Girls golf: Highland qualifies for fourth straight state tournament

CUYAHOGA FALLS — The Highland girls golf team accomplished its most important mission Wednesday at Brookledge Golf Club by qualifying for its fourth consecutive Division I state tournament. That realization subdued any disappointment the Hornets were feeling after missing out on winning an elusive district championship. For the third consecutive year, Highland finished runner-up to Brookledge District champion Magnificat, this time on a fifth-player tiebreaker. Members from both teams gathered near the 18th green eagerly cheering on the next players to come in. When the scores were tallied and trophies handed out, the players partook in the most amicable celebration imaginable by excitedly gathering on the practice green for joint photographs to celebrate their accomplishments. "I didn't think too much about it during my round, but as I was watching everyone on the last hole, it was a lot of anxiety," Highland senior Isabella Goyette said. "We were obviously hoping to win this whole thing, but Mags is a great team. We love them, and they are some of our closest friends. We're happy to be with them going to the state tournament." Goyette earned district medalist for the second time in her career by firing a 2-over-par 73. She also won as a sophomore with a 70. "It's a very big honor to win medalist in a field of amazing golfers," she said. "It's a privilege, but I also applaud every other golfer out there, because they did amazing and these conditions were not easy by any stretch." Goyette and Paige McKendry will compete at state for the fourth time. "It's really exciting," McKendry said. "I feel really fortunate to be part of a program that has given me the opportunity to go to the state tournament four years in a row." Led by senior Stella Burns' 89, Medina placed 12th with a 369. Fellow seniors Lydia Dorman (90), Carleigh Johns (95) and Camille Christeon (95) rounded out the scoring for the Bees, who finished nine strokes better than last season. The Hornets and Blue Streaks were in a race of their own, finishing well ahead of third-place Hudson (343) and fourth-place Hoover (345), who will join them for the two-round state tournament on Ohio State Golf Club's Gray Course on Oct. 20-21. Also advancing were Aurora's Gracyn Vidovic (75), Solon's Serena Wu (76), Stow's Gabriella Berlingieri (78) and Roosevelt's Madolyn Kost (78). Berlingieri and Kost survived a three-player playoff that also included Hathaway Brown's Dixon Hill. Goyette had a magnificent turnaround on the back nine, shooting a 3-under 33 after coming into the turn with a 5-over 40. She started with birdies on the 321-yard, par-4 10th and 437-yard, par-5 11th on her way to five birdies on that side. She also birdied the 290-yard 18th. "On the front nine, I was trying too hard to shoot some low score today," Goyette said. "That was not the goal I should have had. On the back nine, I tried to not put so much pressure on myself. I just tried to calm down." Elizabeth Coleman finished one stroke behind Vidovic to place third with a 76. After making the turn at 4 over, Coleman also had a sharp turnaround and notched her only birdie on No. 10. "It was a pretty good day today," she said. "My back nine was a lot better than my front nine. I've been working on my putting and that was starting to come around, especially my lag putting." McKendry (79) tied for ninth with Marlington's Zoe Mort, Nordonia's Julia Gulla and Magnificat's top finisher, Cammy Reed. McKendry recorded 11 pars. "The course was playing pretty tough and the greens were a challenge," she said. "I was just trying my best to make a two-putt on every hole. It was a battle for sure, but it ended up being a good day." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Brookledge Division I District at par-71 Brookledge G.C. Standings (top 4 advance to state tournament): 1. Magnificat 323, 2. Highland 323, 3. Hudson 343, 4. North Canton Hoover 345, 5. Aurora 348, 6. Roosevelt 354, 7. Hathaway Brown 361, 8. Walsh Jesuit 364, 9. Massillon Jackson 365, 10. Strongsville 365, 11. Nordonia 368, 12. Medina 369, 13. Canfield 379, 14. St. Joseph Academy 384, 15. Green 399, 16. Uniontown Lake 404. Individual qualifiers: Gracyn Vidovic (A) 75, Serena Wu (Sol) 76, Gabriella Berlingieri (Sto) 78, Madolyn Kost (R) 78. Highland (323): Isabella Goyette 73, Elizabeth Coleman 76, Paige McKendry 79, Avery Albright 95, Kavya Chada 98. Medina (369): Stella Burns 89, Lydia Dorman 90, Camille Christeon 95, Carleigh Johns 95, Corinne Christeon 101.