GALION — It certainly wasn’t how he dreamed it would happen. It wasn’t exactly how planned to execute it in the moment, either. Nevertheless, it will be something Chase Brackenridge never forgets.
The Fairbanks senior hit the first hole-in-one of his career while playing at the Heart of Ohio Junior Golf Association’s season finale tournament at Valley View Golf Course near Galion on Monday.
“It wasn’t the best shot,” he admitted with a smile. “It’s definitely luck, but I’ll take it.”
Coming up to the ninth hole, Brackenridge was 2-over-par. He erased the deficit and went back to even par with one swing.
“It was good contact,” he said of his 9-iron on the 156-yard hole. “It was drawing and going to the right side of the green, but it didn’t draw enough. I think I hit the fringe and it just rolled in. I looked away from it and then turned back and saw it drop and my sister said it just went in. I was like, ‘Sweet!'”
One of his playing partners, Galion’s Nicholas McMullen wasn’t sure about Brackenridge’s shot as it left the clubface.
“He hit it up the right side of the green. It was a good shot and it took a little bounce left and I watched it roll and it went right in the right side of the hole,” McMullen said. “It was rolling right at it and I was thinking that’s going to be really close and it dropped. We were all really excited. That was really cool.”
McMullen has never hit a hole-in-one either, but he’s witnessed a couple over the years.
“It’s really impressive and just so exciting to see one,” he said.
Hole in one and a championship
Brackenridge used the ace to get himself into contention. He shot an even-par round of 72 to miss the tourney win for the boys 16-to-18 age group by one shot to McMullen.
“I was super hyped to be back to even because I was struggling out there,” Brackenridge said. “I needed something like that. It couldn’t have come at a better time. It got me back on the right course. I played a really steady back nine. I’ll take it.”
Mount Gilead’s Steven Street was third at 73, while Pleasant’s Johnathan Maran was next at 80, and Galion’s Nate McMullen and Kaden Ottley of Olentangy shared fifth with 81s.
Brackenridge entered the event knowing he had the division’s points championship in hand and the $2,000 scholarship money that comes with it.
“I plan on going to college and probably out of state as well, so the money is big,” Brackenridge said. “I’m proud of myself for winning it because it’s been a long time coming. I blew it the last couple of years. Getting it done is actually huge for me.
“I just wanted to play 18 holes of smart golf and be mentally locked in. I knew I couldn’t get super frustrated. That’s what my focus was. I couldn’t get frustrated after bad holes.”
McMullen won the tournament on his home course and finished second in the final standings. He will earn $1,700 at HOJGA’s year-end banquet set for Kings Mill on July 27.
“I’ve been playing well the last couple of days, so I was feeling all right,” McMullen said. “I came in with a little different approach today. I played a little more aggressive. I hit some more 3-woods and drivers into greens today that I usually wouldn’t have, but it worked out.
“It’s a good round. It gives me a good confidence booster going into the start of the (high school) season.”
Other divisions play
Pleasant’s Maura Murphy completed her HOJGA sweep, winning all seven tournaments this summer for the girls 13-to-18 group. She fired a 78 to win at Valley View, while teammate and cousin Maddie Murphy was second with a 91, and Marion Harding’s Rayma Smith was third at 93. Olivia Ross of Olentangy had a 94, and North Union’s Madelyn Taylor took fifth with a 98.
Pleasant’s Dylan Moore won the boys 13-to-15 class with an 82 to win his first HOJGA title. Bryant Berry of Colonel Crawford took second at 93 followed by Nolen West of Pleasant at 95 and a tie shared by Pleasant’s Matt Murphy and Wynford’s Clay Rogers at 102.
The 12-and-under 9-hole round winner was Adam Keller of Colonel Crawford with a 46. Pleasant’s Kolton Crider and Cohen Sisler shot 52 and 57 each, while Mini Taylor of North Union had a 66 and Wynford’s Casey Rogers and North Union’s Jenson Stover tied for fifth at 67.
There were 49 competitors across all the divisions competing on Monday.
Last week at Kings Mill
Kaden Ottley, Maura Murphy and Ethan Krebs of Big Walnut took top honors in their respective divisions at the Heart of Ohio Junior Golf Association tournament at Kings Mill last week in an event sponsored by Dr. Paul and Kelly Culler of Waldo.
Ottley’s 2-over-par 72 topped the boys 16-to-18 class for his first HOJGA title. McMullen and Street tied for second at 73, while Buckeye Valley’s Sam Reynolds scored 77 for fourth, and Fairbanks’s Chase Brackenridge and Galion’s Logan Keller shared fifth at 78.
Murphy won the girls tourney with an 80, while Maddie Murphy of Pleasant was second at 84 and Smith third at 85. North Union’s Charlee Brestle and Madelyn Taylor shot 98 and 102 respectively.
In the boys 13-to-15 division, Krebs parred the course with his 31-39 70 for the low score of the day and his fourth HOJGA crown. Moore shot 79 for second, while Weston Ottery and Matthew Ralph both of Buckeye Valley scored 81 and 82 followed by North Union’s Jaxon Jolliff who carded 89.
Keller scored 48 for his lead in the 12-and-under 9-hole round. Pleasant’s Aiden Issler shot 51 for second, Kolton Crider 52 for third, Cohen Sisler 59 for fourth and North Union’s Miri Taylor 66 for fifth.
Up next
The next HOJGA event is the Best of the Best Chad A. Wheeler tournament for winners and runners-up within the season series. It is set to be played at Lincoln Hills near Upper Sandusky on July 25 at 9 am
HOJGA members are urged to return reservations for the Year-End Awards Banquet. For further information call 740-389-6207.
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This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Brackenridge cards ace, earns championship in HOJGA finale