Led by medalist Gochenouer, Alter wins Division II state boys golf title

And junior Davis Gochenouer, a two-time state runner-up, shot 76 Saturday after an opening-round 72 to win the individual title. He joins Randy Leen in 1993 and Mike Castleforte in 1998 as Alter state champions, both of whom played on title teams.

“To be able to win it as a team is really great,” Gochenouer said. “And I obviously wanted to win it this year. I played well my freshman year to get second. And then I easily could have won it last year and I just didn’t play well the second day. But to win it today is just great.”

Alex Schuster has been the coach building up his players through all of the close calls. The strength of his program was evident as more than a dozen former players were present and joined this year’s team for a group photo next to the 18th green. Schuster ran over at the last second to be a part of it.

“I’m just so proud of these kids because they worked so hard to get to this point,” he said. “It’s a win for all of us, for all the kids that came here six years in a row. I think about Tommy Grawe who played here four straight years and didn’t didn’t get a win. And his brother (Finn Grawe) gets the opportunity to do that, not just for the team and for himself, but also for all these guys that have come so close.”

Alter sophomore T.J. Kreusch shot rounds of 77 and 73 to finish second, two shots behind Gochenouer.

“Our team’s been working our butts off this whole year,” Kreusch said. “We just kept our focus and kept working because we knew we wanted to get this position. I really wasn’t worried about individual. The lowest I can come in the more chance we have to win, but it’s a good feeling just following in Davis’s footsteps. He deserves to win it. He’s played the best golf the whole year.”

Senior Grant Tabar shot 80 to finish tied for sixth and earn second-team all-state. And in the spirit of team play, sophomores Grady Tabar and Finn Grawe tied at 166 for the team’s fourth spot to both get a share of contributing to the final team score.

Gochenouer was the last Knight to finish, and his team – standing by the green and keeping the eventual celebration in check as each of them finished – rushed to the green to congratulate him and celebrate the championships.

“It’s just surreal to think that that’s happening right now,” Grant Tabar said of the moment on the green. “We deserve it for the amount of work that we’ve put in from last year. It’s just feels good.”

Last year’s disappointment, more than anything, inspired the Knights. They lead CA by 10 shots after the first round and lost by three. Tabar said the difference was learning to handle the pressure.

The Knights had plenty of motivation this season. Among the factors was the chance to finally beat CA.

“It’s fun to beat an opponent that you’ve lost to for so many years just by that much,” Tabar said. “It just means that much more.”

Division II girls: Alter’s girls team played in their 10th state tournament and finished 10th out of 12 teams with a two-day total of 768 on the Gray Course. Columbus Academy won its first girls title with a 647.

Freshman Lauren Miller led the Knights with rounds of 82 and 81 to finish 13th. Botkins senior Lydia Dietz finished 16th.

Division III boys: Troy Christian senior Tanner Conklin shot rounds of 81 and 77 at NorthStar Golf Club in Sunbury to finish tied for seventh and earn second-team all-state.

Senior Ross Dietz finished tied for 18th with rounds of 84 and 81. Minster finished in a tie for fifth.