Boys Golf: Colin Cleary, Jacob Larson wrap up season at district for Grandview Heights
Two golfers do not a varsity team make, unless you play for the Grandview Heights boys program.
Seniors Colin Cleary and Jacob Larson were the lineup in every event for the Bobcats this season, including the Division III district tournament Oct. 5 at Turnberry.
Cleary shot a 79 to tie for eighth behind medalist and state-qualifier Gabe Scherer (73) of Delaware Christian and Larson shot a 102 to finish 30th.
“I’m a little disappointed knowing that my season is over and this is how I played to end it,” Cleary said. “I three-putted probably six times and shot a 79.
“Earlier this season, I shot a 72 here (Aug. 29 in the MSL-Ohio Division midseason tournament) and I thought I would shoot that again. It felt like playing it on a normal everyday round (and not the pressure of district).”
Cleary tied for 12th (80) in a sectional Sept. 27 at Darby Creek to advance to his third district tournament as the third of six individual qualifiers. Larson was the fifth individual qualifier after shooting an 84.
Last season, Cleary tied for 24th at district with an 86. As a sophomore, he shot an 87 at district as the Bobcats made it as a team and finished sixth.
“I’m just so proud of him because he works as hard as any golfer I have ever had,” said coach Kevin Richards, who completed his 15th season. “There were shots out there that cost him, but the fact that he fought though it shows a lot of character.
"Colin played a ton of tournaments over the summer. He hits the ball a lot and works on his game all the time. He’s as good of a golfer as I have had since I was here. There was (2009 graduate) Brian Riggs, (who) was pretty good, and so was (2013 graduate) Adam Cincione. He’s just as good as him and hits the ball just as far. We were on the 336-yard, par-4 No. 4 (at Turnberry) and he was 10 yards from the green.”
Larson was making his first trip to district as an individual. He wasn’t pleased with his score but was happy he could rebound after the turn.
He started on the back nine, shooting a 60. However, he finished with a 42 on the front nine.
“It was fun on the front nine, not so fun on the back where I started,” said Larson, who shot a 117 at district as a sophomore. “After a while, I just didn’t think about the score anymore and just started swinging.”
Richards was happy his players were able to qualify for district considering the lack of practice facilities on public courses around the Grandview area.
“It’s tough here when you look at the teams,” he said. “You look at (district champion) Newark Catholic’s scores (and) you are like ‘oh my gosh.’ (Runner-up) Mechanicsburg is another one and they have a bunch of young kids. They have ready access to courses.
"Mechanicsburg practices at Urbana Country Club every day. Their coach works in the pro shop and is a phenomenal guy. Those kids come out and play every single day. There are no (public courses) like that for us to go practice. You can go to Raymond, Mentel or Airport and play, but they don’t have a practice facility. There is a huge difference between playing and practicing. There isn’t a practice facility within 25 minutes of (Grandview). That’s why we go to Blacklick (Woods) to practice every day.”
With Cleary and Larson graduating, Richards isn’t sure about the future of the program. He said it would depend on how much work his younger golfers put in during the offseason.
“(Freshman) Kinny Wilson shows a lot of potential and showed a lot of improvement,” Richards said. “He’s a big kid that can hit the ball and he’ll have to slow it down and hit the ball straight.
“I’m not taking kids out to shoot 140. I want them to learn the game before we do that. If you get to eight shots and you’re not on the green, then you pick up the ball. What are you really accomplishing with that? You have to learn to play the game and practice and learn how to hit the ball and advance the ball. Then we can do all of the other things we need to. We’ll see what happens this summer.”
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GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS BOYS GOLF
•MSL-Ohio standings: Columbus Academy (9-0), Bexley (5-4), Worthington Christian (4-5), Buckeye Valley (0-9)
•Seniors lost: Colin Cleary and Jacob Larson
•Key returnee: Kinny Wilson
•Postseason: Did not have team score at sectional
This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Boys Golf: Cleary, Larson wrap up season at district for Grandview
