DOYLESTOWN, Ohio (Aug. 7, 2023) -- Rocky River notched a seventh-pace finish in Monday's 20-team Polar Bear Invitational hosted by Massillon Jackson High School. The Pirates carded a team score of 315 on the rain-soaked, par-71, 6,756-yard course at Chippewa Golf Club.

Freshman Caden Lawrence paced the Pirates with a fine 37-39--76 on a track that played longer than its yardage due to wet grounds. Lawrence trekked the 18 with a card devoid of double-bogeys. He birdied the par-5, 505-yard third hole and had 11 pars and six bogeys. The newcomer scrambled his way around Chippewa to the tune of 30 putts.

Rocky River's other three counting scores were registered by Luke Dietrich (38-39--77), Nick Tianello (39-42--81), and Jack Hurt (39-42--81). The Buccaneers' 315 score was 29 strokes behind a tremendous 286 carded by Akron Hoban. Cincinnati St. Xavier finished as runner up with a 290. Xavier's Luke Kahle fired a 2-under 69 to earn medalist honors.

"I thought we held our own today and in a really talented field of top-notch teams from Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus," said head coach David Hendrickson, whose Pirates are slated to play every day until Saturday. "We did a good job of avoiding big numbers if and when we got out of position. That's always the key."

As a team, the Double-R hit 37-of-72 greens (51.4%).

The Maroon & White will see more tough foes Tuesday. The Swinging Corsairs are scheduled to play in the St. Ignatius Invitational at Red Tail Golf Club in Avon.



by Skip Snow

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