Future bright for Beaver Local freshman
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AKRON -- Beaver Local freshman Eli Stewart has been playing tournament golf for a long time.
Stewart’s experience showed as he shot a 3-under-par 69 in Monday’s final round and finished third in the Division II boys state golf tournament.
“I’m happy,” Stewart said. “It wasn’t the outcome I wanted. I though I could win. My goal today was shooting in the 60s.”
Stewart, the top-ranked 14-year-old in Ohio, finished the last four holes birdie-birdie-par-birdie at the 6,800-yard North Course at Firestone Country Club.
“I congratulated him, especially the way he finished,” Beaver Local coach Ryan Smith said. “With four holes left he ended up getting three birdies. It was a great way to finish the tournament.”
Archbold senior Grady Short birdied four straight holes Monday and had a 5-under-par 67 in the final round and finished with a 3-under 141.
River View freshman Lucas Massa was second at 142 (74-68) and Stewart was third with a 144 (75-69). The two freshmen have been playing junior golf together for years.
“Two freshmen in the top three and he is one of Eli’s good friends,” Smith said. “They are going to be really good golfers the next three years.”
Stewart three strokes out of the lead in sixth place after Sunday’s opening round.
That changed quickly Monday as Stewart birdied three of the first four holes to jump into the lead, something he did didn’t know.
“After the tee shot on the first hole, I knew he was in a good spot,” Smith said. “He learned from mistakes (Sunday) and capitalized on that.”
“I was going after birdies today because you knew there were going to be some bogeys,” Stewart said.
Those came on the next two holes with a three-putt on the fifth hole and a wayward tee shot on the par 3 sixth hole.
“I just tell him, ‘Keep your emotions in check if you hit a bad shot,'” Smith said.
“It came down to a few putts,” Stewart said. “I had some rough holes. After two bogeys, I was still 1-under.”
Short took the lead with his birdie run and Stewart bogeyed the 14th hole after his second putt rimmed out.
“I had a few putts that burned the rim,” he said. “If they would have went in, it may have been different.”
Short made an 8-foot putt to save par on the 17th hole and only needed to two-putt from 12 feet for winning birdie on the 18th hole.
“Once I realized he made four straight birdies on 9-12, I could see him running away with the individual title hitting those type of shots,” Smith said. “Just because he got hot, means he can get cold, too. He remained consistent. He very well deserved it.”
“After the 10th hole, I knew he was going to win,” Stewart said.
He left his first state tournament playing in the last group and pleased with how he did.
“I wouldn’t say this is the biggest (tournament),” Stewart said. “I’ve been in a lot of big junior tournaments and know how to handle myself under pressure.”
STATE NOTES
• The only OHSAA state golf champion from Columbiana County is Columbiana’s Jared Wilson in 2016 and 2017. Wilson played collegiately at Wake Forest and Kent State.
• Stewart is playing in the Ohio Cup on Saturday and Sunday. It matches the top 16 junior golfers from the Northern Ohio PGA against the Southern Ohio PGA at Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club just north of Columbus.
• Stewart said he’ll follow the same schedule that he did to get ready for the state tournament.
“Just like this week,” he said. “I’m going to get as many touches on the club as I can this week.”
• Massa led River View to the team title with a 600 (310-290), five strokes ahead of Kettering Alter, the four-time defending champion.
• In the Division II girls state tournament across the road, Columbus Academy won its fifth straight team championship in record fashion Monday.
The Vikings shot a two-day total of 615 (306-309) for a record 83-stroke victory at Firestone's Fazio Course, also known as the West Course. Chagrin Falls was second at 702 (348-254) and Ravenna Southeast was third at 707 (360-347).
Madeira junior Ellie Hartung won with a 1-under 139 (68-71). She finished second as a sophomore and sixth as a junior.
Garaway senior Kylie Miller was second with a 142 (72-70) and Champion sophomore Avery Robinette was third with a 144 (71-73).
• In the Division I girls state tournament at NCR Country Club in Kettering, Canfield is in ninth place (343) and Minerva is in 12th place(363) after the opening Monday.
Magnificat shot a 301 and leads Walsh Jesuit by eight strokes.
Olentangy junior Jodie Han shot a 64 to take a five-shot lead.
For Minerva, junior Peyton Beaumariage is 37th (84), sophomore Emory Sell 41st (85), sophomore Savanna Bartley 63rd (96), senior Delaney Sell 67th (98) and junior Tempi Muck 71st (108).