NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio (Sept. 14, 2023) -- A determined Rocky River Girls Golf squad wanted to be back on top. After placing third in the Lake Erie Girls Golf Association Tournament in 2021 and second in that same event last fall, the Pirates wanted to get back to the winner's circle in a league they dominated from 2016-20. On Thursday at Springvale Golf Course, the Maroon & White grinded, scrambled, drove, chipped, and putted their way back to the top of the LEGGA scoresheet.

A focused River squad was on target in firing a program-record 338 to win Thursday's LEGGA title event. Behind a medalist performance by junior Mia Ginnetti and three sub-90 rounds overall, the Pirates obliterated the two teams closest to them in the overall league standings (the 2023 LEGGA champion is being determined by both match and tournament results). Columbia carded a 382; Westlake posted a 395.

"I am extremely proud of the way our team played today," said coach Jeff Hammond. "We have been determined and motivated since the spring to get this done. We have several team goals and this was a big one."

With River's performance Thursday and with the remaining points available, the Pirates (16 points and three matches remaining) have clinched the overall 2023 LEGGA championship. RRHS cannot be caught by Columbia (15, 0) or Westlake (12, 2) in the remaining week of circuit action.

On Thursday at 4,811-yard, par-70 Springvale, the big-win Buccaneers culled together Ginnetti's 76 with a 77 (Chloe Holton), an 88 (Julia Schmid) and a 97 (Charlotte Roche).

Ginnetti, who had filed a struggling 47.3 average over her previous four nines (two matches and one 18-hole tournament), carded her fine round in 38-38 fashion.

It all made for a Resolute performance on a Record day. A Double-R kind of day ... with a championship-caliber type of play.


by Skip Snow

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