The Gilmour Academy varsity boys golf team helped the Lancer Athletic Department get the 2021-22 school year off to a strong start with a successful opening week of action.
The Gilmour boys, who finished third at the OHSAA state championship last year, demonstrated that they could once again play a significant role come postseason time.
Gilmour won two of the four tournaments it contested last week.
In their second event of the season, the Lancers won the Warrior/Jaguar Classic at NorthStar Golf Club, the site of last year's state championship. Playing against some of the top Division III teams in the state, including the two teams that finished ahead of them last year, the Lancers topped the field of 11 schools with a score of 323 in tough conditions.
Alex Swinarski '22 led all Division III players with his round of 72, which included a blistering 32 on the front nine.
Jack Popovich '22 (83), Nathan Flaherty '22 (84) and Eric Anton '22 (84) rounded out the scoring contingent for GA with nearly identical rounds.
Three days later, Gilmour would claim their second title of the young season. The Lancers won the Tannenhauf Invitational held at Tannenhauf Golf Club, site of this year's OHSAA Northeast District Tournament. Gilmour's team score of 319 was the best in the 14-team field.
Swinarski also led the way at Tannenhauf with a round of 75. Flaherty and Popovich each finished with an 80 while Anton shot 84.
Gilmour also played very well at the Walsh Jesuit Invitational at Brookledge Golf Club last week. Competing in a field that featured some of the top Division I teams in the state, Gilmour finished in sixth place of 16 teams with a score of 309.
Popovich and Swinarski tied for the low Lancer round with a 75 while Anton shot a career-low round of 78.
Gilmour's junior varsity team was a victim of some wet weather in its opening week, but the Lancers still walked away with a tournament title.
The Lancer JV team won the Kenston Invitational at Punderson State Park Golf Course, topping the field of 13 teams with a score of 351.
Aidan McKito '24 (81) and Harry Rodgers '22 (83) led the way for the Lancers. Gunnar Doney '23 (92) and Brennan Friedman '23 (95) rounded out the scoring for GA.
Gilmour also took fourth place of 18 teams at the Hudson Explorer JV Invitational, finishing with a team score of 347. The Lancers' other two scheduled events for last week were not completed due to rain affecting course conditions.
Gilmour's varsity team will contest four more tournaments in its second week of the season, including its only two home events of the campaign.
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