By Skip Weaver
Contributing writer
LEBANON – It was going to be difficult to catch three-time defending champion Bellbrook in the Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division boys golf tournament, but Edgewood played well enough to take fourth place on Tuesday at Shaker Run Golf Club.
The Cougars shot a team score of 365 led by senior Chase Roesch’s 81, which earned him sixth place overall and on the SWBL Southwestern’s first team.
“I was pretty happy with where we placed,” EHS coach Jason Dunaway said. “We finished ahead of two teams we had weekday losses to so I was pretty happy about that. I hoped to catch up with Ross, and we were within 4-6 strokes at one point, but the boys got a little the tired last few holes.”
The Golden Eagles won the event with a 307 followed by Talawanda in second place at 327. Ross was third with 347, then it was Edgewood followed by Monroe (373) and Franklin (448).
“I’m really proud of my senior Chase Roesch,” Dunaway said. “He’s had some struggles this year and we’ve talked about that, but he really improved his game today. He was making good shots and he was executing and keeping things clean. He was being conservative and I think it paid off. His 81 is the best I have seen in my five years here.”
The top four scores count toward the team total. Joining Roesch for that team score were sophomores Myles Kiniyalocts and Bronson French, who tied for 21st place with 94 each, and senior Ryder Fields in 24th place with a 96. Other Edgewood scores were senior Omar Gutierrez (97) in 27th place and freshman Cullen Gadd (112) in 31st place.
“Shaker (Run) had the course laid out pretty good,” Dunaway said. “There was a par-3 on Meadows that was 220-plus yards hitting off the upper tee box and over water. I don’t think a single kid out of our four or five groups landed on the green. It was tough so we did pretty well given all the circumstances.
“Overall I was really happy,” he continued. “I would have liked to have gotten closer to Ross like I said before. We knew Talawanda and Bellbrook were going to be tough, but I think we compete well with Ross and Monroe and Franklin so hopefully we can build on that throughout the rest of the year going into the state tournament.”
The season to this point, however, has been somewhat disappointing, according to Dunaway.
“We’ve lost a lot of close matches,” Dunaway said. “We lost to Eaton by two strokes and to Franklin by two strokes. We tied Monroe, but lost by two strokes on the fifth card and we lost by four strokes to Ross so we have had a lot of close matches.
“From the start of the season until now I think we are getting better every week though,” he continued. “We just have to polish the finer things. Take our time with putts and think through conservatively when debating club selection and shot percentages. You need to play the shot that is going to get you in the best position to hit that green as opposed to going for the less percentage shot.”
Edgewood has a couple matches left and a couple to reschedule before the Division I sectional tournament on Monday, Sept. 21 at Pipestone golf Course in Miamisburg.
“Overall I am happy with how we have been showing up at all our matches and having a shot at winning,” Dunaway said. “I am looking forward to prepping for the state tournament. If everybody shows up we could maybe do well.”
