Catholic Central, coming off a Division III sectional championship, shoots for one of two spots up for grabs to the D-III state tournament next week at Ohio State.
“We’re really excited we put ourselves in this position,” said junior Kyle Foley, the lone player left from Central’s state tournament team in 2013.
“I only have four opportunities. Sure, I do have next year but to go out (and miss state) with a team that’s definitely capable of making it would be a shame.
“We’d all like to go out and play as well as we can and it’ll take care of itself. At the same time if two teams come out and shoot great numbers and they advance, well done to them. We’re going to give our best effort and hopefully it’s good enough.”
Foley is joined by junior Connor Impson and sophomores Colin Kelly, Jacob Woeber and Jack Brougher. Central coach Cuyler Doane hopes that group can shoot 340 or better today. The top four scores count and the fifth is used as a tiebreaker if necessary.
The Irish are joined in the district tournament by fellow Ohio Heritage Conference schools Mechanicsburg and Southeastern.
The OHC is also represented in the D-II district with Northeastern, also at Weatherwax today.
It’s that tough conference schedule that has prepared the Irish for what they face today.
“Pretty much every OHC school has at least — and that’s emphasizing at least — one kid that is really great and could be top six in the conference at the end of the year,” Foley said. “To play against a go-to guy every week, that was my goal to stay close or potentially beat them. If I can stay around them it benefits the team.”
Foley knows the thrill of finishing as a state qualifier in 2013, which included playing on the Scarlet Course at OSU. That’s the same course the D-III teams will play next week. The D-II tournament is held at the NorthStar Golf Club in Sunbury.
“Going (to OSU) two years ago was a surreal experience,” Foley said. “I was talking to our No. 5 man, he was the first guy to tee off, and he was just so glad he didn’t whiff. To be able to go there and experience that again, it’s once in a lifetime. North Star is special in its own way because it is the state tournament, but Ohio State’s course has that aura around it.”
About the Author