Girls district golf: Highland making state plans again

BAINBRIDGE TWP. — Highland senior Elizabeth Coleman caught fire on the back nine at the Tanglewood Division I District on Thursday and led the Hornets girls golf team to the state tournament for a sixth consecutive season. Coleman fired a 5-under-par 67 at the Tanglewood Club to win medalist honors as Highland (316) finished third behind champion Magnificat (301) and runner-up Walsh Jesuit (314). Canfield (324) took the fourth and final qualifying slot. The Hornets will compete Sunday and Monday at the Fazio Course of Firestone Country Club. "I'm really proud of our team," Coleman said. "We knew we had to come out and play some really good golf to make it out. I know we're all excited for state and the chance to play Firestone this year." Brunswick sophomore Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble qualified for her first state tournament after shooting an even-par 72 to finish fourth individually and as the second of four individual qualifiers. Also qualifying were Solon's Serena Wu (70), North Canton Hoover's Ellie Hutzler (73) and St. Joseph's Emerson Glending (75). After turning in an uncharacteristic 81 at the Brookledge District last year, Gonzalez-Ribble was 2 under through her first five holes and was 2 under again going into her last four holes. "I'm really excited," she said. "Obviously I didn't make it last year, but after what happened at Brookledge last year, I wasn't going to let that happen again. I just wanted to start as fast as I could to give myself the best chance possible." The Blue Devils (337) were in contention for much of the afternoon before fading to eighth as a team. Freshman Emma Gonzalez-Ribble backed her older sister with an 86. Rylee Roth turned in an 89 and Jess Buzinski shot 90. Highland's group of five seniors in the lineup are excited to get to play in one final tournament together on the biggest stage of high school golf in Ohio. It will be the first time competing in the state tournament for Kate Vickerman (82) and Allie Miller (86). The Hornets shot their lowest round at Tanglewood this season to advance. "I was really nervous to go out here today, because I really wanted (the state tournament)," Vickerman said. "This is my last chance for my first time to go to state. "I teared up on the last hole because I knew we made it. I'm really, really happy and think we're going to do amazing at state." Vickerman double bogeyed the first hole, her only double of a round highlighted by a birdie on the 101-yard, par-3 13th. Along with Coleman, Vickerman and Miller, Highland also counted an 81 from Mirabella Shelton. While she is usually more accurate hitting into greens, Shelton relied on her short game to help her get up-and-down for par. She birdied the 126-yard, par-3 seventh and the 135-yard, par-3 16th. "I started off a little bit rough, but I knew I usually play a little bit better on the back, so I wasn't too worried," Shelton said. "The greens were rolling a little bit slower than usual today, so it was a little bit harder to get putts to drop. I think that affected everyone today." A year after finishing second at the state tournament, Coleman got locked in with four birdies on the back nine to head into her final tournament with plenty of confidence as she looks to win a state title. She also had three birdies on the front, but bogeyed two holes as well. "I stuck a lot of wedges really close today," Coleman said. "It's nice to see those coming in and coming close. I was able to make some birdie putts. It's really great to shoot that round headed into state." Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble birdied the 278-yard 12th and 335-yard 14th before sliding back to par at the turn. She then birdied the 456-yard second and 309-yard fifth. After her second shot of the day landed in the water, she saved par on the par-5 10th with a close wedge that set up a short putt. "I think that dart that I threw right at the beginning gave me the momentum to get there," Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble said. "A couple holes later I got a couple birdies that put me in a good mood." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Tanglewood Division I District at par-72 The Tanglewood Club Standings: (Top four teams qualify for state tournament) — 1. Magnificat 301, 2. Walsh Jesuit 314, 3. Highland 316, 4. Canfield 324, 5. Revere 326, 6. North Canton Hoover 329, 7. St. Joseph Academy 335, 8. Brunswick 337, 9. Nordonia 347, 10. Hudson 348, 11. Roosevelt 356, 12. Solon 364, 13. Massillon Jackson 365, 14. Kenston 365, 15. Avon 366, 16. Avon Lake 388. Individual state qualifiers — Serena Wu (Sol) 70, Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble (Bru) 72, Ellie Hutzler (Hoo) 73, Emerson Glending (SJ) 75. Highland (316) — Elizabeth Coleman 67, Mirabella Shelton 81, Kate Vickerman 82, Allie Miller 86, Miley Tylicki 88. Brunswick (337) — Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble 72, Emma Gonzalez-Ribble 86, Rylee Roth 89, Jess Buzinski 90, Brianna Behrend 102.