Polar Bears win a Division I tournament golf event for the second consecutive week. This time the Polar Bears conquered Pine Hills by shooting a 302.
HINCKLEY The Jackson boys golf team entered postseason play wondering if it would know what it felt like to win again. Now it doesn’t seem like the Polar Bears know how to lose.
Jackson won a competitive Division I district golf tournament at Pine Hills Golf Course on Monday with a 302 score. Hoban finished second at 305.
“The kids are really excited right now,” Jackson head coach Jim Kish said. “I’ve been down with teams and individuals and I can tell you that there is nothing like going down to Columbus as part of a team.”
Andrew Wyss was the top finisher for the Polar Bears with a one-over par 72. Wyss finished third as an individual behind Green’s Maxwell Moldovan and Walsh Jesuit’s Ben Cors. Moldovan and Cors both shot a 71.
“I’m obviously really happy,” Wyss said. “When we got here I just kept thinking, ‘it would be nice to make it out as a team.’ I thought we had the ability. It was awesome to come out and show we could do it.”
The feeling was in sharp contrast with how Jackson finished the regular season. The Polar Bears lost three straight dual matches before rallying to win the Division I sectional tournament last week.
“It’s all still soaking in,” Wyss said. “This is definitely a ‘whoa’ moment for us. What we did last week was great. We played even better this week on a harder course. It was just an awesome day.”
Mark Dilling finished just behind Wyss with a 74 for the Polar Bears.
“This is all just starting to sink in for me,” Dilling said. “There’s a part of me that still can’t believe it happened. We played so well. I’m just really happy.”
Dilling and the rest of his Jackson teammates found himself in groups featuring Hoban, St. Ignatius and Walsh Jesuit players. Those are the other teams that advanced to the state tournament from Pine Hills.
“When you play against that kind of competition, it motivates you,” Dilling said. “You want to step up. You don’t want to get left behind. The thing you can’t do is get caught up in how they are doing. You have to let them play their own game and you have to play yours. It makes you want to perform at a higher level.”
Also scoring for Jackson were Ben Ramold with a 76 and Andrew Dauk with an 80. Christian Tomak also shot 82 for the Polar Bears.
“This is just really exciting,” Ramold said. “This has been our goal all year. Winning last week gave us the boost we needed to come out and play well here.”
The best part is the five will get to stick together for next week’s state tournament in Columbus.
“That’s special,” Dauk said. “Being part of a team like this is so great. I was really excited we were able to make it out. The course is really beautiful in Columbus. I can’t wait to play there.”
Now Jackson can set its sights on the ultimate prize. A state title.
“The first goal is just to get there,” Tomak said. “It’s the ultimate goal. We would love to try to find a way to make that happen.”
A wild ride
Green looked to be in great position to advance after shooting a 313 as a team until the final scores came rolling in. The fact the Bulldogs aren’t advancing doesn’t change how much the team developed this year.
“These guys all worked so hard,” Green head coach Jason Martin said. “They stayed positive and gained a lot of confidence. We started the season shooting 350 or more in these situations. We got it down to 318 by the sectionals and 313 for the district. That’s solid work.”
Defending state champion Maxwell Moldovan shot an even-par 71. Moldovan tied with Walsh Jesuit sophomore Ben Cors for medalist honors and lost in a playoff. Moldovan still advanced to the state tournament as an individual.
“All the kids look up to him,” Martin said. “He’s a great player, a great role model and a great kid. He’s not cocky at all. He’s a great influence on the kids.”
Green had just one senior in Bryce Miller and should be in the hunt to do big things next fall.
No team needed
Two other area individuals were among the top four players not on an advancing team and will be moving on to state. They are Lake’s Alex Anderson (74) and GlenOak’s Brandon Jatich (74).
Reach Cliff at 330-58-8494
On Twitter: @chickmanREP
Be the first to comment