Zornes, Morgan earns state golf berths
Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 2:03 pm
Zornes, Morgan earns state golf berths
Published 3:24am Thursday, October 6, 2011
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By JIM WALKER
Tribune Sports Editor
CIRCLEVILLE — There was nothing normal about the entire day for Josh Zornes.
The Ironton Fighting Tigers’ senior golfer sat through a delay to start the Division II district golf tournament and then finished it by winning a three-hole playoff to earn a berth in the state tournament.
“It was crazy day. We were running behind. I started hitting ball I was ready to go on and they said there would be a delay. Then there was another delay. I went in the clubhouse and waited,†said Zornes.
“I talked to some guys I knew and some of my teammates who came. It wasn’t bad. After about 30 or 40 minutes, I started putting around and then it was time to play.â€
The wait was worth it as Zornes birdied the first two holes and went on to shoot a 35 on the front nine. But he struggled on the back nine and shot a 42 to finish with a 77.
“I couldn’t get anything going. If I hit a good tee shot, I couldn’t chip. If I hit a chip shot, I couldn’t putt,†said Zornes.
“I didn’t think I had a chance of going to the state.â€
But Zornes finished tied with Chesapeake’s Nick Duffield for the second and final individual spot. Duffield had a par on the third hole and Zornes rolled in a birdie.
“I was happy to win but I was sad for (Duffield). He’s my best friend I golf with. He’s a great guy and the best golfer I played against,†said Zornes.
“I told him the keep his head up. He’s one of the nicest guys I’ve played against. He’ll be fine next year.â€
Ironton coach Jeff Kerns praised Zornes for his efforts, not only in the district but all season.
“He never quit. He’s battled all year. We didn’t have a good year as a team, but he battled through it and remained focused. He did the same thing today. I’m really proud of his effort,†said Kerns.
Jacob Harley of New Lexington had a 73 to earn the other individual qualifying spot in the state tournament and also claimed medalist honors. Unioto won the team title with a 312 score and Gallipolis was the runner-up at 322 as both teams advanced.
Coal Grove Hornets’ freshman Brent Morgan also earned a trip to the state tournament in Division III.
Complete results of the tournament were not available at press time.
The Hornets qualified for the district tournament as a team but did not advance as a group. However, Morgan shot a 77 to get an individual berth to the state tournament Oct. 14-15.
Boys’ Division II
Team Scores
Team Total
Unioto* 312
Gallipolis* 322
Hillsboro 340
Chesapeake 341
Logan Elm 343
New Lexington 343
Washington Court House 346
Fairfield Union 349
Jackson 375
Piketon 416
*-State qualifier
Individual Qualifiers
Jacob Harley, New Lexington 73
Josh Zornes, Ironton# 77
#-won 3-hole playoff
Published 3:24am Thursday, October 6, 2011
Email Comments
By JIM WALKER
Tribune Sports Editor
CIRCLEVILLE — There was nothing normal about the entire day for Josh Zornes.
The Ironton Fighting Tigers’ senior golfer sat through a delay to start the Division II district golf tournament and then finished it by winning a three-hole playoff to earn a berth in the state tournament.
“It was crazy day. We were running behind. I started hitting ball I was ready to go on and they said there would be a delay. Then there was another delay. I went in the clubhouse and waited,†said Zornes.
“I talked to some guys I knew and some of my teammates who came. It wasn’t bad. After about 30 or 40 minutes, I started putting around and then it was time to play.â€
The wait was worth it as Zornes birdied the first two holes and went on to shoot a 35 on the front nine. But he struggled on the back nine and shot a 42 to finish with a 77.
“I couldn’t get anything going. If I hit a good tee shot, I couldn’t chip. If I hit a chip shot, I couldn’t putt,†said Zornes.
“I didn’t think I had a chance of going to the state.â€
But Zornes finished tied with Chesapeake’s Nick Duffield for the second and final individual spot. Duffield had a par on the third hole and Zornes rolled in a birdie.
“I was happy to win but I was sad for (Duffield). He’s my best friend I golf with. He’s a great guy and the best golfer I played against,†said Zornes.
“I told him the keep his head up. He’s one of the nicest guys I’ve played against. He’ll be fine next year.â€
Ironton coach Jeff Kerns praised Zornes for his efforts, not only in the district but all season.
“He never quit. He’s battled all year. We didn’t have a good year as a team, but he battled through it and remained focused. He did the same thing today. I’m really proud of his effort,†said Kerns.
Jacob Harley of New Lexington had a 73 to earn the other individual qualifying spot in the state tournament and also claimed medalist honors. Unioto won the team title with a 312 score and Gallipolis was the runner-up at 322 as both teams advanced.
Coal Grove Hornets’ freshman Brent Morgan also earned a trip to the state tournament in Division III.
Complete results of the tournament were not available at press time.
The Hornets qualified for the district tournament as a team but did not advance as a group. However, Morgan shot a 77 to get an individual berth to the state tournament Oct. 14-15.
Boys’ Division II
Team Scores
Team Total
Unioto* 312
Gallipolis* 322
Hillsboro 340
Chesapeake 341
Logan Elm 343
New Lexington 343
Washington Court House 346
Fairfield Union 349
Jackson 375
Piketon 416
*-State qualifier
Individual Qualifiers
Jacob Harley, New Lexington 73
Josh Zornes, Ironton# 77
#-won 3-hole playoff