Staff report

BEAVERCREEK — It’s as tough as it gets in high school golf, with only two teams and two individuals graduating from the Southwest Division 3 District Tournament to play in the state tournament.

But Fort Loramie senior and County Player of the Year Brad Gottemoeller pulled it off with an outstanding round of golf Thursday at Beavercreek Golf Club. He toured his first nine in 37 strokes, then shot a 35 on the back nine to finish at even-par 72, and become only the second golfer in Fort Loramie history to advance to the state tournament.

In addition, the 72 tied a school record.

Only one golfer did better, Caleb Westfall of Mechanicsburg, who shot a 71.

Neither of those two golfers were on qualifying teams, so they are the two individuals to qualify to the state tournament, which will take place Oct. 14 and 15 at NorthStar Golf Club in Sunbury.

It will be Gottemoeller’s first trip to state.

“With only the top two teams advancing to the state tournament and the top two individuals each year, it is quite an accomplishment to make it,” said Loramie coach Brad Turner. “Brad missed out accomplishing this last year on the third hole of a playoff. I carted Brad in after that playoff last year and though it was a disappointment to him then, I think it actually fueled him to work very hard this year to get to state. He’s been a man on a mission this entire season. And I’m incredibly happy for him that he made it.

“We started our rounds on hole 10 and on the first nine holes he played, Brad finished with a 35,” he continued. “On the second nine he had a couple of bogeys in a row then got a big birdie on the par 5 seventh hole to get him back to even on the day. He made a clutch six-foot putt on No. 8 for par and then made another 8-10 foot putt to save par on No. 9 to finish the round with a 72. He had several 6-to-10 foot putts fall to help him, and that along with some very nice up and down saves for par was the key to his success. Brad made every shot count today and it just goes to show how special it is to make it to state in golf.”

The Redskins, along with Lehman and Fairlawn, were hoping to finish in the top two to advance as a team to the state tournament.

Fort Loramie had the best finish, as led by Gottemoeller the Redskins finished with a 342 for fifth place, just 11 strokes out of second. And right behind them was Fairlawn with 351 for sixth place.

Lehman shot a 380 to finish in 11th place.

In addition to Gottemoeller, Mitchell Puthoff shot an 84 for Loramie, Zach Pleiman 91 and both Craig Eilerman and Shea Swick 95.

For Fairlawn, Nathan Lessing was low man with an 85, Jacob Caldwell had an 87, Mason Jones 88, Kody Curtner 91 and Ben Brautigam 92. All five are seniors.

Lehman was led by Cole Gilardi with an 85. Ryan Schmidt shot a 92, Tyler Lachey 94 and Seth Dooley 109.

Senior Josh Miller qualified for the district as an individual from last week’s sectional. He shot a 90 Thursday.

Final team standings — 1. Cin. Seven Hills 323, 2. Cincinnati Country Day 331, 3. Springfield Catholic 336, 4. Cincinnati Christian 340, 5. FORT LORAMIE 342, 6. FAIRLAWN 351, 7. Mechanicsburg 359, 8. Middletown Christian 361, 9. Tri-County North 377, 10. Newton 380, 11. LEHMAN 380, 12. National Trail 385.

Northwest District

BOWLING GREEN — Minster’s boys finished seventh in the Division 3 District Golf Tournament at Stone Ridge Golf Club in Bowling Green Thursday. Only the top four teams advanced to state.

The Wildcats finished with a 351 score, just five strokes behind the fourth-place team.

Jordan Brackman and Ben Stubbs both shot 83 for Minster, Adam Knapke had an 89, Logan Lazier 96 and Grant Voisard 102.

Final team standings (top four to state) — 1. Van Buren 318, 2. Kalida 335, 3. Miller city 342, 4. Ottawa Hills 346, 5. Lima Temple Christian 348, 6. Norwalk St. Paul 349, 7. MINSTER 351, 8. Mohawk 354, 9. Margaretta 356, 10. New London 357, 11. Woodmore 358, 12. Delphos St. John’s 362, 13. Stryker 372, 14. Carey 376, 15. Tinora 376, 16. Danbury 383, 17. McComb 387, 18. Fort Jennings 390.