Bosson headed to state golf tournament

WEST LAFAYETTE — Gage Bosson has been a model of consistency on a young Coshocton golf team.

With three freshmen in the lineup, the senior was a steadying force on which coach Kevin Kittell could relay in almost any match.

He was rewarded for his play on Monday as his 5-over-par 77 was good for the top qualifying spot at the Division II district tournament at River Greens.

Bosson and Meadowbrook’s Trey Singleton, who shot 79, were the lone individual qualifiers. Garaway, with four scores of 80 or better, and John Glenn, led by overall medalist Dylan Van Fossen (75), were the only teams to qualify.

They advance to the state tournament, set for next Friday and Saturday at North Star Resort.

“I’m ecstatic. He’s worked so hard and been close at times and just couldn’t get over the hump,” Kittell said of Bosson, who was in line for co-medalist honors before a double bogey on the final hole. “He sure deserves it. From beginning to end, there has only been one time that he didn’t play super good golf for us.”

Knowing only a few advance, Bosson tried not to let the pressure weigh on him. He said he had more confidence this year than in the past, mostly because of his experience. He credited a hot putter for getting him through mostly unscathed.

“It was something I definitely was thinking about,” Bosson said. “I knew if I started playing bad that it was probably over. I just tried to go out there and play.”

His teammate, freshman Logan Desender, endured a different fate. He shot 79, tied for the fourth-best score in the tournament, but he lost in a three-way playoff with Singleton and Claymont’s Alex Wright for the final qualifying spot after finding a large pine tree on his tee shot.

Singleton, who knocked his second shot to 10 feet on the first playoff hole, earned the bid after making a par.

“It would have been cool to take a freshman with me,” Bosson said. “He’s got three more years to compete.”

Other scores for the Redskins included Clay Davis with 91 and Jacob George with 95. The Redskins were fourth of eight teams, but only 13 shots off the pace.

Kittell sees the promise.

“The kids never lost their composure,” Kittell said. “We had some bad holes but we moved on from them. I couldn’t be more proud of them as a whole. Nobody else played three freshmen. There were a lot more experienced teams than us out there.”

Ridgewood, led by Brice Dennis’ 82, was seventh with 355. Adam Matusik added 87, Nick Blakely 89 and Mason Waycaster and Ryan Zinkon 97 for the Generals.

River View’s Jake Moore and Kyle Daugherty, competing as individuals, had 85 and 88, respectively.