Perkins' Schaefer drains 40-footer to secure final district spot

PERKINS TWP. — Kyle Schaefer had no chance. Then he did. Schaefer, a Perkins junior, pulled his tee shot left into the trees on the second playoff hole that would determine the final individual district qualifier at Thursday's Division II boys golf sectional. Meanwhile, Galion's Cullen Hart blasted his drive down the middle, then hit his approach shot to 5 feet on the par-4 hole at Woussickett Golf Course. Schaefer pulled out a 6-iron and chipped it low just onto the green. "I know it's little firm over here so I didn't hit it too hard and it rolled onto the green," he said. Once on the green, he studied a daunting 40-foot putt. Long odds, but he drained it for a birdie. "I mostly tried to lag it up there and it went in. Heckuva putt," Schaefer said. "It started going right and all the sudden it went left at the end and went right in. I was pumped. Happy I'm going back to Maumee Bay." Hart could've forced a third playoff hole, but he lipped out his short birdie attempt, sending Schaefer to the district tournament for the second straight year. Schaefer shot an 81 to get into a three-man playoff for two district spots. Ontario's Jaxson Tinkham qualified on the first hole. The top three teams and top four individuals not on an advancing team qualified for Tuesday's district tournament at Maumee Bay State Park Golf Course. Schaefer will join his teammate, junior Colton Kelley, at the district. Kelley shot a 79 to tie for fifth and grab one of the individual qualifying spots. "My ultimate goal was to come out here and break 80 and go to districts and I managed to do that," Kelley said. "I'm very happy with how it went." Kelley shot 37 on the front nine and 42 on the back. "My irons were really good; I think it was the best I've hit my irons all year," he said. "My driver was finding the fairway, so I liked that. Chips were pretty good, so honestly, all around it was a good day." It also was a good day for Vermilion, Willard and Bellevue — the three teams that will move on to district play. Team champion Vermilion shot a 322 and was led by junior Noah Penton, whose 4-over-par 74 was the day's best round. Penton carded 14 pars and four bogeys while leading the Sailors to their second straight district berth. "Noah was impressive. He looked dialed in all day," Vermilion coach Joe Schneid said. "That 74 is really impressive, especially in these conditions. Scores were up compared to last year. A little bit of the rain led to playing some sloppy golf balls. Wet fairways made it a little tough." The tournament was delayed two hours because of fog, which meant tee times began at 11 a.m. That was OK with Penton, who shot a 79 at sectional last year to qualify for the district. "I was fine with that (delay). It let me go back to bed and sleep in a little bit," he said. After a team breakfast at The Nest Restaurant, the Sailors took care of business. Also scoring for Vermilion were Sam Riddle (79), Adam Gerber (82) and Landon Booker (87). Gerber is the team's only senior. "Expectations were high," Schneid said. "We knew coming in that any of six teams could make it out, and we were one of those teams. Our goal at the beginning of the year was to make it to district and perform better once we're there." Runner-up Willard shot a 324 and was led by senior Mason Dawson, who tied Bellevue's Sam Cooper for second place at 76. The Redmen finished third, one spot lower than their runner-up finish last year. Joining Cooper on the scorecard were Jackson Decker (78), Caden Lindsey (85) and Blake Sutherland (88). "It was nobody's A game, but we played well enough to get out and that's what matters — survive and advance," Bellevue coach Luke Spurlock said. Spurlock is confident in his team heading into the district. "We've got kids who hit the ball a long way and it's a long course," he said. "I think that plays into our advantage a little bit. Control off the tee box and length, that will help us." The top two teams and top two individuals not on an advancing team at the district tourney will qualify for the state tournament Oct. 6-7 in Dayton at NCR Country Club's South Course. Team scores 1. Vermilion 322, 2. Willard 324, 3. Bellevue 327, 4. Clear Fork 333, 5. Galion 334, 5. Shelby 334, 5. Perkins 334, 8. Ontario 342, 9. Oak Harbor 343, 10. Clyde 356, 11. Edison 368, 12, Port Clinton 423 Top 10 individuals 1. Noah Penton, Vermilion, 74; 2. Sam Cooper, Bellevue, 76; 2. Mason Dawson, Willard, 76; 4. Jackson Decker, Bellevue, 78; 5. Sam Riddle, Vermilion, 79; 5. Colton Kelley, Perkins, 79; 7. Thomas Lenahan, Shelby, 80; 8. Jaxson Tinkham, Ontario, 81; 8. Kyle Schaefer, Perkins, 81; 8. Cullen Hart, Galion, 81