After a slow start, the Dublin Jerome girls golf team rallied to remain in contention for a Division I state championship following first-round play Monday at NCR Country Club in Kettering.
Battling for the individual state title is Olentangy junior Meadow Tian, whose 70 gives her a one-shot lead over Medina Highland’s Elizabeth Coleman entering Tuesday’s final round. Olentangy Liberty senior Olivia Aronhalt is tied for fifth (73).
Seeking an eighth state championship, Jerome is second (313) behind Rocky River Magnificat (308).
“I feel lucky,” Jerome coach C.D. Butcher said. “We were down double-digit strokes most of the round and then made a real late push and cut it to five. As everybody knows, you just have a shot on the second day and that’s where we want to be.”
Seniors Ellie Ryu and Alexa Prettyman each shot 76 to lead the Celtics. They are tied for 10th.
“We have 18 more holes, which is a good thing,” Butcher said. “People forget we have three new girls who have never played in the state tournament. Today was a good learning curve for them. It’s an attitude and these girls believe in themselves, so we’ll roll it out tomorrow and see what happens.”
Freshman Nikitha Suresh shot an 80 and freshman Adella Pawlowski had an 81 to round out Jerome’s scoring. Senior Caitlyn Mundwiler shot an 82.
New Albany is fourth (319). Junior Elle Furrow shot a 75 (tied for eighth) to lead the Eagles.
