HINKLEY, OH - The Saint Ignatius Golf Cats hoisted the Northeast District Trophy for the first time since the 2022 State Championship season. They placed first at the OHSAA District Tournament on Monday, October 6.
Head Golf Coach
Kevin Neitzel '90 would roll out his five-person lineup of
Jackson Sommer (sr.),
Kyle Malicki (jr.),
Fitch Farina (jr.),
Ethan White (so.), and
Patrick Myers (so.).
It was a gorgeous day for golf as the Wildcats competed at Pine Hills Golf Course in Hinkley. A place familiar to the Wildcats, as this is one of the courses Saint Ignatius uses for tryouts in late July.
Sommer began play for the Wildcats at 10:30 a.m. at hole ten. The Cats had to battle through the first nine holes as they were in sixth place, behind teams such as Hudson, University School, and Hoban, with nine holes to go.
As the day progressed, the Golf Cats began to pull away, and would have three members finish in the top-15. Sommer would shoot a 70, one under par, placing him second in the field, just two strokes from first, which went to Silas Kirkpatrick of Uniontown Green.
Farina and Malicki tied for 13th in the field, shooting a 74. Myers finished with a 75, for 18th place. White shot an 82, placing 64th in the field. The Cats finished with a team score of 293, five strokes better than the second-place Green Bulldogs.
It would be the first time since the State Championship season that the Wildcats claimed the District crown and have punched their ticket to the State Tournament. Other team qualifiers in the Northeast District were Green, Hoban, and University School.
The Wildcats advance to the Division I OHSAA State Championship, which will be held at Firestone Country Club in Akron on Sunday, October 12, and Monday, October 13. The first tee-time for the Wildcats will be at 9:30 a.m.
The Wildcats seek to win the program's fifth State Championship, the first since 2022.
