2023 Dispatch All-Metro: Who are the best high school girls golfers in central Ohio?
State champions from Columbus Academy, Dublin Jerome and New Albany highlight the 2023 Dispatch All-Metro girls 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 girls 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: C.D. Butcher keeps Dublin Jerome calm for title run
Skylar Dean, Olentangy Orange
Participating in her second consecutive Division I state tournament, the junior tied for second (143) after sharing second place at district (72). Dean was OCC-Buckeye medalist (68.7), averaged 72.2 in 18-hole events and shot a career- and program-best 64 in the second round of the league tournament at Oakhaven. Dean tied for 15th at state as a sophomore.
Mia Hammond, New Albany
The sophomore won the Division I individual state championship with a two-day tournament record score of 136 (67-69). Hammond, who averaged 67.4 per 18 holes, tied for second at district (72) to help the Eagles to their sixth consecutive team title. She also participated in two LPGA tournaments this year, making the cut in her first, the Dana Open in July in suburban Toledo.
Eva Lim, Columbus Academy
A freshman, Lim was the Vikings’ No. 1 golfer all season as they won their second consecutive Division II state title. Lim averaged 73.6, including a program-record round of 65 in the Worthington Christian Invitational in August at Mill Creek, and tied for second place at state (150). Lim also was district co-medalist (73).
Alexa Prettyman, Dublin Jerome
The junior filled the No. 2 spot throughout the season but led the Celtics at state, tying for second (143) as Jerome won its first Division I championship since 2015. Prettyman averaged 74.1, shooting 75 or lower 15 times, with a season-best round of 69 during the Celtic Invitational at Darby Creek. She placed 13th at district (77).
Emerson Purcell, New Albany
The senior and Wyoming commit won the Division I district championship (70) and tied for eighth at state (147), golfing in either the first or second spot for an Eagles team that finished second at state. Purcell averaged 73, shot 68 in Toledo Notre Dame Academy’s Eagle Invitational and averaged 72.25 in the OCC-Central tournament.
Ellie Ryu, Dublin Jerome
The Celtics’ No. 1 golfer all season, Ryu averaged 72.7 and earned 16 top-five finishes while helping Jerome win its seventh state championship. Ryu was OCC-Cardinal medalist (69.33), Blacklick Woods sectional medalist (72) and district co-runner-up (72) before tying for 10th at state (149). She shot 75 or better 16 times, including rounds of 66, 67, 68 and 69.
Elaina Seeley, Circleville
The senior started strong and never let up, averaging 37.8 in nine-hole events, 73.2 per 18 and shooting a career-best 67 to win a Southeast District sectional at Buckeye Hills. Seeley also shot a 30 on the back nine of the Fairfield Union Invitational the first week of the season, was MSL Player of the Year (73 average) and finished fourth at district (74).
Avery Thompson, Lakewood
The senior and Findlay commit shared the Division II district championship and second place at state with Lim, breaking through to state after qualifying for district each of the previous three seasons. Thompson averaged 36.6 in nine-hole matches and 73.8 in 18-hole tournaments. She shot 32 twice in dual matches and a 68 during a Licking County League tournament at Moundbuilders.
Meadow Tian, Olentangy
The sophomore finished sixth (145) in her second consecutive Division I state tournament, capping a season in which she averaged 72.2, won three tournaments — including the second Blacklick Woods sectional (75) by five shots — and shot two rounds in the 60s. Tian was OCC-Buckeye runner-up (70.67) and tied for fifth at district (74).
Paige Weiss, Westfall
The junior competed in her second consecutive Division II state tournament, tying for fourth (153) after finishing second in the Southeast District (73). Weiss never shot higher than 78 the entire season, averaging 37.7 in nine-hole events and 74.5 for 18, winning 12 events and earning Scioto Valley Conference Player of the Year. Westfall tied for seventh as a team at state.
Lydia Wigal, Granville
The sophomore was No. 1 for a Blue Aces team that reached state for the first time since 2010 and first time in Division I. Wigal finished ninth at district (75) and tied for 35th at state (162). Granville was third as a team at district, earning the final state berth by three shots.
Caroline Zeiger, Columbus Academy
A junior and the Vikings’ No. 2 golfer throughout the season, Zeiger averaged 38.5 per nine holes before winning the Division II Blacklick Woods sectional (71), tying for eighth at district (83) and finishing sixth at state (154). Academy won its third consecutive district championship and second state title in a row.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Here is the 2023 Columbus Dispatch All-Metro girls golf team
