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For Sidney’s Yinger, there’s a next year

Junior shoots 75 to tie for second place overall at the Division I state golf tourney in Columbus.

Handout Sidney's Zach Yinger tied for second overall in the boys Division I state golf championship in Columbus. Contributed photo

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By Alex Sator, Contributing Writer 9:55 AM Thursday, November 5, 2009

SIDNEY — Zach Yinger of Sidney High School finished second by shooting a 75 at the OHSAA Division I state golf championships last month at Ohio State University’s challenging Scarlet course.

During the summer, he hones his golf skills by playing both regional and national events sponsored by the American Junior Golf Association throughout the Midwest.

During the winter he is the starting small forward for an improving Yellow Jackets basketball squad, as well as a first-team Greater Western Ohio Conference North Division all-star.

Join Neighbors Sports as we touch base with the busy junior two-sport standout after a recent open gym basketball workout.

Q Congratulations on your big accomplishments. Tell us about your season.

A In the beginning of the season I started out all right. I wasn’t entirely happy with what I was doing. But by the middle of the season I started to play a lot better.

Q What was the problem with your game?

A I was really, really struggling with my short game. I mean, I have always been a long hitter, but I couldn’t get any of my putts to fall for me earlier in the year.

Q By long hitter what do you mean?

A Typically — depending on the conditions — I can hit 300-yard drives with some control. I don’t always get to benefit from that at the high school level because the courses aren’t quite as long as the courses I see in the summer.

That doesn’t really play to my strengths so much, and I end up with a lot of short shots up to the green — that’s not my favorite situation.

Q You went on quite a roll at that point.

A I had a stretch there where I had six 33s (for nine holes), a 35, and a 31. Those were mostly all (nine-hole league matches) against other GWOC North schools.

Q What about the league tournament?

A I won the postseason GWOC tournament (all three divisions combined, held at Beechwood Golf Course in Arcanum) with a 72.

Q You were also named the GWOC North player of the year.

A And I was the sectional medalist, too (with a 75 at Reid Park North in Springfield). After that we went to the district (at Weatherwax Woodside and Highlands in Middletown).

I had a 78 there, and I was forced to win a playoff in order to qualify for the state meet. It just wasn’t my day. I lost concentration and had a stretch of bad holes.

Q So what happened?

A I played really well down the stretch and played the last five holes in one under par to force the playoff in the first place. The conditions weren’t the greatest. It was a cold and windy day.

Because of the way I finished the round, I felt good going into the playoff and I won on the very first hole. I hit a good drive and was able to get a par (on Woodside hole No. 1), and that was good enough to qualify for state.

Q What about Columbus?

A Normally, it is a two-day tournament, but Friday got rained out. I was familiar with the course — and that helped me, a lot — because I played in the state tournament last year, too.

Obviously my score could have been better (laughs), but there is always next year.

Contact this writer with story ideas at hotair@hotmail.com.

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