LCC golfers tumble to runner-up on scoring error

LOCKBOURNE - This wasn't what they were expecting. The slumping shoulders and distant gazes on their faces were enough evidence of that. When a team arrives at the state tournament expecting a first-place trophy, second place can quickly become "everyone else."

The Lima Central Catholic boys golf team arrived at The Players Club at Foxfire and the Division III state tournament looking for the big hardware. In the end, a simple mistake left the Thunderbirds grasping for answers.

Sugarcreek Garaway won its second straight team title with a 631, eight strokes ahead of LCC. Garaway individual Kevin Miller won his second medalist trophy with a 141, including a 3-under par 69 on Saturday.

"Coming into today with a two-shot lead, we were expecting to increase that lead and come out on top," LCC's John Goetz said. "If you want to look back on stuff, this season's not a complete disappointment. But this does end it on a pretty bad note."

LCC ended the first day of the tournament with a 317. As the scores were being posted, the lead not only looked solid, but it was growing.

Then a hushed rumbling started among the crowd gathered at the scoreboard. An LCC golfer was inside, talking to an official about his scorecard.

Next came the glue stick and blank slip of paper, covering up the 76 turned in by LCC junior Brandon French. He was disqualified after signing his scorecard with a 6 on No. 18, instead of his correct 7.

LCC coach Tom Bader said French hastily signed his scorecard. French lost his concentration partly because there was a discussion about another issue in his group.

Dropping French's two-day total of 157 sank the LCC score by 12 strokes.

"The boys have played really well all year, and I'm really happy with their play today," Bader said. "It's a mistake. It happens. We play by the rules. We're no different than anyone else. Win, lose, we do it as a team. Second place, we do it as a team."

The loss ends the prep careers for Goetz and T.J. Sims. Goetz followed up a 79 with an 80 for a 159, and Sims turned in a 77 after an 83 on Friday, for a 160.

There was little, if anything, to console the duo, but each understood the importance of sticking by their downtrodden teammate.

"Little things happen. You've got to deal with them and move on," Goetz said. "Unfortunately for me, I don't get to move on."

For the second straight year, Ollie Holtsberry earned All-State honors after his 77 on Saturday gave him a two-day total of 151 for third place.

Holtsberry, along with French and fifth-man Austin Stolly (91-88-179), and sixth-man Joey Levers, come back for the T-Birds next year.

The Thunderbirds can look back on their undefeated Northwest Conference season, and the conference invitational title, as well as sectional and district titles. Those accomplishments, though, meant little in the aftermath of the state loss.

"It's one thing to say you're an NWC champ, or a sectional champ or district champion. It's another thing to say you're a state champion," Sims said. "There's an elite group of people who can say they've been a state champion. I feel like we kind of got cut out of that group."