Brandt makes Leipsic history with state golf berth

Brandt makes Leipsic history with state golf berth BOWLING GREEN — Golf rewards the patient man, and Brevin Brandt's patience was tested on Thursday at the Division III District tournament held at Stone Ridge Golf Club. The Leipsic sophomore persisted until his very last stroke of 75 that propelled him to the state tournament. "I kept my attitude right, kept my mindset right, and on the front nine I just got into a zone," Brandt said. "Just me, myself and I. I grinded it out." Brandt's final eight holes were a ball-striking clinic. After opening with a 3-over par 39 on the back nine, he hit all eight greens on the front. Each approach shot landed within 20 feet of the hole. But after a kick-in birdie on No. 2, he three-putted for bogey at No. 3 and watched putts on five-straight holes narrowly miss — including a pair of lip-outs. If that wasn't enough to wreck his nerves, each miss preceded a wait of 10 or so minutes on the next tee box. "I love playing fast," Brandt said. "So hitting a shot that you think is really good and then getting penalized for it is not a good time for me. Then waiting and thinking about that is even worse." All of that waiting paid off on the ninth green. Brandt hit one last approach shot, a 55-degree wedge from 98 yards, to about eight feet. He went through his process of reading the putt, committed to a line and pulled the trigger. The ball nestled into the center of the cup for birdie, and Brandt raised both hands overhead in a celebration that showed he understood the weight of the moment. Nearly three hours later, he was announced as a state qualifier. "It's a feeling like no other," he said. "I'm still kind of in shock, but I love it." Brandt's father, Kevin Brandt, has been coaching golf at Leipsic for 16 years. His son will be the first Viking to play at state during that time. Jason Crow was the last to do it in 2006. "My son Mason (Brandt) shot 75 at Districts and missed by two shots, and Jason Niese missed a playoff by a shot. We've been close," he said. Robert Nartker of Kalida shot a 1-under par 71 to take the first individual spot, with Delphos Jefferson's Isaac Gallmeier (74) and Marion Local's Marcus Rethman (76) joining Brandt. Brayton Hindall of Arcadia came up one stroke shy of forcing a playoff after holing out from a green-side bunker for birdie on the 18th hole. Hindall struggled to an opening 40 on the front nine but kept grinding on the back, closing with three-straight pars before his birdie for 77. He hoped to end his career at the state tournament, but knew it would take his absolute best. "My putting was definitely the strong suit," he said. "I made a lot of good putts today. I was scrambling a bunch because unfortunately my wedges weren't great. The putting came in clutch and I made a really cool shot on 18 and holed out from the bunker." Patrick Henry's Jaxson Guelde shot 80, Riverdale's Nathan Alge shot 83 and Tiffin Calvert's Kevin Ardner shot 84. On the team side, Minster won the district with a score of 322. Also qualifying for state were Ottoville (333), Delphos St. John's (338) and Wayne Trace (338). Kyle Sutton of Wayne Trace was the individual medalist with a 2-under par 70. Arcadia took 12th place with a 360, Carey was 15th at 378 and Pandora-Gilboa finished 18th at 389. TEAM RESULTS 1. Minster 322 (Louis Magoto 77, Bryce Prenger 78, Jack Meyer 80, Tyler Stueve 87), 2. Ottoville 333 (Evan Altenburger 82, Jace Langhals 83, Michael Turnwald 89), 3. Delphos St. John's 338 (Collin Feathers 76, Tyce McClain 80, Jackson Kill 89, Ashton Milligan 93, Parker Will 94), 4. Wayne Trace 338 (Kyle Sutton 70, Conner Davis 87, Brody Rosswurm 90, Jared Varner 91, Tyson Gerber 109), 5. Pettisville 344, 6. Miller City 344, 7. Old Fort 345, 8. Fremont St. Joseph 353, 9. Montpelier 355, 10 Margaretta 357, 11. Arcadia 360 (Brayton Hindall 77, Owen Green 91, Creed Kemanah 94, Aiden Cline 98), 12. Wynford 370, 13. St. Henry 375, 14. Carey 378 (Kobe Ratliff 89, Brody Baker 92, Chase Mullholland 95, Nathaniel Crawford 102), 15. Mohawk 380, 16. New London 381, 17. Toledo Christian 385, 18. Pandora-Gilboa 389 INDIVIDUAL RESULTS Medalist — Kyle Sutton (Wayne Trace) 70 2. Robert Nartker (Kalida) 71, 3. Isaac Gallmeier (Delphos Jefferson) 74, 4. Brevin Brandt (Leipsic) 75, 5. Marcus Rethman (Marion Local) 76, 7. Brayton Hindall (Arcadia) 77, Jaxson Guelde (Patrick Henry) 80, Nathan Alge (Riverdale) 83, Kevin Ardner (Tiffin Calvert) 84, Owen Clark (North Baltimore) 92, Evan Reiter (Riverdale) 109)