AVON — Matt Schneider soared to an even-par 72 thanks to an eagle on the 18th hole Tuesday afternoon, leading Amherst to the championship of the Ranger Invitational at Avon Oaks Country Club in the process.
The Comets shot 327 to edge Strongsville by a single stroke in the 16-team tournament hosted by North Ridgeville High School.
Elyria, led by individual runner-up Kyle Lottman’s 76, finished third at 332, a huge improvement over last week’s 364 at the Grey Hawk Invitational in LaGrange. Avon Lake (335) and Midpark (336) rounded out the top five team scores.
For Amherst, it was the second tourney championship in just the second week of the golf season, establishing the Comets as not only a favorite in the Southwestern Conference but a team that could make some noise in the postseason.
The Comets won their own invitational eight days before and finished a strong second in the Grey Hawk Invitational last Tuesday.
“I putted really good,” said Schneider, who sank a 10-foot putt from the fringe for his eagle 3 on the par-5, 509-yard 18th hole. A strong drive down the middle put him in position and his 210-yard, 4-iron second-shot set up the eagle putt.
The 18th wasn’t a grand finale, though, because he began started on the 10th hole.
He also had two birdies in his round, on the 10th and 12th holes.
“Today was my career best score in tournament play,” Schneider said. “I had 27 putts today, my lowest all season, and, mainly, no three-putt greens.”
The senior’s worst holes were a bogey on the first hole and a double bogey on the fourth, when he hit has ball in the water.
“My main goal this season is for our team to make it to state,” he said. “I think we have a good chance because we’re off to a great start. Hopefully, we can keep it up.“
Paul Srnis shot 83, David Flynn 85 and Matt Jones 87 to round out the scoring for Amherst.
While Schneider’s putting was his strong suit, Lottman’s was anything but a strength.
“I putted horribly,” Lottman said. “I had 36 putts and four three-putt greens. That cost me quite a lot. I think one of my problems was I’m not familiar with this course and its greens.
“But otherwise, I played pretty well. I was really happy the way I hit the ball. I had some great drives and also some very good approach shots.”
Midview, with two players in the 70s (Louis Elbert 77, Brad Weaver 79), finished sixth at 349, off from the 326 it shot in winning the Admiral King Invitational last week.

LOW INDIVIDUALS

Matt Schneider, Amherst, 39-33—72
Kyle Lottman, Elyria 36-40—76
Louis Elbert, Midview 40-37—77
Mike Opsitnick, Avon 39-40—79
Reilly Bates, Avon Lake 39-40—79
Brad Weaver, Midview 41-38—79
B. Byrne, Strongsville 40-39—79

LOW TEAMS

Amherst 327 (Schneider 72, Srnis 83, Jones 87, Flynn 85, Kalivoda 88)
Strongsville 328 (Byrne 79, Kawiecki 85, Husak 84, Wirtz 88, Stefanik 80)
Elyria 332 (Lottman 76, Ward 80, Smith 97, Haywood 92, Thomasson 84)
Avon Lake 335 (Bates 79, Blankenship 85, Holmes 84, Flint 96, Helbert 87)
Berea Midpark 336 (Starr 81, Sholtis 88, Garrett 85, Geray 82, Trzebuckowski 92)

AND THE REST

Midview 349, North Olmsted 352, Olmsted Falls 352, North Ridgeville 353, Buckeye 354, Keystone 354, Rocky River 360, Lakewood 363,Avon 369, Lorain Admiral King 386, Lorain Southview 423

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