Springboro’s Gilkison on state golf title: ‘Something I’ve worked for my whole life’

“The only thing I told him was after he made that birdie putt on 18: ‘You’re a state champ,’” Martin said.

Gilkison was indeed the Division I state champion. He thought the birdies on 16 and 18, two par 4s, made the difference. But he didn’t need them. Gilkison won by three shots with a second-round even-par 71.

“I don’t know if I can describe it in words,” Gilkison said. “Something I’ve worked for my whole life and I’m just glad I was able to pull through.”

Gilkison tied for fifth last year and entered Saturday’s round in third, two shots off the lead. But he was the most consistent player of the weekend with a 72 and 71 for a 1-over-par 143 total.

“I knew he was at least going to give himself a chance purely on how consistent he plays,” Martin said. “I have not been happier for a student-athlete in my entire career. He just deserves it.”

After pleasant days for Thursday’s practice round and Friday’s first round, Saturday started off with temperatures in the 40s and peaked at 52.

“I feel like I was very mentally strong today and feel like I outplayed everyone mentally,” Gilkison said. “With the cold weather you have to stay focused. You can’t get mad at bogeys, take the occasional birdie and keep trucking.”

Gilkison, who will play college golf at Kent State, admitted that he thought he might be the winner after hitting his second shot on 18. Another coach walked past him and said, “Good playing.”

“I thought I’d probably won,” Gilkison said. “But I thought it was closer than it was.”

But everyone following him on the course, on the live-scoring app and on Twitter knew. Last year teammate Cade Steele started an account called @jordytracker. This year Emily Martin, the coach’s wife, posted the results and videos on every hole.

Before Gilkison thought anymore about the final result, he remembered his friend and former Heatherwoode Golf Club co-worker Matt Dunkle, who recently died.

“Soon as I made the putt on the last hole …,” he said, fighting back tears, “…. it was for him.”

In the girls tournament, Centerville senior Meha Pandya became the third Elk to play in four state tournaments and helped lead the Elks to the second third-place finish in her career. The Elks were second her freshman year and fifth last year.

“I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Pandya said. “I was so thankful that my team has made it four years. It was such a fun four years.”

Pandya finished with rounds of 77 and 78 to finish 19th. Junior teammate Jenna Hayes had rounds of 75 and 78 to finish tied for 12th. The Elks final total was 633, just behind Southwest District rival Mason’s 627. New Albany ran away with the title for the third straight year with a 586, securing its place as the best team in state history.

“We were happy to be in the spot to play in the final group,” coach Mike Dalton said. “I’m disappointed that we couldn’t finish it off and get runner-up, but you don’t get angry when you lose to New Albany and Mason.”

Centerville played in its sixth straight state tournament and 16th overall, all since 1993.

“It’s because we play so much golf and we play a lot of tournaments,” Pandya said. “It really prepares us mentally. Playing with good golfers makes us better. Being in tough situations and succeeding through that makes it a lot better.”

Morgan Rodgers (tie 29th), Kate Dickerson (41st) and Amelia Burger (tie 43rd) rounded out Centerville’s third-place team.