At an important tournament in Columbus on Saturday with many of the best teams in the state in attendance, the Saint Ignatius varsity golf team put on a show.
The Wildcats won the Bishop Watterson Invitational on Saturday, winning with a team score of 301. Four of the team's five varsity golfers tallied scores in the 70s at Clover Valley Golf Course.
Peaking in late September and October is critical, and the Golf Cats seem to be doing just that. The Wildcats have finished third or better in four of their last five tournaments, notching a 307 last week and a 301 this week.
Andrew Kaye led the charge for the Golf Cats. The junior topped the team with a round of 73, good enough to tie for second in the tournament (Kaye took third officially based on scorecard playoff). Topher Reed continued his hard-charging freshman campaign with a day of 75. Nick Longano tied the first-year with an identical score of 75, tying for fourth place overall. Jake Moraca penciled in a 78 on his card at the end of the day, while Ross Williamson carded an 81.
The Wildcats' team tally of 301 bested second-place Mason by five strokes. Medina (312), Archbishop Alter (318), and Elder (325) rounded out the top five.
The journey continues for the Wildcats on Monday. The men of Brian Becker '77 will participate in the Nolan Belden Invitational, hosted by Archbishop Hoban at Brookside in Canton. Sectional play starts on October 1 – just right around the corner.
Meanwhile, the JV Gold Cats also made the trip south to Columbus, also with favorable results.
The JV Gold, or "varsity B" squad, claimed sixth overall amongst mostly varsity teams. The Wildcats tallied a team score of 326, beating state powers such as Bishop Watterson, Archbishop Moeller, and St. Xavier.
Connor Warns helped to orchestrate the effort, slotting in as the JV Gold team's best golfer with a 78. Zach Hazard nipped at his heels, tabbing an 81. Jess Saunders carded an 83 for the afternoon for third on the squad. Andrew Martin (84) and MJ Myers (89) rounded out the excellent effort for the Wildcats.
The men of Tom Beach will have some time off before the team's next tournament on October 6.