The Southeast girls golf team poses for a team photo on Sunday at the state championships.
Susan Jenior/Portage Sports

By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

After the first round of golf at the OHSAA’s Division II State Championships, the Southeast girls sit in fourth place, just 16 strokes off the pace set by first place Columbus Academy and five strokes out of second place

Southeast senior girls golf standout Taylor Blazek watches her birdie putt sink during Sunday’s first round.
Susan Jenior/Portage Sports

James Morgan, playing as an individual in the boys tournament, is in 11th place — only three strokes out of the runner-up spot  going into the final round on Monday.

But that doesn’t begin to tell the story.

The Pirates’ girls varsity golf team fought hard throughout the day through winds, varying temperatures and an unfamiliar course as they navigated the Fazio Course at Firestone Country Club.

Morgan, playing the North Course, avoided the water that is found on almost every hole and navigated the narrow fairways and island greens.

After the first round, both the varsity girls team and James Morgan have given themselves the opportunity to move up the leaderboard and stay in contention.

THE SOUTHEAST GIRLS

“Our team is off to a good start,” said Cindy Fesemyer, coach of the Southeast girls varsity golf team, “considering the conditions of wet weather and tricky greens.”

Sammy Morgan connects on a tee shot during Sunday’s first round of the Division II State Championships.
Susan Jenior/Portage Sports

Taylor Blazek put up a 77 on the Par-70 fairways of what used to be known as the West Course at Firestone Country Club. Blazek’s round included three birdies, which placed her in a tie for fifth place going into the final 18 holes. Blazek is only five strokes shy of the leader, Eva Lim of Columbus Academy.

Her round included an outstanding 18th hole.

Blazek landed in the fairway bunker about 150 yards from the green, converted the perfect and shot to land about 8 feet from the cup and then converted for one of her birdies.

Each girl on the team had their own successful holes and shots.

Sammy Morgan, a freshman, fired an 89 with a birdie on the 16th Par-3 hole. Aubree Varga finished her round with a solid par on the long par four, Jessica Mix birdied the seventh hole, a tough par three and Jenni Mix birdied the third hole early in her round, taking a two on a 150-yard par-three hole.

And this was a course the girls had not played before except for a few holes during the practice round on Saturday that was rained out.

“The girls know what to expect going into the final round,” continued Fesemye

James Morgan watches the flight of a tee shot during Sunday’s opening round of the Division II state championships.
Susan Jenior/Portage Sports

r. “I know one thing about this team, they are going to give all they have and they will not give up. That’s all I can ask.”

Southeast tees off on the first hole Monday beginning at 8:30 a.m.

JAMES MORGAN

Morgan sits in a tie for 11th place after his round of 77 on Sunday.

His scores included two birdies and nine pars, with nothing higher than a bogey through 18 holes.

His final two holes, Morgan finished with a par and a birdie. On 17, a par 3, Morgan was just shy of a front bunker with his tee shot and then popped his second shot into the bunker.

A sand shot?

No sweat.

Morgan’s sand shot ended perfectly in the cup for the par.

On the final hole, Morgan’s second shot on the 520-yard par 5 landed on the edge of the green, and he took two putts for the birdie.

“The North Course is tough and it’s one of those courses, in the conditions James played, where you take what it gives to you,” said Mike Jenior, Pirate boys coach.

“James’ round was very impressive today because it was not a typical round for him. James normally hits the majority of his fairways and greens and today he was struggling with both, only hitting six greens and six fairways, so it put him in a position that he really has not been in all season,” continued Jenior.

“But his mental toughness and grit shined through on the biggest stage, and he found ways to score with his wedge and putter. It showed a whole other side of him as a player. The best always find ways to be winners, even when the odds are against them and that’s what James did in his first round,” concluded Jenior.

Morgan tees off at 10:10 on the first hole of the North Course for his final round at Firestone Country Club.