Girls golf: Brunswick wins first league title

STOW — It rained on the Brunswick girls golf team's parade Monday, but that didn't stop the Blue Devils from celebrating their crowning achievement. Brunswick won the first league title in the history of the girls golf program by capturing a weather-shortened fourth Greater Cleveland Conference Tournament at Fox Den Golf Course. Visible lightning in the area caused a delay around 2:15 p.m., with the entire 30-golfer field on the back nine at that point. Roughly 30 minutes later the decision to shorten the tournament to nine holes was made as rain persisted and the skies continued to look threatening. After winning the first three tournaments, the final one at Fox Den was little more than a victory lap, but the Blue Devils (161) distanced themselves from second-place Medina (184) to cement the achievement. "I'm really excited," sophomore Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble said. "Our team kind of came up from zero, and I'm really proud of what we've been able to do in the past couple of years. We've broken a bunch of records and now won our first conference championship. I'm really proud of everybody." Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble won medalist honors with a 1-over-par 36. Her younger sister, Emma, was second with a 39 and senior Jess Buzinski and freshman Brianna Behrend tied for fifth with 43s. Medina senior Corinne Christeon matched her season-best nine-hole score to officially finish tied with Emma Gonzalez-Ribble for second. She birdied the 304-yard eighth. Unofficially, Christeon was on track to match or beat that score on the back nine after an eagle on the 396-yard, par-5 No. 14 and a par on No. 15 before play was halted. At 5 over, Christeon needed to only play the final three holes at better than 8 over to beat her previous career high of 84. Making this year's championship all the more sweeter for Brunswick was how close it came to accomplishing the feat last year. The Blue Devils entered the final tournament in 2024 with a one-point lead on Strongsville but finished third at the final event with the Mustangs winning. That caused Brunswick to fall to second place. "Last year we were really working hard to get that championship, but this year me and my teammates, especially, all put in the hard work," Buzinski said. "I wouldn't be able to do this without them." Buzinski was the only senior in the Blue Devils' six-golfer contingent competing Monday. She was steady with two pars and six bogeys on the front nine. Her only birdie came, unofficially, on No. 14, her final hole. Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble birdied the 299-yard second and 341-yard, par-5 eighth on the front nine. Unofficially, she birdied the 352-yard 11th and had four straight pars before being pulled off the course with three holes to go. "There were a lot of ups and downs," Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble said. "I had a lot of birdies and bogeys. I was pretty glad with how I did. I was able to come back after a bogey with birdies, which was nice." Emma Gonzalez-Ribble had seven pars on the front nine and was cruising at 1 over until a triple bogey on the 304-yard eighth. She credited her ability to get up and down for par for helping her get off to a fast start. She alternated birdies and bogeys on the four holes she played on the back nine before play was stopped. "It feels really good , especially, because I'm a freshman," she said. "We've been playing really well this season and I'm really proud of all of us." Emma Gonzalez-Ribble's classmate, Behrend, highlighted her round with four pars. Medina's score was rounded out by Lily Zimmerman (48), Honor Hlavana (48) and Rachel Coleman (49). Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Results at par-71 Fox Den G.C. (Shortened to 9 holes due to weather) Tournament standings: 1. Brunswick 161, 2. Medina 184, 3. Strongsville 188, 4. Mentor 193, 5. Shaker Heights 225. Season standings: 1. Brunswick 20, 2. Medina 16, 3. Strongsville 12, 4. Mentor 8, 5. Shaker Heights 4. Brunswick (161) — Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble 36, Emma Gonzalez-Ribble 39, Jess Buzinski 43, Brianna Behrend 43. Medina (184) — Corinne Christeon 39, Lily Zimmerman 48, Honor Hlavana 48, Rachel Coleman 49, Marissa Nugent 51, Madison Roose 55.