LaGRANGE, Ohio (Oct. 3, 2022) -- Rocky River's postseason commenced on Monday, and courtesy of a first-place finish at a sectional tournament at Grey Hawk Golf Club, that postseason will continue further into October. [
results]
The Pirates carded a four-man score of 328 to best 14 other teams competing on a breezy, colorful day on the 6,687-yard, par-72 track in LaGrange, Ohio. River tied Strongsville for the top score on a day when a top-4 would be needed to advance. The Double-R won a fifth-man tie-breaker -- which has become a bit of a specialty for these Swinging Corsairs -- to register the tournament triumph. Rocky River has now earned two wins, two seconds, and a third in its last five tournaments.
"I'm thrilled for the guys," said David Hendrickson, whose Pirates have now advanced past sectionals in three of the last four seasons. "They have worked hard on their games, and I like how we are playing as the days get shorter."
Junior Nick Tianello, a First Team all-Great Lakes Conference performer who had scuffled a bit in late-September, turned a 29-putt round into a 44-35--79 and led the Pirates in scoring. Tianello's red-number back nine was set up by a smashed drive, 4-iron approach, and a 15-putt for an eagle-3 on the par-5, 535-yard 10th hole.
Rounding out River's scoring Thursday were Wes Bennett (41-40--81), Luke Dietrich (41-42--83), Dan Capka (47-38--85), and Owen Toole (42-45--87). The Pirates' top-4 of 328 was nine strokes better than the 337 they filed at the same course a year ago when they placed sixth and failed to qualify for district play.
On a day when every stroke counted in earning the eventual win and a 335 would be required to advance, the Double-R five came through with big performances up and down the roster. Bennett's 81 -- set up by just 29 putts -- marked a career-best. Dietrich logged a pair of birdies. Capka -- who hit 12 fairways on the day -- closed his round with a birdie on No. 18 and was just 2-over in his final 10 holes. Toole carded a birdie but otherwise scrambled his way to a blue-collar 87.
Rocky River's team score was its best in sectional-tournament play since 2019 (324 at Sweetbriar Golf Club).
The Pirates -- along with Strongsville (328), Avon Lake (335), and Westlake (335) -- now advance to the DI Northeast Ohio District Tournament, which will be contested Oct. 10 at Pine Hills Golf Club in Hinckley, Ohio.
Hoist the Jolly Roger for this one: the River Raiders didn't just survive and advance on Monday. They conquered.
CANNON FIRE ...
BUCKEYE STATE SMALL-BALL: The Ohio Boys Golf postseason consists of three rounds of tournament play -- sectional (18 holes), district (18), and state (36). Monday's qualifying site is one of five for the Northeast District in DI play. Overall -- through the course of sectional and district action -- 81 NE District DI squads are vying for five berths in the OHSAA Boys Golf Championship, which will be contested at the Ohio State University Scarlet Course Oct. 21-22. Each round of qualification includes slots for teams and at-large berths for individuals.
SCORER'S TENT: On Monday, Rocky River hit 55.8% of its fairways off the tee, hit greens in regulation at a 38.9% clip, and averaged 31.5 putts per man. ... The Swinging Corsairs have now won three tournaments this season: GLC Preview (Aug. 5), Midview Invitational (Sept. 6), Monday's section tournament. Nick Tianello's stroke average over the trio of wins is 74.