By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
When the Ryle Raiders finished third overall in the Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference boys’ golf tournament last week, coach John Kells told them they needed to play better to earn a berth in the state tournament for the 14th consecutive year.
With the team’s proud tradition on the line, the Ryle golfers responded by shooting the lowest combined score in the Region 7 state qualifier on Monday at Boone Links to secure a berth in next week’s state tournament at Bowling Green Country Club.
“They knew that Ryle has a lot of respect through out the state, but they hadn’t earned any of that respect,” Kells said of his young team. “So that was kind of their goal, to go out and earn that respect, and (Monday) they did it.”
Ryle finished with a 307 total to claim its third consecutive regional team title. Covington Catholic also earned a berth in the state tournament by placing second with a 323, four strokes better than St. Henry’s 327.
The Raiders came out on top once again with a team that had only one veteran returning from last year’s winning lineup. The other three golfers are sophomore newcomers.
“I’m so proud of the boys,” coach Kells said. “It’s been tough trying to fill those spots from last year, but they were excited for the opportunity and worked hard. They earned it.”
Ryle’s team leader was sophomore Ryan Clements, who shot a 2-under 70 to take individual medalist honors. The Raiders’ other scoring golfers were senior Austin Zapp (77), sophomore Justin Paoletti (78) and sophomore Tim Alexander (82).
Clements got off to a rocky start playing in his first regional tournament, but he shot a 3-under 33 on the back nine and won the medalist trophy by six strokes.
“He started out 3-over after the first two holes,” Kells said of Clements. “Last year, after he’d done that he would’ve shot 80 to 85. This year, he was able to calm down and turn it around and focus in on a good round.”
The scoring golfers on the CovCath team were junior Neal Schroer (76), senior Evan Thompson (81), sophomore Paul Thelen (83) and freshman Patrick Kennedy (83). This is the 14th consecutive year that Ryle and CovCath have qualified for the state tournament by shooting the top two scores in the regional qualifier.
The three individual state qualifiers were St. Henry teammates Brian Duggan and Ethan Berling, who both shot a 77, and Heritage senior Trevor Yost with a 79. Yost won a one-hole playoff with Heritage teammate Luke Herbst for the final at-large state berth.
In the Region 8 state qualifier on Monday at Northern Kentucky Golf Course, Mason County senior Tyler Lippert shot a 72 to earn medalist honors and his team placed first with a 309 total.
Bourbon County was regional runner-up with a 325 team score, followed by Grant County (330), Highlands (334) and Brossart (335).
The only local state qualifier was Campbell County senior Zach Baynum. He shot a 76 to tie for fourth place overall and won a playoff for an at-large berth in the state tournament.
The boys’ state golf tournament will be played Oct. 6-7. After the first round, the field will be reduced to the top 12 teams and top 20 individual scorers for the final round. Last year, Ryle was the only local team that made the first-round cut and finished seventh in the state tournament standings.
REGION 7 BOYS GOLF AT BOONE LINKS
State qualifying teams
Ryle 307 — Ryan Clements 70, Austin Zapp 77, Justin Paoletti 78, Tim Alexander 82.
CovCath 323 — Neal Schroer 76, Evan Thompson 81, Paul Thelen 83, Patrick Kennedy 83.
Other team scores
St. Henry 327, Heritage 336, Holy Cross 342, Beechwood 354, Dixie Heights 365, Owen County 370, Henry County 374, Boone County 378, Gallatin County 380, Scott 384, Simon Kenton 386, Covington Latin 400, Villa Madonna 471, Conner 425, Walton-Verona 472.
Top 10 individual scores
70 – Ryan Clements (Ryle). 76 – Neal Schroer (CovCath). 77 – Austin Zapp (Ryle), Ethan Berling (St. Henry), Brian Duggan (St. Henry). 78 – Justin Paoletti (Ryle). 79 – Trevor Yost (Heritage), Luke Herbst (Heritage). 80 – Mitchell Schilling (Beechwood), Nolan Schrand (Holy Cross).