NORWALK — Led by Matt Gregory’s four-over-par 75, Firelands captured the West Shore Conference title Thursday at Eagle Creek Golf Club to earn an overall co-championship with Midview for the season.
The overall conference championship is determined by combining regular-season dual match records and the tournament standings.
Midview won the regular-season title with an 11-3 match record but Firelands earned enough points with the tourney crown to gain a tie. The Falcons had a 10-4 regular season mark, along with Bay. Midview has won or tied for three straight conference titles.
The Middies finished second with a 329 combined score of their low four shooters. Avon was the only team with three shooters in the 70s, but because its fourth man had a 100 the Eagles finished third at 330. Rocky River was a distant fourth at 340.
Gregory’s 75 was matched by Avon’s Mike Opsitnick for co-medalist honors. Andrew Northeim of Avon tied for third at 76 with Midview’s Brad Weaver. Ryan Moolbroek was Avon’s third shooter with a 77.
“The key to our win,” said Firelands coach Joe Miller, “was my freshman Matt Baker coming in with an 87 in only his second varsity match.
“He came out with the intention of playing bogey golf and he did it. Overall we did all right today. It was good to get the overall co-championship because we split with Midview in dual-match play.”
Gregory was not satisfied with his round.
“It could have been so much better,” he said. “I made some stupid mistakes and finished the last three holes with bogies. I was up and down all day. The worst was a triple bogey seven on the fourth hole. I had a good drive but then hit a sand wedge into the trees and actually whiffed two swings.”
The junior did have some good holes, though.
On the 11th he hit his second shot, an eight iron, 160 yards to the green and then sank a four-foot putt for birdie.
He also had an 80-foot putt on the 14th for a birdie. He was about a yard off the green when he putted.
His 75 was a stroke off what he shot finishing third in the Grey Hawk Invitational in August for his best round of the year.
Avon’s Opsitnick was happy with his round.
“I putted very well, having only 30 putts all day. What made that especially satisfying was the fact the greens were very difficult today. They were fast and firm.
“My longest putt was a 20-footer for a birdie on the eighth hole. My other birdies were on the first and fifth holes.”
The senior was especially proud of his consistency as he didn’t have a double bogey in matching his previous low score in a tourney at Oberlin Golf Club in August.
Weaver, who paced Midview’s second-place finish, was likewise happy.
“I had no really bad holes all day other than a three putt green on the 10th,” he said. “Otherwise I was solid on the greens with 28 putts, which tied my season low.”
Contact Jerry Rombach at 329-7137 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.

Need help? Email Us.