All season long, Head Golf Coach PJ Myers '99 has stressed the mental side of the game to his Wildcats.

The dedicated effort to mentally prepare for the State Tournament paid off on Day 1.

The Saint Ignatius Golf team totaled a team score of 302 in the opening round of the 2020 OHSAA State Tournament, securing first place heading into Day 2 at the Scarlet Course tomorrow.

"We've been talking about it all season. There are two options when adversity: Either fight it and let it affect you, or accept it as part of the game and move on," says Myers. "We've been working very hard on the mental and emotional aspects of the game. That's why were able to bounce back from a tough start." 

Without a doubt, The Ohio State University's Scarlet Course is one of the toughest tests a high school golfer can face. Particularly in October, when the greens can do funny things and when the wind can swirl. 

The Wildcats experienced those twists and turns on the front nine. The unforgiving course led to several bogeys and a couple double bogeys for the Golf Cats. But the team stayed composed and found consistency on the back nine, firing off several birdies and even a hole in 1.

Nick Piesen played the starring role for the Wildcats. The sophomore roared to a 37 on the front nine, notching a birdie on the 8th hole with a great tee shot and marvelous putt. But Piesen didn't lose his edge on the back nine, heating up further. Piesen hit par on holes 10-16 before achieving the unthinkable – a Hole in 1. 

Piesen accomplished the rare feat on a Par 3 on the 17th hole. His accomplishment brought joy to his teammates and fans, as it was part of a great late run by the Wildcats. Piesen finished the day with a 70, at one-under-par, an incredible score for Day 1.  

"It was special. I met Nick down on the tee. We decided on a 7-iron on a Par 3, 173 yards uphill, with an oak tree behind the green to the right, with the wind blowing right to left, it would bring it back," Myers explained. "It looked perfect, but we couldn't tell from the tee. To hear the roar, I've never seen a kid happier in my entire life. It was a really special shot."

Topher Reed shined nearly as bright. The junior tallied a 39 on th front nine, tagging a par on six of his first nine holes. Reed tallied par on holes 10-12 before notching a big birdie on the 13th. Reed then hit par on 14-15 before finishing out strong with a clutch birdie on the 18th hole. Reed's sweet putt clinched a 74 for the day, a great score of +3. 

"If you were asking Topher, he'd tell you that he had a B-swing day. He was in grind mode all day," Myers said. "At the end of the day, the kid never gives in or give up. The guys feed off him. To finish the way he did with a birdie with a crowd in front of him, the kid steps up under high pressure."

Nick Longano was not immune to early adversity dealt by the Scarlet Course, marking down a 42 on the front nine. But his back nine effort is quite laudable. The senior hit par on 10 and 11 before a huge birdie on the 12th hole. After a par on 13, Longano catapulted a clutch birdie on the 14th hole, a Par 4. Longano didn't break stride down the stretch, remaining composed en route to a 35 on the back nine. For the day, Longano scored a 77. 

Connor Malicki chimed in with a nice score after tough sledding early on. Malicki notched a 41 on the front nine before clubbing a 40 on the back nine, including a birdie on #13 and par on #17. Malicki finished with an 81 for the afternoon.  

Bradley Chill, Jr. endured the same experience that many young golfers do at the Scarlet Course with some early struggles, but he rebounded well. After some early bogeys on the front nine, Chill caught fire later on, scoring a 40 on the back nine. Chill notched a birdie on the 13th hole and hit par on the 18th hole to notch an 86 for the day. Look for Chill to be back tomorrow, better than ever.

"We'll stick to our game plan: patience," Myers said. "The boys know it. They're committed to it. Just stick with the game plan, for the last several weeks. We have our game plan in front of us. We just need to be mentally prepared and patient. I'm excited to see what our guys can do."