Sun staff
A competitive Division I sectional tournament at Glenview Golf Course on Tuesday, Sept. 30 ended a lot of local golfers’ seasons, but two Eastern Cincinnati Conference standouts were able to navigate their way to this week’s district tournament at Weatherwax Golf Course in Middletown.
Milford’s Nathan Arnold and Glen Este’s Thomas Zink both shot 6-over par 78s to guarantee themselves two of the four individual qualifying slots from the section.
For Arnold, a sophomore, this will be his second consecutive trip to Weatherwax with a state tournament berth on the line. Milford head coach Phil Sheldon believes that Arnold’s education at last year’s district tournament only enhanced the developing player’s preparation, encouraging him to take on more offseason tournaments to prepare him for the grind that he will face on Oct. 9.
“(Last year), I think he was a little uncomfortable and didn’t quite know the formality of high school golf,” Sheldon said. “One of his goals this year was to make it back. To do that, he played a lot of summer golf tournaments and did quite well. He qualified for the Optimist International Junior Championship down in Florida. I think that really helped him out experience-wise.”
With some more competitive golf under his belt, Arnold had a stellar sophomore campaign for the Eagles, boasting a 38.40 9-hole average, which was second in the conference.
Arnold medaled at the conference tournament — not coincidentally also held at Glenview — shooting an even-par 72. A week later with the pressure on, Arnold’s 78 was good enough to advance to another district tournament.
“This year, he’s a lot more mature mentally and his course management is a lot better,” Sheldon said. “His physical ability is a lot better. I want him to qualify, but it’s very tough. We know that it’s consistently around 74 that makes it out.
“He knows what he needs to shoot, but he needs to make it a process and not be outcome-based. Each shot, he’s got a routine that he needs to go through. Last year, he was worried about the outcome and put a lot of pressure on himself. This year, there’s less pressure because he knows he just needs to do what he’s done all year.”
Teeing off nearly simultaneously, but on the opposite nine, Zink will be the lone Trojan to embark on the 18-hole gauntlet.
A strong Glen Este team came in fifth place, one spot and seven strokes out of tying Loveland for the fourth and final team qualifying spot. Tyler Creel, a GE senior, tied for the fourth individual qualifying spot with four others, but lost to a Hartley Stevenson (Anderson) birdie on the first playoff hole.
“Thomas has a very good work ethic and works hard on his game,” Glen Este head coach Butch Novak said. “He hits the ball very long, but his putting stroke is probably the thing holding him back from putting some very low numbers up.”
Novak went on to say that Weatherwax had been playing shorter due to a lack of rainfall over the last few weeks, but the steady precipitation that the area has received over the last few days could play into a long hitter like Zink’s wheelhouse.
“With the new coaching rules, I can help him with course management throughout the round,” Novak said. “He’s not going to get the roll that he would have before this week. Thomas is longer than most of (the competition), so the rain we’ve had is going to help him, but softer greens is a plus for all golfers.”
Zink will tee off on Thursday, Oct. 9 on the Woodside nine at 10:40 a.m. and turn on to the Highlands course while Arnold will tee off at 10:50 a.m. on the Highlands side and turn to the Woodside course.