OHIO CITY, Oh - The 2023 High School Golf season is in full swing and all three levels are performing well through the first two full weeks of the season. Here is an update for all three levels the week of August 12, 2023.
JV Golf
Head JV Golf Coach Nick Restifo's squad is on a tear in the opening two weeks of the season. On Friday, August 11, the JV team competed in the Walsh Jesuit JV Golf Invitational. The Cats one by one stroke over University School and 11 other teams from Northeast Ohio.
The team effort consisted of sophomore Crosby Rush and freshman Jack Tully shot a pair of 79s. Sophomores Max Wirsch shot 80, Will Bermel shot 81 and Brett Hilditch shot 83 respectively.
The Wildcat JV golfers would go on to win their third tournament this year in as many tries; on Monday, August 14. The JV Cats won the Brunswick Invitational which had 20 teams competing. The Cats scored an impressive 316 with their top four golfers.
Outstanding performance and medalist of the tournament was sophomore Brett Hilditch who scored 74. Freshman Jack Tully and sophomore Max Hirsch scored 79. Rounding out the top four was sophomore Luca Oravecz.
The JV Cats finished the busy week at the Green Invitational at Raintree Golf Club. The JVs posted a score of 319 for a first-place finish. The top four scorers were sophomore Luca Oravecz with a score of 75. Luca was also the medalist. Second was junior Ryan Hvizd who scored 79. The third next score was 81 by sophomore Crosby Rush and the fourth next best was sophomore Will Bermel with an 83.
Varsity Gold Golf
On Friday, August 11, Tom Beach's Varsity Gold Cats competed at the Tannenhauf Invitational hosted by Marlington High School in Alliance.
The Varsity Gold team was in action against ten other strong varsity programs, including Massillon Jackson, Green and Canfield at the Tannenhauf Golf Course.
The Gold Cats had a solid day, winning the invitational with a team score of 307. Led by freshman Dominic Castelluccio, whose dramatic birdie on hole number 18 gave the Cats the lowest score of 75. The other freshman, Kyle Malicki, carded a 76. Teammates Joe Maloof (77), Ben Emerson (79) and Ryan Hvizd (85) all contributed to the Wildcat victory.
Because this was a five-man invitational, sophomore Jackson Sommer took his turn sitting out. Jackson, who chose to come to the course in uniform riding with coach Beach in the team golf cart and his example made a big difference for the Gold 'Cats.
The day was not without some drama. Coming into the last holes, Green High School tied the Cats team score. However, because of junior Ryan Hvizd's steady play, the Varsity Gold won in a fifth-man score playoff.
On Monday, August 14 the Varsity Gold team played in the Hudson Invitational at the Country Club of Hudson.
The Cats finished 10th against a large field of 25 teams including golf powerhouses of Hoban, Massillon Jackson and Hudson.
The Varsity Gold squad was paced by freshman Kyle Malicki (79) and junior Ryan Hvizd (80). Other Wildcat golfers, freshman Dominic Castelluccio (83), senior Ben Emerson (85) and sophomore Jackson Sommer (87), held their own playing a course new to most of them.
Varsity Gold wrapped up their week on Wednesday, August 16 when they played in the Walsh Invite at Brookledge Golf Club today.
The following individual scores: Jackson Sommer 76; Dominic Castelluccio 78; Ryan Hvizd 80; Ben Emerson 82; Kyle Malicki 82. The Cats would place 7th out of 17 teams.
The Varsity Gold squad will be back in action Sunday, August 20 when they compete at the Reece Alexander Invitational at Fowler's Mill Golf Course.