Evers wins LJGA tournament in playoff

WAYNESFIELD — Wil Fridley has his summer mapped out. Between Lima Junior Golf Association events and games for the St. Marys American Legion baseball team, his days and nights are pretty much spoken for.

On Wednesday night, Fridley capped off a doubleheader with the Legion team at 12:40 a.m. Less than eight hours later Thursday morning, the Sidney Lehman student was at Prairie View Golf Course for his third LJGA event in as many days.

He ended his week of golf with a 73 and a second-place finish in the LJGA event, losing a one-hole playoff to Kyle Evers in the boys 16-18 division.

Fridley finished third at Country Acres with a 78 Tuesday and his 83 from the tips at Hidden Creek on Wednesday was good for the win.

“I’m not too bad, 5-Hour Energy’s keep me awake,” Fridley said. “I wouldn’t want (my summer) any other way.”

Fridley left the course Thursday for yet another baseball doubleheader. He plays catcher and outfield for the Legion team.

Evers had three birdies, four bogeys and 11 pars in his round. He was 1-under par heading to No. 8, but bogeys on the final two holes of the front left him with 37. His birdie at the par-4 13th made up for a bogey at the par-3 16th for an even par 36 on the back.

“I was making some birdies and hitting the ball straight. That’s always a good thing,” Evers said. “I was putting pretty good. I was hitting my irons really well, hitting them crisp and backing them up.”

On the extra hole, Evers drove to within 150 yards of the green. He stuck a 9-iron on the green and one-putted for the birdie.

It is his first win on the LJGA circuit.

“I was shaking pretty good (over the final putt),” Evers said. “I feel a lot more relaxed. I feel like I can relax for the rest of the tournaments.”

Delphos Jefferson graduate and future University of Northwestern Ohio golfer Austin Clarkson finished one stroke out of the playoff. He was at even-par going to 18, but a double bogey finished his day.

“I left a lot of strokes out there,” Clarkson said. “I had three 3-putts today; that kind of hurt.”

Blaine Ricketts posted a 73 to win the boys 14-15 age division. He went birdie-birdie-par to close out the front nine for a 2-under 34.

Xavier Francis won the boys 12-13 division with a 40. Sarah Scheiwiller carded a 53 to win the girls 15-under division.

Deanna Ray continued her improvement on the course, turning in an 85 to win the girls 16-18 division. The incoming senior at Celina had an up-and-down round with eight pars, seven bogeys and three double bogeys.

“They all came together, but in the end it turned out well,” Ray said. “I used to shoot in the 100s, and I shoot in the 80s now. It’s just getting out there and practicing.”