As the girls golf postseason began Monday with a Division II sectional tournament at Blacklick Woods, chatter around the course centered not just on keeping pace with defending state champion Columbus Academy, but within how many strokes other teams could stay of the Vikings.
That day, the answer was 19 as Academy reasserted itself as a favorite to return to state even with a largely revamped lineup from a season ago — one with star freshman Eva Lim occupying the top spot.
Competition should be fierce at the Central and Southeast district tournaments, from which one team each will advance to state Oct. 13 and 14 at Ohio State’s Gray Course. Academy and Westfall earned those respective titles a season ago.
The Central District tournament is Monday at Darby Creek, and the Southeast will play Jaycee outside Chillicothe the next day.
Here are three storylines to watch entering district:
1. Depth powering Columbus Academy’s search for repeat
Although Lim has been Academy’s No. 1 golfer throughout the season and has shot as low as 65, junior Caroline Zeiger earned top honors at sectional with a medalist round of 71 — including a 33 on the back nine.
“My short game throughout the year has been really solid, and my long game is really starting to get there,” Zeiger said. “I’ve been trying to gain distance. My irons have gained 10 yards the last week or so.”
Senior Angela Hu, Academy’s other returnee from last year, shot a 77 on Monday.
“More than (physical) improvements (from 2022), I’m better mentally,” Hu said. “Last year being No. 1 as a junior was a lot of pressure. I played well, but this year I’ve calmed down a lot and I’m doing my best to enjoy it.”
Senior Sydney Fortney and sophomore Ella Tang round out the top five.
Academy shot a 307 at sectional. Columbus School for Girls (326), Worthington Christian (354), Lakewood (361), Newark Catholic (363) and Marion Pleasant (372) earned the other team berths to district.
Lakewood senior Avery Thompson was sectional runner-up (75).
CSG has thrived with junior Kristina Ma, senior Madi Kim and freshmen Reagan Hoffmans, Liberty Harris and Quinn Aubert in the top five.
“The big thing is we have a senior and a junior leading the charge, so building off them and their abilities has been key,” Unicorns coach Chris Ditello said. “But at the end (of the day), everybody has to pull their own weight and play their best golf and eliminate unforced errors and mistakes.”
2. Centerburg’s Avery Glenn leads individual qualifiers
A junior, Glenn’s third consecutive district berth is the latest highlight of a season that saw her shoot a 31 — a nine-hole school record regardless of gender — on Sept. 6 during a dual against Lexington at Wyandot. That came on the heels of shooting 33 the night before in another dual.
Glenn’s round of 77 Monday led all individual district qualifiers. Sophomore teammate Evie Stowe also qualified with an 89.
“Avery has had a successful season with sticking to her routine and just trusting in what she works on each and every day,” Trojans coach Kathy Compton said. “Avery plays with more confidence this year with each shot she takes and has more determination than ever.”
Highland junior Ceci Grassbaugh (81), Galion Northmor junior Katelyn Miley (83), Utica sophomore Olivia Dickson (84) and Heath sophomore Reagan Kelly (84) are the other individual qualifiers.
Grassbaugh has shot as low as 71 this season, during a Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference tournament.
3. Another strong round for Elaina Seeley paces Circleville
The senior’s medalist round of 67, a career best, in the Southeast District sectional Monday at Buckeye Hills powered the Tigers to a program-record score of 326 and first place by 16 shots ahead of fellow district-qualifier Westfall.
No other central Ohio teams advanced to district.
Sophomore Isabelle Perini (79) and senior Izzy Seeley (84) also turned in solid rounds to put Circleville one step from its first state tournament. Sophomore Alyssa Sharp and freshman Aleigh Michael round out the lineup.
Elaina Seeley has finished fifth, sixth and third at district the past three years.
Westfall junior Paige Weiss shot a 69 to lead the Mustangs, whose next best score was an 86 from junior Caroline Sever. Junior Marianna Packer, sophomore Kathryn Lockhart and freshman Michelle Pickett fill out the top five for the defending district champions.
dpurpura@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OHSAA girls golf: 3 storylines for central Ohio Division II districts