By Rob Kiser

Brown News Service

ARCANUM — Lehman, Versailles and Anna will be making a familiar trip to West Middletown — and Russia survived some big numbers to do the same.

Versailles won the Division III sectional tournament at Beechwood Golf Course with a 318 total.

Anna was second with 321, Lehman finished third with 330 to earn its eighth straight trip to the district tournament, and Russia carded a 342 total to earn the fourth and final team spot to district.

Lehman sophomore Will Fridley took medalist honors, carding a 74, while Houston’s Travis Oberlander (84), and Fort Loramie’s Frank Boerger (80) and Ryan Grant (84) advanced as individuals.

“Being medalist was a big goal,” Fridley said. “I felt very good coming into the tournament. I worked with my dad (Shelby Oaks Pro Rob Fridley) last night and I knew I would have a good round today. I had to scramble a couple times, but for the most part, I did everything pretty well today.”

Fridley was the fifth man on Lehman’s state qualifying team last year and the lone returner. But, his play this season has been no surprise to him.

“I didn’t play that much before last season,” Fridley said. “I was playing football and had a back injury. I worked coming into this season. I knew we had a good group of guys coming back. Definitely, going to district as team was the number one goal.”

Versailles will have an added bonus next week, heading to Weatherwax Golf Course as sectional champions.

“Yes, you want to make it to district,” Versailles coach Pete DiSalvo said. “But, it is nice to be sectional champions, because you get to tee off last at district.”

Versailles scores were Wes Drees 76, Matt Stover 77, Max Kindell 82, Trevor Phlipot 83, Tom Gorman 86.

Other Lehman scores were Travis Bosse 82, Brian Kinninger 87, Nathan Davis 87, Ben Thieman 91.

“This group of guys has worked hard,” Lehman coach Elmer Schlater said. “We lost five seniors off last year’s team. We were 11-5 on the season and runnerup in three tournaments, so I am very happy with the season we have had, no matter what happens at district. I think we are probably a little more balanced this year.”

It never hurts to have the sectional medalist.

“Will (Fridley) has had an outstanding season,” Schlater said. “He has averaged 39 this fall after being our fifth man last year. He has really stepped up.”

Anna built on its momentum from last week’s county tournament championship, shooting a 321 to nail down the second spot.

Zach Koppin and Luke Kindelin both broke 80, Koppin leading the Rockets with a 78 and Kindelin having a 79. Brandyn Heitman added an 81 and Trey Billing 83.

Russia coach Paul Bremigan is happy to be going to district.

The Raiders were a picture of consistency. Nathan Wilson and Ryan Bremigan carded 85s, while Corey Bremigan and Zach Borchers had 86s.

“I feel fortunate to be going to district,” Russia coach Paul Bremigan said. “We had six or seven numbers on the back nine (Russia’s first nine). You can’t have that, but the kids fought back and did a good job coming back.”

Botkins was seventh with a 365, and led by Eric Ambos with an 85. That put him in a playoff for an individual qualifying spot, but he was unable to advance.

Final team scores (top four advance to district): 1. Versailles 318; 2. Anna 321; 3. Lehman 330; 4. Russia 342; 5. Fort Loramie 347; 6. Houston 354; 7. Botkins 365; 8. Tri-Village 369; 9. Covington 379; 10. Jackson Center 380; 11. Ansonia 382; 12. Triad 387; 13. Mechanicsburg 390; 14. Riverside 407; 15. Mississinawa 410; 16. Fairlawn 426.

Individuals qualifying: Travis Oberlander, Houston; Frank Boerger and Ryan Grant, Fort Loramie; Clark Manson, Covington.

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