St. Marys wraps up Allen East Invite title

HARROD - At a regular weekday prep golf match, it isn't difficult to figure out which individual and team took home the titles. After all, a couple of teams over nine holes can't create too many numbers.

Tuesday at Colonial, however, three calculators and the help of multiple coaches were needed to add up scores from 14 teams over 36 holes. The second annual Allen East Invitational is one of the few prep golf tournaments during the season that is spread out over two days.

"It's a true test if they're a good golfer," Allen East coach Bill Mattevi said.

After adding up the scores and totaling the two days, St. Marys came out on top with a 641, followed closely by Findlay (647). Delphos St. John's was third at 673.

The first day of the tournament was at Lost Creek Country Club.

"This is a wonderful opportunity, first to play two magnificent golf courses," St. Marys coach Kurt Kuffner said. "To put together two good scores to win this thing, I'm so proud of our kids."

Adam Kuffner's 156 (77-79) led the Roughriders. His score also secured a fourth-place individual finish.

In what bodes well for the future of Roughriders golf, the St. Marys J.V. team finished ninth as the only non-varsity team.

"It's a positive for our golf program. My hat goes off to our guys who played real good golf over the last two days," coach Kuffner said.

The Invitational is a great deal of work for Mattevi, but it's all worth it.  At the very least, his young, inexperienced Mustangs golfers get more course time.

He is already looking to grow the tournament; this year, there were 14 teams, and his goal for next year is 20. Last year, there were 16 teams, though the event was washed out by heavy rain.

"There is a nice community involvement. The first person I ever approached was Jerry Lewis with McDonald's and he was more than happy to donate lunches. Sites Grocery, and Tim Fetter, also bought the donuts. It's not cheap to get 12 dozen each day," Mattevi said, adding that Tom Holtsberry at Colonial gave each golfer two golf balls.

"For kids, they just love to eat and play golf. And those are the two things they get to do."

In putting together pairings, Mattevi had an eye towards grouping kids from schools who wouldn't normally face each other. Teams such as Carey and Patrick Henry don't normally get to tournaments in Lima. It gave the Invitational the feel of a true tournament.

"The coaches get to know each other, the players get to know each other," Mattevi said. "It's just good for everyone. I don't think the coaches have a bad thing to say about it."

The medalist trophy went to Jay Hahler of Carey, who carded a 153 (77-76).

Brad Wannemacher of St. John's and Matt Warnecke of Kalida had matched 154s, but Wannemacher took second place courtesy of his 74 at Colonial. Warnecke had a 79 on Tuesday.

"You've got to take it one shot at a time. You've got 36 holes, so if you have a bad hole, you can always come back," Wannemacher said. "You always gun for first. You work hard for first. Second's all right."