GREEN It was his final attempt to win the Schorsten Memorial. Recent Jackson graduate Ted Hoover made the most of it. Hoover posted a two-day total of 156 in the boys 16 to 18 age group to add his name to the Schorsten Memorial trophy on Tuesday at Raintree Golf Club.
“It really feels great,” Hoover said. “I’ve played in this event the past couple of years and it was really nice to find a way to win on my last attempt.”
Hoover was a fixture on the First Tee of Canton Junior Tour throughout his high school career at Jackson. It was a fitting way to say goodbye to the tour.
“I’ve been playing in these First Tee events for years,” Hoover said. “This tour was extremely helpful to me as a young golfer and really helped me develop into the golfer that I am now.”
It may be one of the final organized events of Hoover’s career. He was a state qualifier for the Polar Bears in golf and was a standout for the lacrosse team as an attacker, but Hoover’s primary focus will be his education when college begins in the fall.
“I am going to Ohio University,” Hoover said. “I might play golf or lacrosse at the club level. I would say I’m more interested in continuing on with golf. That’s the main sport that I enjoy.”
Twice is nice
Hoover wasn’t the only recent graduate to post a win on Tuesday. Recent Hoover grad Hannah Higgins etched her name into the Schorsten Memorial Cup for the second consecutive year with a win in the girls 16 to 18 age group. Higgins leads off the field with a two-day score of 152.
“It means a lot to find a way to repeat as champion,” Higgins said. “One of my goals this summer was to win this tournament.”
Higgins has a bit of a home course advantage with the Schorsten Memorial now being held at Raintree Golf Club in Green.
“This is where I practice on my own,” Higgins said. “I know every green and I know every roll on this course.”
Higgins did not feel any pressure protecting his home territory.
“Not really,” Higgins said. “My goal is to come out and have fun whenever I get a chance to play a tournament here.”
The official playing days are far from over for Higgins. The Ohio Division I state qualifier will play Division II college golf for Lewis University in Illinois this season.
“It was a really great fit,” Higgins said. “My coach is awesome at Lewis. I liked the school. I liked the setting and I liked being close to the city of Chicago. It’s away from home but not so far that I couldn’t get back if I needed to.”
Reach Cliff at [email protected]
On Twitter: @chickmanREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Jackson’s Ted Hoover and Hoover’s Hannah Higgins won the Schorsten