MANSFIELD — Dominic Castelvetere didn’t do himself any favors Friday morning at Twin Lakes.
The Ontario senior opened his round with three straight bogeys before righting the ship and firing a 1-over 72 for medalist honors at the Tyger Invitational, four strokes better than runner-up Hayden McMillen of Crestview. The Warriors cruised to the team title at the eight-team event with a four-man total of 314. Galion was second with a 321.
“I started on No. 16 and went bogey, bogey, bogey,” Castelvetere said. “I started a new nine (holes) so I decided it was a new nine and I had to play it like I hadn’t played yet.”
Ontario and Galion offered a potential preview of the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference championship on a steamy Friday afternoon. The Warriors and Tigers are expected to challenge for the MOAC title this fall, along with new MOAC member Clear Fork. The Colts carded a 354 to finish third Friday.
“Our kids have played really well all year. We’re 4-0 in (dual) matches,” Ontario golf coach Scott Kreger said. “We’ve been pretty close every time we’ve been somewhere with Galion and Clear Fork.”
Jake Gleason backed Castelvetere with an 80, while Marc Wilkins Jr. and Lane Thomas both carded 81s.
“Our seniors, Dominic and Jake and Mark, have done a great job of going out and leading by example,” said Kreger, Ontario’s former football coach. “You know what you are going to get from those three.”
The Tigers were led by Matthew McMullen and Spencer Keller, who shot matching 78s. Jack McElligott had an 82 while Matt Kingseed fired an 83.
“We only have one senior and two of our six scorers (McMullen and Keller) are freshmen,” Galion coach Bryce Lehman said. “It’s a learning experience for the young guys but it has been a pretty good start.
“A couple putts here and there and our score could have been lower, but this is the second time this year we’ve shot 321 as a team. We have a good group of kids and they are meshing pretty well.”
Clear Fork was led by Jared Lind’s 81. Brock Deter had an 89.
“The top three scores on the board are all MOAC teams,” new Clear Fork coach Jeremy Riddle said. “We are pleased with where we are at. We’ve got a bunch of freshman and our No. 1 player is a junior.”
Best of the Rest: Madison took fourth in the team standings with a 359. Crestview (362), Lexington’s junior varsity team (372), Mapleton (400) and Mansfield Senior (414) rounded out the field.
River Wiseman led the Rams with an 80. Jonah Aumend had an 86.
“We are getting there,” Madison coach Eric Wellman said. “We’ve got some players who want to get better.”
For Crestview, McMillen was backed by Jake Salyers (86).
“That is my best finisher of the year so far,” said McMillen, a sophomore. “I didn’t have any three-putts today, so that was good.”
Brock Smith led the way for the Lex JVs with an 84. Dalton Whoitmore had a 90.
Maple ton’s top scorer was Gage Espy (84). Zach Houma had a 92.
Host Mansfield Senior was led by Tanner Harless (90). Blair McClenathan had a 98.
“We always enjoy hosting the event,” Mansfield Senior coach Scott Toney said. “There is a lot of great golf being played in the area and we are proud to be able to shine a light on it.”
