Indian Valley in striking range after first day of state golf

Indian Valley’s pursuit of a state golf championship was well within reach after one day of the Division II state tournament in Kettering this week. The Braves were one good day away from making it happen.

With press time looming as the second round of the two-day tournament began on Tuesday at NCR Country Club’s South Course, Indian Valley sat in fifth place among the 12 state-qualifying teams but well within striking range of the leaders.

The Braves shot a first-round total of 320, which left them just six shots back of Kettering Archbishop Alter, which had the double advantage of being a private school and playing what essentially amounted to a home game in the state tourney.

In between the two schools were Buckeye Valley (316), River Rivew (317) and Ottawa Hills (318). There was a much bigger gap between the fifth-place Braves and sixth-place Poland Seminary, which trailed Indian Valley by nine strokes.

In the race for state medalist, Indian Valley sophomore Hayden Beaber was four shots off the lead after shooting a first-round 76. He was three shots off the lead through nine holes then fired a 36 on the back nine.

Sam Reynolds of Buckeye Valley bettered that with a 33 on the back for a first-day total of 72 and three-shot lead over Alter’s Andrew Gochenouer.

Braves senior Brody Meade also was in the thick of things after a first-round 79, which left him tied for 10th. Senior Deagan Barber was right behind, shooting 80 for the Braves to sit 19th, and junior Cam Enama checked in with an 85 to sit tied for 41st.

Not counting in the team score but certainly capable of posting a second-day number was junior Phillip Rangle, who shot 87 to sit in a tie for 47th in the field of 72.

Each qualifying team has five players, with the top four scores counting in each day’s team score. The scores reset for the second day and are not aggregated. Individual scores are based on two-day totals.

Things did not look good weather-wise for the second round. Rains fell overnight Monday into Tuesday and were expected to continue throughout the day on Tuesday.

Cross country

Claymont junior Kali Wallace had a stellar day last Saturday at the Indian Valley Invitational, winning the girls varsity race with a time of 19:40.4, which put her nearly a minute ahead of her closest rival. Wallace’s senior teammate Grace McPherson came in sixth place, with freshman Emma McPherson checking in 11th. Junior Heidi Johnson placed 45th among 87 runners. Those were the only four runners for the Mustangs, so they didn’t have a team score.

Host Indian Valley got a fifth-place finish from freshman Rowan Harshey, which junior Jillian Welch followed with a ninth-place crossing. Sophomore Blaire Harshey checked in 15th for the Braves, who finished third behind Meadowbrook and Carrollton. Freshman Bailey Herbert crossed 20th and her classmate Sam Wales placed 33rd. Another freshman, Cadi Compston, finished 39th. Junior Kylee Curran rounded out the seven-girl lineup, placing 53rd. Senior Haylie Menefee also ran for the Braves, finishing 62nd.