CovCath golfers pose for photos with coach Robb Schneeman after receiving Region 7 championship trophy. The golfers are, left to right: Neal Schroer, Tyler Chandler, Patrick Kennedy, Griffin Flesch and Paul Thelen.
By Terry Boehmker
NKy Tribune sports reporter
After settling for second place the last three years, Covington Catholic golfers won their annual showdown with Ryle in the Region 7 tournament on Tuesday at Boone Links.
CovCath finished with a 308 team total that was five strokes better than three-time defending champion Ryle. This is the 15th consecutive year that the two teams have topped the regional field to earn berths in the state tournament. CovCath has now won nine titles and Ryle six during that 15-year span.
The winning foursome for CovCath on Tuesday included sophomore Patrick Kennedy with a team-leading 74, followed by senior Griffin Flesch (76), senior Neal Schroer (77) and junior Kyle Chandler (81).
“It’s been frustrating (competing) with Ryle,” Schroer said. “They always come out and give us a good run for our money. It’s good to finally get them this year. We’ve been waiting for this. ”
Flesch played on the CovCath teams that placed second behind Ryle in three previous regional tournaments.
“I got to play when I was a freshman as our No. 5 man and we lost by a shot that year,” Flesch said. “Ever since then this has kind of been my biggest goal, to get this championship back, so it feels really good.”
CovCath golf coach Robb Schneeman was proud of his team’s winning effort after placing second behind Ryle in the Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Championships last week.
“It was a team victory and we’ve really focused on that aspect,” Schneeman said. “We talked all through the season that we might not have the best individual (in the region), but we can have the best five.”
Ryan Clements
Ryle junior Ryan Clements was the regional tournament’s individual medalist for the second consecutive year, but it didn’t come easily. He needed two birdies and an eagle on the final three holes to finish in a tie for first place with a 72. The eagle came on a chip shot from the rough around the 18th green that rolled around the edge of the cup before falling in.
The playoff for medalist between Clements and Henry County freshman Alex Hadden lasted only one hole. The defending champ dropped a birdie putt to retain the title.
“It was a cool way to win,” Clements said. “I was fortunate enough to play my last few holes good and that gave me the opportunity to go into the playoff. Once I got into the playoff, I knew I had a good chance. I was just confident with my swing and the way I was putting the ball going into it.”
Hadden is one of three individual qualifiers for the state tournament to be played Oct. 7-8 at Bowling Green Country Club. The others are Logan Griffin of Walton-Verona and Ethan Berling of St. Henry. They both shot 77 and qualified for state in a three-way playoff with Nolan Schrand of Holy Cross.
Bishop Brossart won the Region 8 boys’ team title for the first time on Tuesday to also advance to the state tournament.
The Mustangs were led by senior Joey Ampfer, who shot a 71 at Laurel Oaks in Maysville to take medalist honors. Three of his teammates — Davis Brown, Bryce Kremer and Jerod Baynum – shot 81 for a 314 team total that was 16 strokes better than runner-up Grant County.
REGION 7 TEAM SCORES
Covington Catholic 308, Ryle 313, St. Henry 324, Cooper 337, Henry County 353, Carroll County 355, Dixie Heights 357, Boone County 360, Holy Cross 367, Beechwood 370, Simon Kenton 377, Conner 386, Walton-Verona 387, Owen County 396, Villa Madonna 448, Scott 450, Gallatin County 478.
STATE QUALIFYING TEAMS
(Top four scores count toward team total)
COVCATH (308) – Patrick Kennedy 74, Griffin Flesch 76, Neal Schroer 77, Tyler Chandler 81, Paul Thelen 85.
RYLE (313) – Ryan Clements 72, Zach Catalano 76, Jake Tarvin 81, Tim Alexander 84, Justin Paoletti 84.
INDIVIDUAL STATE QUALIFERS
Alex Hadden (Henry County) 72, Logan Griffin (Walton) 77, Ethan Berling (St. Henry) 77.
REGION 8 STATE QUALIFYING TEAMS
(Top four scores count toward team total)
BROSSART (314) – Joey Ampfer 71, Davis Brown 81, Bryce Kremer 81, Jerod Baynum 81, Ian Bracke 95.
GRANT COUNTY (330) – Jacob Vrolijk 78, Kyle West 80, Ryan Mitts 85, Tyler Mitts 87, Michael Frost 93.
