By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

James Morgan is going to state.

The Southeast junior becomes the first member of the Southeast boys team to qualify for the OHSAA State Tournament.

It has been a good couple years for Southeast as girls golf standout Taylor Blazek became the first golfer in Southeast school history to qualify for the state tournament in 2023.

For Morgan on Tuesday, qualifying wasn’t easy.

Morgan fired a 75, 4-over-par.

That score placed him into a five-way playoff for the final two individual spots advancing to the state tournament.

All five golfers gathered on the tee of the 10th hole to begin the the quest for one of two spots.

Morgan had a beautiful drive in the fairway of the Par-4 hole, put his second shot just before the bunker and then converted a solid chip just a few feet from the hole.

One of the five golfers chipped in for a birdie. Three of the individuals ended up scoring a bogey.

Morgan calmly stepped up and sunk his putt for a par that qualifies him for the state event.

Sudden-death playoffs are always exciting, and this one was no different, sending Morgan to Firestone Country Club in mid-October with his team at Windmill to support him.

“I am elated for James,” said Mike Jenior, coach of the Pirates. “I know how much he wanted this, and I know how hard he has worked leading up to this moment. He earned it 110 percent.

“Nothing about it was easy today, with the wet conditions to battling his way out of a five-person playoff, but James proved why his game can measure up with anyone in the state,” Jenior added.

“Even though he has made school history by being the first boy ever to make it to state, I know, in his mind, he is just getting started,” Jenior said.

The Southeast boys golf team supporting James Morgan on Tuesday.