage appeared on the scene, took the reins, and shook everything up.
In 2023, the Lions went 6-18 in match play. The following year, they improved to 22-1 and started making noise at tournaments and invitationals. This year, Minerva went undefeated in match play during the regular season, performed lights out at several prestigious tournaments, won a Div. I East District sectional title, and then topped it all off by winning a District title. The prize? The Lady Lions qualified as one of 12 teams that got to play Firestone Country Club’s par-70 Fazio Course Oct. 12-13 to duke it out for the OHSAA State Tournament championship.
Impressive stuff, no doubt.
The Lady Lions’ journey this season ended at that State Tournament as Minerva placed 12th with a two-day total of 784. Dublin Jerome won the title, outdueling Rocky River Magnificat and Olentangy.
Do not assume for a second that Beaumariage and company will be satisfied with just making it the biggest stage. Consider this another step, just as the previous seasons were. And while the Lions may not be satisfied with their performance there is clear evidence of improvement in the results. Four of the 12 teams posted higher scores on the second day of the tourney. Of the remaining eight teams that improved, the Lions did by the most, slicing 30 strokes from their first-day total. That is nine strokes better than any of the other teams.
Sophomore Peyton Beaumariage was Minerva’s highest-placing golfer, finishing 50th after carding a two-day total of 178. However, Peyton improved from a first round of 95 to a second round of 83, mirroring the improvement of the team as a whole. Peyton’s round of 93 tied for the 32nd best round shot on Day 2. And her 12-stroke improvement was the fourth largest in the entire Div. I tourney – bettered only by a golfer from Anthony Wayne and Peyton’s teammates,seniors Mady Bartley and Hannah Kirkpatrick.
Speaking of the seniors, they have lived through Minerva’s meteoric rise and now depart a program far better than when they first swung a club for the red and white. True, Minerva will need to replace their invaluable contributions. With the core of junior Delaney Sell, freshman Emery Sell, and Peyton Beaumariage, however, don’t wager against the Lady Lions.