Highland, Hudson girls golf survive windy district, advance to OHSAA state tournament
CUYAHOGA FALLS — Wednesday produced a perfect fall day — except for those seeking a trip to state via the Division I girls golf district tournament at Brookledge Golf Club.
Sunny but windy conditions turned the greens firm and fast. However, grinding through these conditions turned out to be worth it for the two Suburban League champions.
Highland earned a trip to state by placing second at Brookledge. The Hornets tied Magnificat with a round of 323, but the Blue Streaks won by having the better fifth score.
Hudson was third with a 343 and Hoover was fourth with 345. The Explorers earned their first trip to Columbus as a team since 2010.
Highland coach Mary Becker lauded the performance by her top three golfers. Isabella Goyette shot a round 73, while Elizabeth Coleman (76) and Paige McKendry (79) also broke 80. No other team had more than one golfer under 80.
"The goal is always to get to Columbus, where anything can happen," Becker said. "Sometimes, we were worried about our score more than just playing the course. I had some great performances out of one, two and three, and I'm super proud that they pretty much carried us today."
Goyette earned medalist honors by sinking five birdies on the back nine.
"In the front nine, really nothing was going right for me," Goyette said. "I kind of turned it around on the back nine with my putting and drained more of them. I'm pretty content with what I did."
Goyette said she had her eyes on an individual state title, while Becker said a top-two finish was a goal for the Hornets.
Meanwhile, Hudson coach Bobby Bolin realized early his team faced a long day.
"I can't say how tough it was out there for everybody," Bolin said. "The message I started telling my girls after three holes was, 'Grind, grind, grind,' because that's what it going to take today and, to their credit, they did. I'm so proud of the way they reacted."
Hudson's top round of 76 came from Emmy Burling, who missed the Suburban League tournament at Brookledge last month with an injury.
"The course was playing tough, but I keep focusing, kept going and focused on my putting," Burling said, adding some greens were as slippery as hockey rinks. "I just trusted my line and putting saved me today."
Sherry Du added an 83 for the Explorers.
Suburban League sweeps individual girls golf state berths at Brookledge
Along with Hudson and Highland's success, the Suburban League swept the four individual state berths from Brookledge.
Aurora's Gracyn Vidovic placed second overall with a 75.
"The greens were definitely really tough," she said. "The front was a little rough, but I kept it together on the back. Just made a few birdies and kept pushing."
Vidovic admitted she was sad to head to Columbus alone. The Greenmen finished fifth in the team race with a 348, while former state runner-up Brooklyn Millard struggled and shot 80.
Solon's Serena Wu advanced with a 76, tying with Coleman and Burling for the third overall.
For the second time in three days, a clutch playoff putt sent a Stow golfer to Columbus.
The Bulldogs' Gabriella Berlingieri found herself a three-way playoff for the final two state spots. Berlingieri, Kent Roosevelt's Madolyn Kost and Hathaway Brown's Dixon Hill all shot 78.
After hitting her approach on hole No. 2 wide, Berlingieri said she was in a familiar place.
"My irons were off all day. I hit the exact same shot I did earlier today," she said. "I played that same chip, so I knew I could put it in a bit closer. I made of bunch of those on the practice green, so it just had to come out today. I'm just proud that I made it there."
Stow coach Scotte Rorabaugh said Berlingieri became Stow's first female state qualifier.
Kost earned the final state spot by winning the third playoff hole.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hudson, Highland high school girls golf reach OHSAA state tournament
