Harrison Central golfers place second at Buckeye 8 tournament
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- Luke Krol admitted he was starting to feel the pressure.
As the Martins Ferry senior chased his second consecutive Buckeye 8 individual championship Tuesday afternoon at Belmont Hills Country Club, he didn't just mean that in terms of the self-inflicted pressure, either.
The final round opened with Krol, Harrison Central's Sam Santille and St. Clairsville's Will Foster tied for the lead thanks to the 2-over rounds of 74 they shot at Cadiz Country Club last month.
Krol gained momentum on the front side of the course and put some distance between himself and the other two, but he had to hold off a strong charge on the back 9 from Santille to claim the medalist honor.
Using a hot putter, Krol shot a 5-over, 77 to win by two shots over Santille. Foster and Beaver Local's Luke Eyster tied for third with a two-day score of 159.
"I knew I gave myself a great chance (at winning) after the front 9, but it was tough," Krol said. "I let it slip some on the back 9, and it got kind of scary."
Krol was even after the opening nine holes and had built a 5-stroke lead. However, it took a birdie on 17, which led to a huge fist pump from him, and then a par on the 18th to preserve the victory.
"Sam really made a good run on the back, but that birdie on 17 was huge which gave me a lot of momentum," Krol said. "There was a lot of good competition in this, and I feel honored to have won."
On the 18th, Krol simply wanted to make no worse than a bogey. He didn't get too conservative, but he played the last with the scoreboard in the back of his head.
"I was trying to make sure I didn't hit a horrible shot with the driver," Krol said of the 18th. "I am not mad about the round, even though I know I can play better. But, it was good enough to get out of here with the win."
Santille, meanwhile, pointed right to his putter for his early round struggles.
"I didn't play well on the front, and even though I got it going a little bit on the back 9, I just couldn't make a putt all day," Santille said. "Luke played well and deserved it. He made good recoveries when he got into trouble. I am honestly glad to get second because this course is tough. I am looking forward to the OVAC (in two weeks)."
While there was plenty to be sorted out in terms of the individual champion, the team title was all but decided after the opening round in Cadiz a few weeks ago.
Beaver Local owned a 29-shot lead over defending champion Harrison Central. The Beavers were never truly challenged, posting a 346 on Tuesday, which was 13 shots better than Harrison Central.
Beaver Local posted a 671, while Harrison Central finished with a 713. St. Clairsville was third with a 730.
"(Belmont Hills) was a lot tougher than what the kids expected, but it would have taken a monumental collapse on our part (to not win the team championship)," Beaver Local coach Al Pierson said. "I am really proud of our kids. They played well today and in the opening round, too."
The league title is the Beavers' first in golf and 16th since they joined the league.
"Our kids are pretty pumped up and ready for the OVAC (4A) Tournament now," Pierson said. "We had a couple of guys, today, not play as well as I had expected, but that happens and that's why it's a team sport. We have some solid players."
Beaver Local played two players -- Luke Eyster and Sky Pappas -- on the all-league team and a third player, Landen Cameron, earned honorable mention.
Eyster finished third overall with a round of 82 and a total score of 159. Pappas, meanwhile, finished with a 163 for fifth. Cameron posted two rounds of 86 for a 172.
St. Clairsville's Saul Crist, who earned a First-Team All-League spot, finished sixth overall and shared the low round of the day with Krol.
Other honorable mention All-League selections were Indian Creek's Justice Morris (172), Harrison Central's Aiden Sliva (173), East Liverpool's Nathan Kelly (174) and Cam Beverly (176) and Union Local's Beezer Porter (174).