HINCKLEY TWP. — Minutes after turning in his scorecard, Medina ace Joe Kerrigan wandered alone outside the clubhouse. The senior didn’t say a word, as his hands were over his mouth, eyes as wide as golf balls in disbelief.
Joe Kerrigan
Roughly a half-hour earlier, 2015 Medina graduate Andrew DeLaat, who was in attendance supporting his former teammates, had taken the same path within view of the scoreboard and said aloud to no one in particular, “This is insane.”
The reactions were just.
Considered at best an on-the-fringe team to even advance out of the Pine Hills Division I District on Wednesday, the Medina golfers played beyond their wildest dreams and stunned everyone by winning the 20-team event with an 18-over-par 302.
Coach Chris Miller’s team needed every bit of that score, too, as Boardman (303), St. Ignatius (304), Walsh Jesuit (307) and St. Edward (307) also qualified for the Oct. 23-24 state tournament on another cloudy, chilly and wildly competitive mid-October day on West 130th Street.
“I’m at a loss for words,” Kerrigan said. “This is mind-blowing. I knew we had potential, but to win districts — not only to get out — is absolutely incredible.”
Medina entered as an afterthought despite being one of the hotter teams in Northeast Ohio. The outsider reasoning was understandable, as the Bees’ 162.2 nine-hole average coming into the day wasn’t elite and they were coming off a so-so 326 at sectionals.
Tyler Grabowski
What Kerrigan, Tyler Grabowski, Hunter Churchman, Avery Borak and Colin McClowry had working for them was familiarity and confidence with Pine Hills after shooting 305 there two weeks ago to win the Greater Cleveland Conference Tournament.
The results Wednesday, even with nerves at a fever pitch, were nothing short of magnificent, and the Bees couldn’t hide their excitement after winning the fourth district championship in school history (1994, 2005, 2010).
“Winning the district title on a team that was the underdog the entire year is a great cap to my senior year,” Churchman said. “I knew today’s round was win or go home, and I just didn’t want to have to go home.
“We shot 305 a few weeks ago at Pine Hills, and we knew if we played our game we would move on.”
Kerrigan’s 2-over 73 tied for seventh individually. A first-year starter, Churchman bettered his previous career low by four strokes with a 74 that tied for ninth. Grabowski’s 75 matched a career low set two weeks ago at the GCC tourney, while McClowry, a freshman, smashed his by five with an 80.
KRISTIN BAUER | GAZETTE Medina High School’s Colin McClowry drives the ball while playing in a golf tournament at Pine Hills on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 14.
All-Gazette pick Kerrigan considered his round a grind after five bogeys and three birdies. Grabowski rode a hot driver and putter that resulted in a team-high four birdies, while Churchman (2 birdies) and McClowry (2) simply stepped up their games on the biggest stage of their lives — at least until next week at the Ohio State University Golf Club in Columbus.
The margin of error ended up being very slim, too, as only 10 strokes separated first and 10th place.
“I’m in shock right now,” Grabowski said. “I mean, no one thought we’d get this far, and no one thought we’d win districts. I’m just happy for the whole team. I thought we had a chance to get out. I didn’t think we’d win districts. I didn’t think we had a chance.”
The mood wasn’t nearly as upbeat for Highland, which shot 333 on its home course and finished 18th eight days after winning the Barberton Brookside Sectional.
Senior Chad Dubiel, the Suburban League American Division MVP, led the Hornets with an 81 and preferred to look at the big picture as his team was playing in its fourth district tournament in the last five years.
“As a team, I think we knew it was a long shot, especially when we looked at the scores,” he said. “I mean, we can’t be mad. We didn’t play as well as we know we can, but our best round of the year (316) wouldn’t have put us close to 307. It is what it is.”
Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com.
Results
HINCKLEY TWP. — Results from the Pine Hills Division I District at par-71 Pine Hills G.C.:
Team standings (top 5 advance to Oct. 23-24 state tournament): 1. Medina 302, 2. Boardman (303), 3. St. Ignatius 304, 4. Walsh Jesuit (307), 5. St. Edward (307), 6. Westlake 308, 7. Rocky River 311, 8. Hudson 311. 9. Mentor Lake Catholic 312, 10. University School 312, 11. Massillon Perry 319, 12. North Royalton 323, 13. Wooster 323, 14. Chagrin Falls 325, 15. Revere 328, 16. Massillon Jackson 329, 16. Uniontown Lake 329, 18. Highland 333, 19. Painesville Riverside 348, 20. Eastlake North 383.
Individual qualifiers: Will Kurtz (Hud) 70, Austin Adams (LC) 70, Anthony Jilius (Riv) 71, Brian Tucci (RR) 74, Daniel Berlin (CF) 74.
Medina (302): Joe Kerrigan 73, Hunter Churchman 74, Tyler Grabowski 75, Colin McClowry 80, Avery Borak 85.
Highland (333): Chad Dubiel 81, David Laib 82, Andrew Klafczynski 83, Robby Guba 87, Ross Scherler 89.