Golf: Hammond, Harber, Jerome girls capture titles
Saturday, October 21, 2023
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
New Albany sophomore Mia Hammond won the girls individual title with rounds of 67 and 69 at Ohio State this weekend. Photo courtesy of Dave Thompson
The finale of the prep golf season saw a return to form for Ohio’s most prestigious girls program and a record-setting performance for two area individuals at Ohio State.
There was a heavy amount of hardware handed out to central Ohio athletes following the two-day Division I state event which began Friday, with the Dublin Jerome girls team, New Albany girls individual Mia Hammond, and DeSales boys individual Vaughn Harber being the most notable beneficiaries.
Numerous area girls shine at state
The Celtics made it to state four times from 2016 through last season, including finishing runner-up a year ago, but the 597 they shot on OSU’s Gray Course gave them their first championship trophy since winning five in a row from 2011-15.
It was the sixth overall under coach C.D. Butcher and the seventh in program history, which is three more than any other girls program has captured.
“We’ve had some really good years (since 2015),” Butcher said. “They felt like they were good enough to win, and they would not beat themselves. I’ve had great teams. I’m not saying this team is better than any team I’ve had in the past, but their mental composure was crazy. … We just had a supreme confidence. This season’s over, but we still haven’t played our best golf yet and we’ve beaten every statistical record I’ve ever had.”
New Albany and Rocky River Magnificat each shot 608 to tie for runner-up, while Granville finished 11th (686) as the area’s other representative.
Hammond, a sophomore, shot rounds of 67 and 69 to turn in a 136 that gave her the overall state record in Division I and a tie for the all-time state record for any division.
She was fourth a year ago.
“It was a pretty steady round,” Hammond said. “Last year, I didn’t play well. It was kind of just a rough tournament for me, and this season has been in general a lot better than last year, so this ties everything together.”
Jerome junior Alexa Prettyman and Olentangy Orange junior Skylar Dean were among four players to tie for runner-up honors with a 143.
The Dublin Jerome girls golf team, with head coach C.D. Butcher, captured their seventh state title this weekend at Ohio State. Photo courtesy of Dave Thompson
Also for the Celtics, junior Ellie Ryu tied for 10th (149) to earn second-team all-state honors, senior Mia Ringger was 16th (151), senior Addie Yarbrough tied for 19th (154) and senior Medha Pothuru tied for 31st (159).
“We’re just really happy obviously,” Prettyman said. “We’ve worked really hard, and the last few years we’ve come up short, but we put it out there and got what we came here for. Personally I didn’t play my best last year, so I was definitely motivated to play better and play for my team.”
Dean, who tied for 15th a year ago, shot rounds of 71 and 72.
“I always set my goals high and I’ve been working really hard this year,” Dean said. “I would definitely say just having perseverance overall in a mental way (helped me). I had a couple rough holes out there and just stuck to it and never counted myself out.”
Olentangy sophomore Meadow Tian shot 145 to place sixth while joining Dean as an area individual competitor. She also was sixth a year ago.
“I was a lot more consistent than last year and I think there was improvement, but I’m a little disappointed in how I did overall,” Tian said. “I just need to work on more of my short game, having more distance, trying to tweak everything and improve.”
New Albany senior Emerson Purcell, the district champion, finished eighth (147) to also make second-team all-state.
Granville, which made its only other state appearance in 2010, was led by sophomore Lydia Wigal (tied for 35th, 162).
Harber’s record-setting day headlines area boys finishes
Tying for runner-up at last year’s state boys tournament on OSU’s Scarlet Course left Harber longing for a better ending at this year’s event.
Harber, a senior, wound up in a classic duel with Whitehouse Anthony Wayne’s Logan Sutto that went back-and-forth throughout the final six holes, with Harber surviving to shoot 135 to edge Sutto by one stroke. The previous record for a state tournament score on the Scarlet Course was 139.
Harber gave the Stallions their first individual champion.
“Honestly I’m just trying to take it in,” said Harber, an Ohio State commit. “I didn’t hit it great today. I was just able to limit my mistakes and not make any big mistakes. Last year definitely motivated me to work really hard in the offseason.”
DeSales senior Vaughn Harber, the boys’ individual state champion, chips onto the ninth green during the state tournament this weekend at Ohio State. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Sutto led Anthony Wayne to its first title with a 598, with Akron Hoban finishing runner-up (601) and Olentangy Liberty (610), Upper Arlington (612) and DeSales (617) taking the next three spots.
UA senior Brady Catalano was leading with a 68 after the opening round before shooting 74 during the final round to tie for third (142).
“The first round I played well and came out today and just didn’t have it,” said Catalano, an Oklahoma State commit. “I was close last year and had the lead this year, so it’s going to sting a little bit. I definitely enjoyed my four years at UA.”
Dublin Coffman senior Luke Warner tied for fifth (145) to also earn first-team all-state honors.
“It felt good,” Warner said. “(Finishing in the top five) was the goal coming in and I’m happy to get that done to end my high school career.”
Liberty, which was at state for the first time since 2019, turned in rounds of 306 and 304 with just one senior in Carter Rutherford.
Sophomore Jackson Harris tied for 16th (153), junior Noah Mulford tied for 19th (154) and Rutherford and sophomores Noah Andry and Holden Orofino each tied for 22nd (156).
Rutherford opened with an 85 but turned in a 71 during the final round.
“Our first goal was to make the state tournament because we (barely) missed (the last three seasons),” coach Ryan Snivley said. “I have three sophomores and a junior, so it’s great just getting them experience. We were tied for second after yesterday which was a nice surprise. I think we’re happy with it.”
Also competing individually were Coffman senior Ryan Schiefferle and Grove City junior Grant Ruffing, who both tied for 32nd (159).
Another standout for UA was senior Chase Bokker, who tied for 19th (154).
“When I got here, we hadn’t been to state since 2014 and now we’ve been back two years in a row,” Golden Bears coach Troy Arbaugh said. “It’s been huge for us. (Catalano) is the best player I’ve ever coached and I’m going to miss him. He elevated our program.”