MANSFIELD — The 2023 high school golf season is right around the corner.
Matches are set to begin Aug. 1 and it will be a fast and furious few months until the state tournament at the end of Oct. But, before balls start flying down the fairways, let's take a look at some names you may want to keep an eye on during the 2023 season.
Here are your Top 10 Richland County Boys and Girls Golfers for 2023.
Top 10 Richland County Boys Golfers
10. Charlie Danuloff, Ontario
Danuloff found himself in the hunt for an individual district qualifying spot last year but missed out by just two strokes as he shot a 39-44-83 at the sectional tournament. Back for his senior year, Danuloff should be back in contention again in 2023.
9. Jack Wyant, Lexington
Wyant was a solid 5-man for Lexington last year as he helped the team reach the district tournament. He shot a 45-51-96 at sectionals and a 52-52-104 at the district tournament. With the graduation of three seniors ahead of him, Wyant will be looked at to be a Top 2 player for his team.
8. Andrew Cawrse, Mansfield Senior
Cawrse made some program history last year becoming the first individual district qualifier in more than two decades after he posted the 17th-best score at the Division I sectional tournament with a 43-47-90 to grab the final qualifying spot. He followed that up with a 47-49-96 at districts. Back for his senior year, he will be looking to contend yet again.
7. Nicholas Maglott, Madison
Maglott had a great start to his high school golfing career after winning a scorecard playoff in the Division I sectional tournament to punch his ticket to districts. His 44-42-86 was good enough to qualify him for districts where his nerves may have gotten the best of him on the front 9 but he responded well shooting a 58-45-103. With three more years, Maglott could evolve into Richland County's best player.
6. Griffin Hughes, Lexington
As a freshman, Hughes showed a lot of poise and consistency as Lex's No. 4. He shot matching 87s in both the sectional and district tournament and will likely slide into the No. 1 man spot this year with three of Lex's five graduating. With three years left, Hughes will be a nice cornerstone for the program moving forward.
5. Canaan Slone, Plymouth
Slone was the lone Division III district qualifier from Richland County after he shot a 44-42-86 to punch his ticket. At the district tournament, he shot a solid 43-45-88 missing out on a state qualifying spot. Back for his senior year, Slone has been playing well this summer and has a shot to make a big jump.
4. Ty Keinath, Shelby
Keinath saw some success in the postseason in 2022. After missing the sectional tournament, he teed it up at the district tournament shooting a nice 42-40-82 for the Whippets as they took fifth as a team missing out on a team state qualifying spot by two places. Keinath will return for his senior season looking to lead the Whippets to Columbus.
3. Nate Lind, Clear Fork
Lind was as consistent as they came in 2022. After clawing his way to a district qualifying spot with a 42-39-81 at sectionals which finished him tied for the final individual qualifying spot, Lind won a playoff to advance. At districts, he fired another 42-29-81 narrowly missing out on a state qualifying spot. He is back for his senior year ready to build on a solid foundation which hopefully leads him to Columbus.
2. Will Magers, Shelby
The Whippets are locked and loaded with talent in 2023 and Magers will be a huge reason why it will be Columbus or bust. Magers was solid all year shooting a 39-38-77 at the Division II sectional tournament before following it up with a 35-44-79 at districts. The Whippets will be looking to advance as a team yet again and with Magers providing those scores, it will be an expectation.
1. Ashton Hoffbauer, Shelby
Last year, Hoffbauer showed his full potential and it was off the charts. During the sectional tournament, he was the individual medalist with an impressive 2-under 34-36-70 to lead the Whippets to the district tournament as a team. There, he got out to a rough start, but finished well shooting a 44-41-85 which, knowing Hoffbauer, has been eating at him all summer long. That fire should lead him to one heck of a senior year.
Honorable Mention: Jerry Thompson, St. Peter's; Elliott Hall, Plymouth; Dylan Bruner, Crestview; Jake Chapman, Ontario; Hunter McCarthy, Ontario; Aaron Spencer, Crestview; Tanner Thorne, Clear Fork; Landon Ball, Clear Fork; Grant Keep, Clear Fork; Brennan Fulk, Crestview; Landon Goad, Madison; Jake Zimmer, Mansfield Senior.
Top 10 Richland County Girls Golfers
10. Kennedy Snyder, Crestview
Snyder had a nice season for the Cougars after shooting a 61-64-125 at the Division II sectional tournament. She will be back for her senior season looking to improve on that score.
9. Kalee Hamman, Crestview
Hamman was right ahead of her Cougar teammate with a 68-54-122 at the sectional tournament as she responded well with a 14-stroke difference from the front 9 to the back. A senior in 2023, she will be looking for more out of her final postseason.
8. Grace Weikle, Clear Fork
Weikle Finished in the Top 24 at the Division II sectional tournament last year shooting a 55-56-111 as she only missed out on an individual qualifying spot by 11 strokes. With a good summer and the urgency of her senior year approaching, Weikle could be a surprise player.
7. Elyse Belcher, Crestview
Belcher finished 14th at the Division II sectional tournament with a 51-52-103 and was just three strokes away from trying for the final individual district qualifying spot. Not too shabby for a sophom*ore who will be back for two more years looking to advance in the postseason.
6. Samantha Hunt, Clear Fork
Hunt was in contention for an individual district qualifying spot after shooting a 53-49-102 at the Division II sectional tournament. She missed out by just two strokes so she will be back for her senior year looking to improve that score and make it out in 2023.
5. Delaney Moritz, Ontario
Moritz is one of just five Richland County golfers to know what it is like to play in a district tournament. After Ontario qualified as a team, Moritz shot a 64-60-124 at a very tough Division I district tournament. She shot a 54-55-109 at sectionals to help the Warriors advance. With three players back from the district qualifying team, Moritz will look to lead the Warriors back.
4. Emily Asher, Lexington
Asher is the first Richland County golfer on the list in either boys or girls who know what it is like to play in the state golf tournament. Asher and her Lexington teammates made it to state as a team where she shot a 36-hole total of 115-122-237. That was after she posted a 118 and 110 in the sectional and district tournaments to help Lex make it to Columbus. With three players graduating from the 2022 team, Asher will be tasked with taking on a senior leadership role in 2023.
3. Brooklynn Black, Ontario
Black had a nice freshman season in 2022 shooting a 58-56-114 at sectionals and a 58-58-116 at the district tournament to take 51st overall. Ontario has its sights set on getting back to districts in Division I but will need Black to continue to progress as a player to do so. All signs point to her doing just that.
2. Anzaya Estep, Ontario
As a junior, Estep shot a 44-49-93 at the Division I sectional before carding a 50-55-105 at the district tournament to take 44th overall. Back for her senior year and having that district tournament experience under her belt, Estep should be ready to take the next step and lead the Warriors with her play.
1. Darcie Reinhart, Lexington
Reinhart knows the pressure the state tournament brings and she is ready for anything in 2023. She shot a 36-hole total 91-102-193 at state which came after her 49-44-93 at sectionals and 54-49-103 at districts. Lexington lost a lot of senior leadership from that 2022 team and Reinhart will now be the go-to golfer for Lady Lex.
jfurr@gannett.com
740-244-9934
Twitter: @JakeFurr11
