LaGRANGE, Ohio (Sept. 18, 2023) -- Every. Stroke. Counted. The Pirates posted a season-best 307 in Monday's Great Lakes Conference Tournament. That score was comprised of River's top-4 individual scores. Three of those scores were within 4 strokes of par. They were all built on a wet-ground, rain-delayed, relentless grind in the art of bogey avoidance. And when a bogey couldn't be avoided, double-bogey avoidance. From thundering drives traveling three football fields to nervy, mid-range half-swings to knee-knocker short putts, every hole on the par-72, 6,241-yard grounds of Grey Hawk Golf Club was scored on every card. And every stroke counted.
For Rocky River, in a round that played out part in the rain and then part after a rain delay, any single stroke shaved here or there loomed large. Because the Pirates topped the Westlake Demons (308) by 1 stroke in the league's title event. The other nine teams in the circuit finished well behind the Pirates and Demons on a day when those two programs would account for seven of the top 11 scores.
River's scoresheet was highlighted by senior Nick Tianello carding a season-best 36-35--71, senior Jack Hurt posting a career-best 40-36--76, and senior Luke Dietrich splitting those two with his fourth straight sub-75 round (36-38--74).
Tianello's card was free of double-bogey. The tournament's medalist round included five birdies. Four of those were rolled in on putts of 10 feet or more. Tianello finished his clutch round with 31 putts; he hit 15 greens in regulation.
Dietrich's card included one birdie, a 4 on the tough, 527-yard par-5 seventh by way of a 30-foot putt. He has now carded sub-80 rounds in 9-of-10 18-hole rounds this season.
Hurt needed just 28 putts to work his way around Grey Hawk with his fine 76. His round included back-to-back birdies on Nos. 10-11. Hurt went into the tournament with a season average of 83.5, so his seven straight pars to close out his day stand as a big separator in the duel against the Demons.
River's fourth score was carded by Jack Petrus (46-40--86).
As a team, Rocky River hit 43-of-72 greens (59.7%) while averaging 31 putts per man.
"I am so proud of our guys," said coach David Hendrickson. "We have seen some sharp play lately, and its great to see how well we performed in the clutch."
CANNON FIRE ...
DEMONS WIN LEAGUE CROWN: The GLC scores its season with a point system. Points are assigned in the season preview tournament (won by Westlake Aug. 11), season matches, and the conference tournament. With the Demons taking second place Monday, they finished the season 1 point ahead of Rocky River in the final standings.
GLC HONORS: By way of Monday's results, Nick Tianello earned GLC Player of the Year. Luke Dietrich and Jack Hurt earned First-Team All-GLC honors. Jack Petrus logged a Second-Team All-GLC finish. Dan Capka and Caden Lawrence were tabbed as honorable mentions.
by Skip Snow
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