Jerome boys, Orange girls grab first-round leads

Hundreds of spectators, coaches and players studying the leader board after the first day of the Division I state golf tournament might have thought that almost every team and individual sitting at or near the top was from central Ohio.

Domination was the fitting word for the day.

The Dublin Jerome boys put themselves into position to win a seventh championship Friday with a four-man total of 295 strokes on the par-72 Ohio State Scarlet Course.

The Celtics were led by Blake Solomon shooting 71 and Jackson Chandler 72. They stood first and second among individuals.

In the girls tournament on the par-70 Gray Course, 2016 champion Olentangy Orange took a four-shot lead over Centerville behind a 73 by Ashley Au. She is in fifth place, five shots off the lead.

“I’m super proud of our guys,” first-year Jerome coach Taylor Harle said. “Our former coach, Craig Zesiger, said he couldn’t remember a Jerome team that has broken 300 after the first round.”

Harle reminded the players before the round what has made them big winners. Supporting Solomon and Chandler were Mason Wagner (75) and Davis Root (77).

“One of my biggest things is for them to stay in the moment, play with confidence and stay loose,” he said. “They’ve worked so hard the last couple of months, and it’s a matter of playing to their ability.”

Solomon didn’t get going until the back nine, when he chipped in from 40 yards for a birdie on No. 11 and eagled No. 12, but knew teammates would pick him up if he continued to struggle.

“I didn’t know what the others were doing, but I trusted in them that they were playing well,” he said. “Knowing that, you can be that much more confident.”

Cole Corder and Trey Rath shot 74 to put Olentangy Liberty in second place at 308. They are sixth among individuals.

“I’m pretty happy with where we are — we did what we normally do,” coach Ryan Snivley said. “It felt like we had one bogey after another on the front nine, but had nothing worse. On the back, we started getting birdies.”

Corder said the key was a sound mental approach.

“I thought we all stayed in there and focused,” he said. “I know I was pretty nervous on the first tee, but then I relied on all my hard work.”

Caleb Davern of Central Crossing had bogeys on the final two holes to finish with a 75. He is ninth overall.

Riley Dean, who shot 78, said the Orange girls are relaxed. They had a dance party in the team van on the way to the course.

“I’m not worried about winning a state title as much as playing hole to hole,” Dean said. “We’re having fun. We’re always cracking jokes. We crank up the music in the team van.”

Coach Cari DeAngelis was elated with the first round. After Au and Dean, Natalia Sompolvorachai shot 76 and Alyssa Kim 78.

“We can go lower, but you have to be happy with 305 on a day we knew scores would be low with the great weather,” DeAngelis said. “We had some first-day jitters. We know what we can do.”

Jerome totaled 313 strokes and was eight shots behind in fourth.

“We always want to be within 10 going into the second round,” coach C.D. Butcher said. “We’ve won three of our five state titles coming from behind.”

The Celtics, who were led by Taby Robinson with 75 and Abby Kiefer with 76, will tee off first.

“We definitely like coming from behind,” Robinson said. “There is no pressure and you just stay calm and play your game.”

New Albany freshman Morgan Spiess was tied for ninth with a 75.