Strasburg’s Gage Bonifant caps golf career in style at state

When it comes to finishing off a high school golf career, no golfer can envision a bigger goal than playing their final match with Ohio’s best at the state tournament.

For Strasburg’s Gage Bonifant, that dream came true when he fired a two-over par 74 at the district tournament at River greens Golf Course to become the medalist individual to advance to the Div. III state tournament at NorthStar Country Club near Sunbury Oct. 13-14.

Bonifant shot an opening day 82, then turned things around to come home in 78 on day two to fashion a total score of 180, a score good enough to place him 23rd overall.

While he said he expected better, it was a solid showing for a young golfer who has dedicated himself to developing into one of the area’s shining stars on the links.

“He’s simply one of the hardest working kids I know,” said Tigers’ head golf coach Maddox Kruger. “Day in, day out, even when there is no practice, he is on the golf course. If you don’t know where the kid is, he’s on the golf course working on his game. You can even ask his parents.”

Kruger said the work has paid dividends particularly around the green, where he said Bonifant’s short game is impeccable, something that is instrumental on an unforgiving gold course like NorthStar.

Bonifant said his first trip to state was everything he dreamed it would be in terms of challenging him to step up his game.

“It’s obviously a lot different than what I’m normally used to playing,” Bonifant said. “It’s a cool experience that I’ve looked forward to for a long time.”

What made this even more satisfying for Bonifant was that he missed qualifying for state by one measly shot last year in district play, so climbing that mountain was satisfying.

He said that served as a huge motivational factor for him coming into this season.

For Bonifant, the joy in golf hasn’t necessarily been the result in the scores he produces, but rather the process of working hard to get where he is today.

“I love the process of hitting good shots and learning every part of the game,” he said.

He added that he entered day two knowing he hadn’t played his best, especially with a couple of bad holes that hurt him, but it left room for what he felt certain was going to be a better day two.

Overall he was thrilled to end his high school career at the one place every golfer dreams about being.

Kruger said the Tigers had a strong campaign this fall and would have loved to represent the East district as a team, but this year there was a very strong district that could have seen any one of five teams advance.

Getting to bring Bonifant to NorthStar was a quality alternative.

“We’ve had a lot of talks about being here, experiencing this moment,” Kruger said. “It’s really nice being here to experience this. It’s more than I could have ever envisioned.”

He said Bonifant never looked overwhelmed or nervous playing against the state’s finest golfers in Div. III. He said his senior looked like he absolutely belonged, and his play vouched for that.

“It takes real mental toughness to earn your way here,” Kruger said. “I don’t care if you’re a freshman or a senior, it’s challenging to become a good enough player, but it’s even more difficult to deal with the pressure mentally, and Gage did a great job of that.”

Bonifant hopes now that the confidence he drew from this pressure-packed situation will carry over into the basketball season this winter.