MASSILLON: When it comes to the postseason, the main focus of high school golf usually falls on teams rather than individuals.
“Playing for others” has become the unofficial mantra and it was on display at the Legends of Massillon on Tuesday.
So, when we look back on the 2016 girls Division I district tournament played in chilly temperatures under partly sunny skies, it might be the story of two individuals who played for others.
It might be remembered as the year the Jackson girls carried veteran coach Teal Harvey to an unexpected championship and a ninth consecutive appearance in the state tournament, believed to be a state record.
It also might be remembered as the year senior Kory Nielsen put her Kent Roosevelt teammates on her back and carried them to a runner-up finish and the school’s third appearance in Columbus in the past four years.
Jackson, second in the state in four of the past six years, won the school’s 10th district title with a score of 314 behind the play of senior Hannah Lemons.
Roosevelt, with Nielsen earning medalist honors with a score of 4-under 68 — believed to be a tournament record — was second at 316. Highland (317), GlenOak (320) and Solon (328) also earned the right to play next week on the Ohio State Gray Course.
“This is our ninth title in a row and I can tell you it doesn’t get old,” said Harvey, in his 17th season leading the Polar Bears. “In fact, the older I get, the sweeter it gets.”
It hasn’t been the sweetest of seasons for Harvey, until Tuesday.
One of the most likeable guys in the coaching world, Harvey had a cancerous kidney removed on Aug. 5 and only returned to full-time coaching about two weeks ago.
“This isn’t about me,” he said. “This is about the girls and their dedication.”
Lemons, an Ashland recruit, recovered from a rocky start to post a 1-over 73, sharing second place overall with Highland senior Madison Butler.
“It was hard not having coach around for much of the season,” said Lemons, who was 4-over through five holes en route to a front-nine 40 on the South nine but fired a 3-under 33 — the lowest nine holes of the day — on the East nine. “It just wasn’t the same without him and we’re just glad we were able to make him proud of us.”
Seniors Lauren Hatfield (77) and Lauren Dauk (79) and freshman Sydney Scibetta (85) backed Lemons in the play-five, count-four format.
With pre-tournament favorites such as Green (334), Boardman (334) and Walsh Jesuit (350) faltering, the young Roosevelt team became Cinderella of 2016.
Senior Chloe Wise (82), sophomore Grace Thompson (82) and junior Hannah Thomas (84) shot themselves all the way to Columbus.
“It is so much more fun to go as a team instead of just an individual,” said Nielsen, who turned in the day’s only bogey-free round. “It means a lot to make it to Columbus, but it’s extra-special to be there as a team. I’m just glad I was able to help.”
This will be Nielsen’s fourth consecutive appearance in the state tournament. She made it in 2013 and 2014 as a team member — along with her older twin sisters Kasey and Kelly — and qualified last year as an individual.
Three of Nielsen’s birdies were the result of staunch iron play. Her putt from eight feet for eagle on the par-5 sixth came up inches short and her approach from 40 yards on the 329-yard eighth stopped one inch away.
“I love tap-in birdies,” she said.
She dropped a 25-foot putt for her third birdie on the 140-yard 12th and once again flirted with eagle when her approach on the 365-yard 17th stopped one foot away.
“Given the stage, this was probably the best round of my entire life,” she said.
Her teammates had to agree.
Read the high school blog at http://www.ohio.com/preps.