2023 Dispatch All-Metro: Who are the best high school boys golfers in central Ohio?
Twelve players who competed at state and one state champion highlight the 2023 Dispatch All-Metro boys golf team. The award is sponsored by Golfweek.
The Athlete of the Year in each sport — 30 in all — will be announced at the Central Ohio High School Sports Awards in June. Each member of the All-Metro boys golf team will receive a free ticket to that live event, where nine premier awards also will be announced, including boys and girls overall athletes of the year, boys and girls overall coaches of the year, boys and girls overall teams of the year, courage award, school spirit award and lifetime achievement award.
All-Metro Coach of the Year: Phil West helps Newark Catholic reach new heights
Noah Andry, Olentangy Liberty
The sophomore tied for 22nd (156) in the Division I state tournament, helping the Patriots finish third (610) behind champion Whitehouse Anthony Wayne (598). Andry tied for 11th at district (76) and tied for fifth at sectional (74). He was first-team all-OCC-Central with a 73 average and finished with an 18-hole average of 75.29.
Chase Bokker, Upper Arlington
Bokker helped lead the Golden Bears to a fourth-place finish at state (612), tying for 19th (154). The senior also tied for sixth at district (74) and finished 13th at sectional (76). Bokker finished with a 76.09 average for 18 holes and was first-team all-OCC-Central with a 73.25 average.
Brady Catalano, Upper Arlington
The senior Oklahoma State commit capped his prep career by tying for third at state (142). That followed a sectional championship (67) and finishing fourth at district (72). Catalano was Player of the Year in the OCC-Central with a 69 average, and his 71.65 average for 18 holes is a UA program record.
Matthew Fang, Columbus Academy
Fang led the Vikings at the Division II state tournament, placing 18th (157) as Academy finished third (654). The senior tied for third at district (74) and tied for 15th at sectional (85). Fang was Player of the Year in the first-year Central Buckeye League with a 76 average, and he had an 18-hole average of 78.11.
Vaughn Harber, DeSales
The senior Ohio State commit won DeSales’ first individual state title, finishing with a two-day 135 on his future home course. His score was a Division I boys state tournament record by six shots. Harber, who was last year’s boys golf Athlete of the Year after tying for second at state, finished first at sectional (68) and fifth at district (73). A three-time CCL champion, he had an 18-hole average of 70.04.
Jackson Harris, Olentangy Liberty
After finishing first at sectional (71) and third at district (71), Harris led the Patriots at state, tying for 16th (153) as the team finished third. The sophomore was first-team all-OCC-Central with a 73.25 average. He also set a program record with an 18-hole average of 72.96, eclipsing Grant Smeltzer's previous record of 72.98 in 2019.
Grant Ruffing, Grove City
This junior made history for the Grove City boys golf program, becoming its first state qualifier. He tied for 32nd at state (159) after finishing second at district (69) and tying for third at sectional (73). Ruffing was first-team all-OCC-Ohio with a 76.25 average and had an 18-hole average of 74.5.
Carter Rutherford, Olentangy Liberty
The only senior in Liberty's postseason lineup, Rutherford tied for 22nd at state (156), tied for sixth at district (74) and tied for 11th at sectional (78). He was first-team all-OCC-Central with a 73.25 average and had an 18-hole average of 75.65.
Gabe Scherer, Delaware Christian
Scherer made a return trip to the Division III state tournament, tying for eighth (154) after tying for 11th (162) in 2022. The junior finished second at district (71) and tied for second at sectional (73). Scherer holds the Delaware Christian program record for 18 holes (70) and is a two-time Mid-Ohio Christian Athletic League champion who has helped the Eagles win three consecutive league titles.
William Streby, Fredericktown
Competing in his first state tournament, Streby was the top central Ohio finisher in Division II, tying for 11th (154). The senior earned medalist honors at district (70) after tying for third at sectional (73). Streby also was Player of the Year in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference for the third consecutive season.
Max Vanoy, Newark Catholic
One of three seniors in Newark Catholic's postseason lineup, Vanoy led the Green Wave to a second-place finish in the Division III state tournament, tying for 12th (155). The Tiffin commit tied for second at sectional (73) and was 14th at district (84). He finished with a 79 average for 18 holes and was first-team all-Licking County League. Warren JFK edged the Green Wave for the state title by one shot, 648-649.
Luke Warner, Dublin Coffman
This senior concluded his prep career by tying for fifth in the Division I state tournament (145). The Dayton commit opened the postseason by winning a sectional title (67) and then tied for sixth at district (74). Warner was first-team all-OCC-Central with a 72.5 average and finished with a 74.1 average for 18 holes.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Here is the 2023 Columbus Dispatch All-Metro boys golf team
