SPORTS

Fisher Catholic up to the task, wins district title

Tom Wilson
Reporter

GRANVILLE — Tuesday’s Central District golf tournament was almost unfair.

The fact that only one team and one individual qualified in each division put a lot of pressure on the players, and it because of that, it left several teams and individuals on the outside looking in.

However, Fisher Catholic embraced the pressure and had a solid day from its entire lineup to shoot a 306 to win the Division III district title at Denison Golf Club. The Irish will make a return trip to the state tournament — which will be held Oct. 16-17 at Ohio State’s Scarlet Course — after qualifying in 2013.

In Division II, Bloom-Carroll shot a solid 313, but finished fourth behind Bexley (310), Hartley (311) and Columbus Academy (312).

“It is unbelievable hard for the kids to play under these conditions,” Fisher Catholic coach Travis Saffell said. "Going into this tournament, we knew that we weren’t the only one’s feeling that pressure, but every player also felt that pressure.

“I really had a lot of confidence in my seniors. They are all really competitive and they are tough, tough kids and I knew we had a really good chance to do something special (Tuesday). For us to shoot 306 and beat a state power like Wellington and Newark Catholic is pretty special.”

Wellington, a perennial power, finished second with a 313, followed by the Green Wave (316).

Seniors Blake Saffell (74) and Aaron Wood (75) led the way for the Irish. Brady Taulbee (78) and Zach Saffell (79) also had solid rounds and Tom Sylvester finished with an 81.

“There was a lot of pressure, knowing that only one team was going to get out,” Blake Saffell said. “We knew that Wellington was one of the best teams in the state, and to beat them just feels amazing.

“We played great from top to bottom and that’s what it takes to get to the next level. To play the way we did on a tough course in these conditions is just awesome.”

All five Fisher Catholic players broke 40 on at least one nine.

“I said all year that we have to peak at the right time and lately we have all been playing well,” Travis Saffell said. “Our two top guys have always been steady and you can always count on them, but our three, four and five guys are really starting to post some solid numbers and play with a lot of confidence.

“I told our guys coming in the tournament would be won or lost on the first three holes because getting off to a good start would be huge. We got off to a great start and when we shots needed to be made, we made them.”

It was a bittersweet day for Bloom-Carroll senior Bryce Walters, who made seven birdies, and shot 72, to miss going as an individual by one stroke. Walters’ undoing was an eight on one hole.

“It is really disappointing that only one team gets out,” Bloom-Carroll coach Denny Norris said. “One bad swing by Bryce and that’s the difference getting out and not getting out. It is really hard to think about because there were four teams here that could be very competitive at the state level and only one team gets the opportunity.”

Other scores for the Bulldogs included Noah Frase (75), Jake Roach (81), Scotty Phillips (85) and Jack Spence (86).

The Bulldogs, who qualified for the state tournament in 2013, won the Mid-State League-Buckeye Division title by going undefeated the last two seasons.

Playing as individuals, Fairfield Christian Academy’s Nick Rhodes shot 84 and Connor Stevens shot 94.

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