While most fall high school sports have not reached the halfway points of their regular seasons, golfers are already closing in on the postseason and some leagues have decided their champions.
Sectional
tournaments for central Ohio girls teams begin Sept. 21, when the Southeast District holds its first postseason events in both divisions I and II. The Central District follows suit over the next few days.
Yet again this fall, several central Ohio teams and individuals already look to be in prime position to compete for state titles.
Here are five storylines a month into the season:
Reloading Columbus Academy still powerful
Having two-time defending Division II state medalist Eva Lim atop the lineup for the final time might have been enough reason to maintain the Vikings’ status as a favorite to win their fifth straight team championship, but the lineup behind her has more than held its own.
Chief among those golfers has been junior Claire Zeiger, who has trimmed roughly 20 shots from her freshman year and has held either the No. 2 spot behind Lim or moved up to No. 1 when Lim has played outside tournaments.
“She stepped into the top spot very easily,” coach Maggie Freytag said. “She is calm when she plays. She has done a lot of work to get to where she is. Overall, she works on her short game a lot … and she has worked on the mental part [of her game] too. She is very well-rounded.”
Zeiger tied for first (74) in Pickerington North’s Lady Panther Invitational on Aug. 5 at the Links at Groveport, and despite dropping a shot in the Brunswick Coaster Classic eight days later finished seventh.
Lim shot a medalist round of 71 at the Worthington Christian Invitational on Aug. 22 at Mill Creek, a score she eclipsed by two shots in winning the Worthington Invitational on Sept. 5 at Worthington Hills.
Senior Meera Srini and sophomores Niya Chebli and Ava Hammond round out the usual top five.
Olentangy built depth ahead of Han’s return
A veteran Olentangy lineup showed its depth and mettle throughout a largely successful August, led by rounds in the 70s from each of its top three golfers ahead of the return of junior standout Jodie Han.
Han, the defending Division I district champion who had five rounds of 65 or better a season ago and spent most of August competing in outside tournaments, debuted Sept. 3 with a 67 in the fourth and final round of the OCC-Cardinal tournament at the Links at Echo Springs.
Senior Aubrey Davis has ably filled the No. 1 role with six rounds in the 70s, including a 73 in the Lexington Invitational. Seniors Sophia Dreischarf and Kaylee Keys and junior Leah McDowell round out the top five.
“August is what it is, and it is good for the girls because it puts a little more pressure on them,” coach Micah Conley said. “In some regards, it gets them prepared for September golf. Aubrey has been huge having to fill that No. 1 role. Some girls step right into that role and feel comfortable, and Aubrey has been so consistent. Her scoring well and playing well has motivated the other girls.”
Lakewood’s Lingo eyes first state berth
Lakewood junior Emery Lingo has taken her game to the next level, ranking near the top of the Licking County League with an end goal of being the first Lancer to reach the Division II state tournament since Avery Thompson tied for second in 2023.
Thomas finished first (74) in the first round of the league tournament Aug. 4 at Clover Valley and tied Granville’s Ella Clarke for first in the second round (77) Sept. 1 at Raccoon Valley. Thomas’ best nine-hole score is a 36 at Harbor Hills, the Lancers’ home course.
“She has gotten stronger and is hitting the ball further,” Lakewood coach Rob Englert said. “I think she is a lot more confident in her game this year. She has always been pretty levelheaded, but just all around she seems to expect to do well. …
“She has really improved her short game from last year. Like with most golfers it is going to vary a little from match to match, but it is becoming more consistent as a whole.”
Olentangy Orange’s Buettner credits mental game for improvement
As Orange sophomore Amelia Buettner reflected on a personal-best round of 61 in late August – a step up from a stellar freshman season that saw her shoot 19 rounds in the 60s or 70s – she said her mental game has played as much a part as anything tactical.
Buettner carded her 11-under-par round Aug. 25 during Dublin Coffman’s Lady Rocks Invitational at the Golf Club of Dublin, one of the lowest rounds in area and state history.
She is seeking her first state berth as an individual or to guide Orange’s return to state for the first time since 2018.
“My chipping, putting and driving have all been really good, but I would say mostly it has been my mental game and my strategy around the course,” Buettner said. “Getting out of my own way and getting into the flow, the state where I am just out there playing my game and not really thinking about the outcome, just focusing on the process and controlling what I can control.”
Lim, Buettner go low at Worthington Hills
Not only did Lim shoot a 2-under 69 at the Worthington Invitational, she had one of four rounds in the 60s in the coed event that featured 15 girls and 78 boys. Genders competed separately, and girls entered as individuals while 15 boys teams fielded full rosters.
Dublin Coffman senior Lincoln Scherer won the boys title with a 68.
Buettner finished a shot behind Lim. Dublin Jerome junior Adella Pawlowski and Watterson senior Maura Nye tied for third (71).
High school sports reporter Dave Purpura can be reached at dpurpura@dispatch.com and at @dp_dispatch on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 5 midseason storylines in central Ohio high school girls golf
