By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

It was a week to remember for several golfers and teams in Portage County, advancing to the OHSAA’s Division II and Division III district tournaments.

As the golfers compete — seeking a berth at the state tournament in Columbus — Division-I teams are just starting their journey through the postseason tournaments this week.

It is a busy calendar for Portage County golfers as they shoot for low scores and the opportunity to continue their season.

STARTING THE WEEK

JACKSON EICHLER

Today, the Southeast Pirates girls travel to Good Park Golf Course in Akron for the OHSAA Division II Girls District Tournament.

The Pirates have had a great season, winning the Portage Trail Conference for the third straight year and finishing second at the sectional tourney to land at Good Park Golf Course today.

They will be vying for one of three teams qualifying spots to move on to Columbus and the Ohio State University Grey Golf Club.

There are also three individual spots not on qualifying teams that advance to the state dance.

There are a dozen teams seeking the opportunity to play at state, but the Pirates proved they are among the best in the district taking the runner-up spot at the always tough Punderson Sectional.

Good Park Golf Course in Akron is not easy.

Tight fairways seem to reach out and grab a ball, but Tayler Blazek, Gracie Westover, Jessica Mix, Layna Tittel and Aubree Varga appear up to the challenge. Westover is the only senior on the young team that includes one junior (Blazek) and three sophomores.

YUTZY AT WINDMILL LAKES

DEEGAN YUTZY

The Windmill Lakes Division II District tees off on Tuesday with Deegan Yutzy, a Field Falcons senior, having the opportunity to play the Ravenna course a second time after grabbing a qualifying spot at the sectional, firing an 86.

Yutzy tees off at 8 a.m. on the 10th hole, seeking to be one of the three individuals not on qualifying teams advancing to the state tournament.

Of Yutzy’s round, his coach, Patrick Neer offered, “Deegan struggled on the first few holes, but put together a good consistent round to qualify for the district tournament. He was the third-place individual.”

THURSDAY’S DIVISION III DISTRICT

The Division III district at Tannenhauf Golf Club in Alliance has many familiar faces.

Three teams from the PTC, Mogadore, Warren JFK and Lake Center Christian, advanced to the district tournament, along with individuals James Morgan of Southeast and Jackson Eichler of Waterloo.

Now the golfers are shooting for one of the top three-teams — or three individuals not on qualifying teams — to advance to the Ohio State University Scarlet Golf Club in Columbus.

The Wildcats tee off between 8:30 and 9:10 a.m. on the back nine.

Mogadore’s roster includes seniors Lucas Butler and Kyle Gardner, sophomores Jude Thiry and Tyler Pendergast, and freshman Max Shannon.

James Morgan, a sophomore for the Pirates, has had an outstanding season, earning the Portage Trail Conference Player of the Year honors along the way. He tees off at 9:40 a.m. on the back nine, along with Waterloo’s Eichler and Trey Rigley of Mineral Ridge. Morgan and Rigley both call Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course their home for high-school matches.

Eichler has had a solid senior season, earning First Team All-Mahoning Valley Conference honors before advancing to the district tournament for the Vikings.

TICKETS FOR OHSAA TOURNAMENTS

Fans and relatives looking forward to watching their favorite golfer in the postseason tournaments will need tickets to enter the sectional, district and state events.

Tickets are available online at www.ohsaa.org/tickets.

All tickets are online. There is a question/answer page on the website or fans may call 866-488-4849 for support.

GOLF CALENDAR

(Be sure and check ahead if attending a golf match or tournament. Changes in the schedule are frequent.)

BOYS GOLF

• MONDAY — Aurora at D1 Windmill Lakes Sectional.
• TUESDAY — Field’s Deegan Yutzy at D2 Windmill Lakes District; Kent Roosevelt @ D1 Tannenhauf District.
• THURSDAY — Mogadore, Southeast’s James Morgan and Waterloo’s Jackson Eichler at D3 Tannenhauf District.

GIRLS GOLF

• MONDAY — Southeast @ D2 Good Park District; Streetsboro @ D1 Fox Den Sectional; Aurora, Kent Roosevelt @ D1 Old Avalon Sectional.