Depth carries Indian Valley golf to district title, state berth

Indian Valley’s boys golf team continued its stellar postseason, capturing the Eagle Sticks Division II District championship on Sept. 29 at Eagle Sticks Golf Club.

With little margin for error – only the top two teams and top two individuals on non-qualifying teams earned trips to the state tournament – the Braves shot a 291 to edge runner-up River View by four strokes. River View had beaten Indian Valley a week earlier in sectional play. The teams had a little breathing room over third-place St. Clairsville, which shot 310.

The state tournament is scheduled for Oct. 6-7 at NCR Country Club’s South Course in Kettering. The state tourney is a two-day, 36-hold event, with aggregate scores.

For the Braves, Hayden Barber and Cam Enama each shot a one-over-par 71 to tie for second place in the individual standings on the 6,500-yard course. Both would have earned trips to state had the team not made it. Indian Valley’s depth made sure that was not the case, though. Philip Rangel shot 72 to finish tied for fifth, and Brody Meade added a 77 to finish 16th.

Deagan Beaber checked in with an 81 and that scored, which tied for 26th overall among 48 players, was not needed. Beaber was the Braves’ top player at the sectional a week earlier, shooting 71 to finish second individually.

More golf: Claymont’s Owen Lindsey shot an 83 tie for 30th place individually at Eagle Sticks. He was the only player from his team to qualify out of sectionals. His 78 at Eagle Sticks put him in 14th place among 68 players to net one of four individual district qualifying spots. … Newcomerstown finished in 18th place among 19 teams in the Cambridge Division III Sectional at Cambridge Country Club. The Mustangs were led by Braylon Kerr’s 109, which placed 69th out of 90 individuals. The top six teams and top six individuals on non-qualifying teams advanced to the River Greens District, to be played Oct. 2 at River Greens Golf Course in West LaFayette.

Girls golf: Claymont finished 10th among 15 teams in the Division II sectional tournament at Carroll Meadows Golf Course on Sept. 23. The Mustangs shot 479. They were led by Blake Cunningham’s 111, which landed her in 30th place out of 56 players. The top four teams and top four individuals on non-qualifying teams earned district berths.

Girls Tennis: Claymont was headed to Dover for Division II sectional action on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, both after press time. The rain date, which was likely not going to be needed, was Oct. 2. Scheduled to play in the sectional were singles players Brinley Poland, Madelyn Dean and Mady Gladstone. Poland was to open play against Kirby of East Liverpool. Gladstone was matched with Nutter of Zanesville. Dean had a first-round bye. In doubles, the due of Danika Ledford and Ellison Stull was to face a pair from East Liverpool, while Maegan Douglas and Rylee Tarbert were set to take on the winner of a first-round match between duos from Cambridge and Beaver Local. The top two singles players and doubles teams would advance to the district tournament at Columbus Academy beginning Oct. 8 in Gahanna.