Huron's Tyler Toth protects early lead to capture title at La-Z-Boy Junior Open

Tyler Toth's father warned him never to lead on Day 1.

That was excellent advice when Toth came from behind to win his age group at last year's La-Z-Boy Junior Open golf tournament. But what was he supposed to do this year?

After the opening 18-hole round, Toth carried the lead into Wednesday with a chance to walk away with the overall title in the 66-player field.

"That was on my mind a little bit for sure," Toth said of his dad's advice. "Because there's more pressure when you're in the lead. When you're a couple strokes behind, you really have nothing to lose. I felt that a little bit today at some different points."

Toth navigated the pressure well. He matched his score on the first day and finished 72-72−144 to claim victory at the 45th annual La-Z-Boy Junior Open at Green Meadows Golf Course.

Last year, Toth scored 79-73–152 to win the boys 15-16 division. He then went on to play for the varsity golf team at New Boston Huron where he earned medalist honors at the Huron League final. He hadn't golfed competitively since Regionals in early June.

"This was my first tournament in two months, so it felt great to get back out here in the competitive scene and win," he said. "It definitely turned out better than I thought."

Toth was unhappy with his play on Day 1 when he shot 2-over par. It gave him a two-stroke lead over Tecumseh's Grant Simpson, but Toth felt there was a lot of room for improvement. He came back on Day 2 and shot 2-over on the front nine and then hit par on each of the last nine holes.

It was the same score in the end, but the feeling was far different, he said.

"Me and my caddy just talked about what I needed to work on," Toth said. "My chipping wasn't there. I was blowing putts by the hole. I just tried to tighten up for today and I did. I ended up shooting the same score, but I was way happier with my play."

Simpson carded 74-75–149 to place runner-up and Blake Wagner of Newport was third with 76-75–151.

Day 2 provided extra challenges for the field as a thunderstorm threatened to roll into the area. Throughout the morning and early afternoon, players were forced to navigate through strong winds and darkening skies. Only a few age groups were able to complete the tournament before the rain chased golfers into the clubhouse.

There was an hour delay before play could resume.

Cooper Johnson of Sylvania took first place in the boys 15-16 group with a score of 74-81–155 and Brendan McCullough of Monroe was second with 77-79–156. There was a three-way tie for third place with Woodhaven's Travis Richards (78-80–158), Woodhaven's Billy Sennett Jr. (80-78–158), and Huron's Anthony Robbins (85-73–158).

"Day 1 was really good for me. Day 2 was a little bit rougher, but I still pulled through and won," Johnson said. "The wind was a little rough. I missed a few greens here and there that I thought I should hit, but I did pretty good. ... I had a good time. I wasn't really expecting to win, just have some fun."

Carleton's Brayden Siders scored 77-79–156 to win the boys 13-14 division. Dundee's Levi Evans (86-84–170) was second and Braden Crow (97-95–192) was third.

Liam Doll of Tecumseh took first place in his age group for the fourth straight year. The 11-year-old golfer competed in a nine-hole tournament with the boys 12u division and scored an even-par 36-34–70 to run away from the field. Isaac Scott (41-42–83) was second and Nathan Massingill (45-45–90) was third.

Sophie Bucki of Airport won the overall title for the girls. She led by seven strokes after the first day of play, which gave her a much-needed boost of confidence heading into Wednesday.

"That definitely calmed my nerves down a lot," she said. "Day 1, I was super nervous going into it. Literally everything I did the past week revolved around golf to get myself ready for this. When I gained those strokes (on Tuesday) that gave me more of a cushion."

Bucki carded 88-92–180 to capture both the overall title and the girls 16u crown. That was a 12-stroke improvement over her score in the tournament last year when she won the girls 13-14 title.

"I was grateful for that win last year, but it wasn't the win I'd hoped for. I wish I had shot lower," she said. "Coming into this year, I wanted to play my best personal game and not focus on the competition that I had around me. ... I've grown as a player a lot."

St. Mary Catholic Central's Nora Kinsey was runner-up in the girls 16u with 95-91–186 and Madi Peterson finished third with 102-105–207.

A trio of recent Jefferson graduates took the top three spots in the girls 17-19 division. Rylee Dunn was first with 95-92–187, Callie Calvin was second with 96-95–191, and Kayce Maitland finished third with 97-97–194.

BOYS 12U

(nine holes)

Liam Doll, 36-34–70

Isaac Scott, 41-42–83

Nathan Massingill, 45-45–90

Landry Wilkens, 52-52–104

Alex Reeves, 52-52–104

Easton Shelton, 61-49–110

Noah Dehring, 61-59–120

Myles DuShane 62-59–121

BOYS 13-14

Brayden Siders, 77-79–156

Levi Evans, 86-84–170

Braden Crow, 97-95–192

James Feudi, 101-91–192

Hunter Massingill, 98-95–193

Charlie Leach, 101-104–205

BOYS 15-16

Cooper Johnson, 74-81–155

Brenden McCullough, 77-79–156

Travis Richards, 78-80–158

Billy Sennett Jr., 80-78–158

Anthony Robbins, 85-73–158

Parker Johnson, 81-78–159

Mitchell Smith, 82-81–163

Cameron Kalbfleisch, 81-84–165

Gabe Chinevare, 84-88–172

Cole Angerer, 94-90–184

Johnathan Lerette, 93-97–190

Camden Riggs, 96-96–192

BOYS 17-19

Tyler Toth, 72-72–144

Grant Simpson, 74-75–149

Blake Wagner, 76-75–151

Landon Kongeal, 81-76–157

Jase Marcott, 76-84–160

Zackary Sisk, 75-86–161

Connor Parisien, 75-81–161

Thomas Rivard, 80-83–163

Connor Shappee, 79-86–165

Zackary Bailey, 83-83–166

Hagan Smith, 83-84–167

Carter Bahn, 84-83–167

Carson Kinsey, 86-85–171

Garris Waynick, 87-85–172

Davin Slater, 88-84–172

Connor Chisek, 86-87–173

Lucis Rzepa, 80-95–175

Lukas Johnson, 82-94–176

Jack Miller, 87-89–176

Aidan O'Kelley, 86-95–181

Camden White, 91-90–181

Talen Swinkey, 90-92–182

Josh Kansier, 88-98–186

Gavin Grima, 94-93–187

Evan Sellers, 89-103–192

Jayce Hernandez, 103-102-205

Andrew Bolick, 126-110-236

GIRLS 16U

Sophie Bucki, 88-92–180

Nora Kinsey, 95-91–186

Madi Peterson, 102-105–207

Elizabeth Zwack 105-107–212

Alaina Wille, 109-106–215

Ella Atkinson, 111-128–239

GIRLS 17-19

Rylee Dunn, 95-92–187

Callie Calvin, 96-95–191

Kayce Maitland, 97-97–194

Anna Cuccia, 99-104–203

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Huron's Tyler Toth captures title at 45th La-Z-Boy Junior Open