L-B's McDaniel wins district, Eagles just miss state

PORT CLINTON – Brice McDaniel wasn't just the best area golfer at the Division II district tournament at Catawba Island Club Thursday, he was the best golfer, period.The Liberty-Benton senior fired a pair of 37s on the front and back 9s, and was district champion with a 74.McDaniel was two strokes better than Bryan's Noah Huard, who shot a 76.Huard and his teammates will still be going to next week's state tournament at NorthStar Golf Course in Sunbury. The Golden Bears won the team title with a 335.L-B's team just missed out on advancing.The Eagles, who reached the state meet a year ago and finished eighth, finished with a 342, one stroke behind Galion, which finished in second place and secured the final qualifying spot.The top two teams, and the top two individuals not on a qualifying team, advanced to the state meet.McDaniel received one of the individual spots; the other went to Lima Bath's Britton Hall, who fired a 77. Aside from McDaniel, the top area golfer was Ottawa-Glandorf's Carson Fuka, who placed fifth with an 80. Fuka was a stroke better than L-B's Austin Hanni-Wells (81), and two strokes better than Upper Sandusky's Owen Knapp, who tied for ninth with an 82. The Rams' other golfer, freshman Brock Montgomery, tied for 14th with an 83.Carson Schimmoeller shot an 85 for O-G, which finished with a 353 and took fifth, a stroke behind Shelby for fourth, and a stroke ahead of sixth-place Swanton.L-B received an 88 from Noah Miles, a 99 from Joe Gerken, and a 104 from C.J. Beeman. For the Titans, Josh Walls had an 87, and Ty Verhoff registered a 101. Grant Hovest shot a 112. No area qualifiers from BGBOWLING GREEN – Some area golfers shot some strong scores at the Division III district tournament at Stone Ridge Golf Club Thursday.Leipsic's Mason Brandt and Old Fort's Andrew Combs each fired a 75, New Riegel's Sam Whipple put up an 80 and Van Buren's Carson Foltz shot an 82.But with five individuals shooting a 73 or better, no area player was able to punch a ticket to next week's state tournament at The Scarlett Golf Course in Columbus.The top four teams, as well as the top four individuals not on a qualifying team, advanced. Ottoville, behind a second-place 69 from Carter Schnipke, was district champion with a 317, five strokes better than runner-up Minister.Ottawa Hills (329) and Kalida (331) gained the final two team-qualifying spots.Allen East's Zach Miller shot a 68 to be district medalist. Danbury's Clark Grayson (70), St. John's Jack Gerker (72), and Archbold's Luke Rosebrook (73) made it out as individuals.The top finishing area team was Old Fort, which took seventh with a 334. Aside from Magers, the Stockaders received 85s from Adam Magers and Evan Combs, and an 89 from Colin Nutter.Finishing behind Old Fort was Van Buren, which shot a 344. Isaac Dyer and Hayden Carr each registered an 87, while Justin Overmyer had an 88 and Weston Heitkamp added an 89. Leipsic finished a stroke behind the Black Knights, with Adam Lammers firing an 88, Luke Spoors putting up an 89.Bluffton shot a 355 for 10th, getting an 85 from Jaden Coonfare and an 87 from Kenny Lovett. Calvert took 14th (362) getting 85s from Braeden Elchert and James Max Paul.