AVON LAKE, Ohio – Rocky River opened its 2020 season in style, defeating Avon Lake, 334-348, on a beautiful day at Sweetbriar Legacy Golf Club on Monday.
Azure blue skies above the 6,557-yard track were a welcome change of pace from the cloudy picture around high school sports in the wake of the national COVID-19 pandemic. Monday’s event marked Rocky River High School’s first athletic event since March 7, a stretch of 162 days.
Pirate golfers combined for seven red numbers on the scorecards which would eventually tally a 14-stroke win over the host Shoremen. Freshman Lucas Dietrich was responsible for one of those sub-par numbers en route to carding River’s top score. Dietrich clocked a 38 on the opening nine and birdied the par-5 14th on his inward nine. He would finish with a 9-over 81.
Dietrich was followed onto the scoreboard by a trio of Pirate seniors. Hayden Weaver posted a pair of birdies (No. 5, No. 15) in getting his season off to a solid start. Will Bennett registered two birdies (No. 3, No. 5) and an eagle (No. 14) in his round. Aidan McDonald birdied No. 13 as part of his circuit of the Avon Lake club. All three seniors carded 84s.
The Pirates (1-0) will continue their season on Tuesday when they open Great Lakes Conference play with a match against Holy Name at Big Met Golf Course. Rocky River is the five-time defending champion in the GLC.
CANNON FIRE ...
THIRD IS THE WORD: The Pirate junior varsity team also opened its season on Monday. The Double-R garnered a third-place finish at a 15-team invitational hosted by Brunswick High School. Led by freshman Nick Tianello's third-place 75, River carded a four-man score of 334.
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