Kent Roosevelt’s Andrew VanDamme

By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

Amid a tough field of teams and golfers, Kent Roosevelt finished in fourth place at the Massillon Tiger Invitational at The Legends of Massillon Golf Club.

It’s been a great week’s end for Roosevelt after just winning the First Portage County High School Championship on Wednesday.

The Rough Riders fired a 308, just one stroke shy of CVCA thanks to the solid scoring of Andrew VanDamme, firing a 72 and Jax Turner carding a 77. The rest of the team included Owen Puhalla 81, Garrett Polcha 78 and Anderson Liggett 86.

WILDCATS WIN HOME COURSE ADVANTAGE

The Mogadore Wildcats topped the Waterloo Vikings 162 to 174 on the course they share, Paradise Lake Golf Club in Suffield.

Mogadore’s Brock Thiry (39) and Noah Hopkins (37) led the charge for the victory as the Vikings Mason Long carded a 39 to keep Waterloo in the match.

SOUTHEAST BOYS AND GIRLS VICTORIOUS

The Southeast boys (167) won a huge conference matchup against LaBrae (169) at Riverview Golf Club in Newton Falls.

The Pirates were led by senior Alex Peelish, who fired an even-par 36. Senior Cole Bruno added a 42.

Sophomore Logan Shodd shot a 47 and freshman Nash Truex rounded out the scoring with a 45. Other scores included Ethan Shodd, 47, and Owen Domboroski, 51.

The Pirates improve to 13-2 overall and 11-2 in the MVAC as they stay in contention for the conference championship.

The Southeast girls remained undefeated, firing a 169 against Ursuline at Stambaugh Memorial Golf Course in Youngstown. Ursuline carded a team total 191.

The Pirates were led by Emily Morrison’s 39, Sammy Morgan’s 41 and Jennifer Mix’s 43 to best Ursuline.

ANOTHER HOME COURSE MASTERED

Kent Roosevelt and Streetsboro share the Fairways at Twin Lakes, but the Roosevelt girls demonstrated their expertise, besting the Rockets 177 to 193.

Brooke Beatty led both teams, carding a 40 on the Par 34 Fairways, with Aubrey Byler adding a 42.

The Rockets’ Chloe Shiftar (44) and Arianna Jacobs (47) were the best in the match for Streetsboro

ON A PERSONAL NOTE

I am already looking forward to the second Portage County High School Golf Championship that will compete in 2027.

The first was a success, with every school that has a golf team competing in the event that was held on Tuesday at Raccoon Hill Golf Club in Kent.

Next year, Crestwood has indicated they may have both boys and girls golf teams, completing every school with a high school athletic department in high school.

There have been so many positive comments about the event and the bringing together of the Portage County League that so many of us grew up with.

It was my pleasure to work with Bryan Harvey, coach of the always successful Kent Roosevelt varsity girls golf team, to organize this event. Thanks to Mike Jenior, coach of Southeast boys team for day-of scoring, scoreboards and rules sheets and thanks to all of the coaches who made the day a fun event, cheering for all of the golfers to do their best.

I am so proud to be a small part of making this event happen and look forward to its continued success each year.

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE

• MONDAY: Chagrin Valley Conference Championship Tournament, Quail Hollow Country Club, Concord. (Rootstown boys and girls); Stow Bulldog Invitational, Silver Lake Country Club, Stow. (Streetsboro, Kent Roosevelt boys)
• TUESDAY: Suburban League #3 Boys at Windmill Lakes Golf Club, Ravenna. (Aurora boys and girls)
• WEDNESDAY: Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Championship, Salem Hill Golf Club, Salem. (Southeast, Waterloo, Garfield Boys and Girls); Northern Athletic League Conference Championship, Riverview Golf Club, Newton Falls. (Windham)
• THURSDAY: Girls Metro Athletic Conference Post-Season, Pine Valley Golf Club, Medina. (Streetsboro, Field); Boys Metro Athletic Conference Championship, Good Park Golf Course, Akron. (Streetsboro, Field, Ravenna)