ELYRIA — Who needs a coach on match day in high school golf? Just let the players tee it up and do their thing after their coach did his thing during practice rounds.
Elyria Catholic golf coach Tom Porter was miles away Wednesday when his Panthers won the Pioneer Invitational at Forest Hills Golf Course by three strokes over runner-up Midview.
Under the watchful eye of substitute coach Ed Dolinar, Elyria Catholic had its second straight impressive finish in the young season, shooting a 319 to Midview’s 322. Last week at the Grey Hawk Invitational the Panthers finished in a tie with Amherst for second with a 314.
Porter was on hand at Grey Hawk but on Wednesday he was in College Station, Texas, helping his daughter Alexa settle in as a student athlete at Texas A&M University, where she transferred after playing golf for the University of Memphis her freshman year.
Colin Coughlin led EC Wednesday with a 4-over 74 (38-36). Midview’s Brad Weaver won the individual title with a 73 (34-39). Last Wednesday, Weaver was runner-up with a 77 in the Admiral King Invitational at FoxCreek.
“These are pretty steady players,” Dolinar said of the Panthers. “They have experience from last year and are doing well so far this season.”
Elyria, showing good progress with each outing after struggling to a 364 in the Grey Hawk tourney, was third with a 323, having two golfers in the 70s in Tyler Ward (77) and Kyle Lottman (78). The Pioneers’ previous low was a 332 Tuesday at the Ranger Invitational at Avon Oaks.
Midview was the only other team with two golfers in the 70s. Behind Weaver’s 73 was Louis Elbert with a 77.
“I putted really well today and also my short game was good,” said Weaver, who had three birdies in his season-low round. “I only had 26 putts, which is my fewest this year. I really didn’t have any bad holes all day with no double bogeys.”
Contact Jerry Rombach at 329-7137 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

Individual leaders

Brad Weaver, Midview 73; Colin Coughlin, Elyria Catholic 74; Tyler Ward, Elyria 77; Bryan Yeo, Keystone 77; Louis Elbert, Midview 77; Kyle Lottman, Elyria 78. 

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