BAINBRIDGE — A potential roadblock between Ellie Hutzler and where she wanted to end her high school golf season could have formed.
You rarely see the Hoover junior double bogey in any round, let alone the postseason. One of the few exceptions came on No. 8 in the OHSAA Division I district tournament at Tanglewood on Thursday, Oct. 9.
No problem, said Hutzler. She quickly regrouped, birdied No. 9 and went on to earn an individual berth to this weekend’s state tournament at Firestone Country Club. She finished tied for fifth at 1-over 73.
“I was definitely frustrated after I doubled,” Hutzler said. “I was playing good, and my double was a really stupid mistake. I shouldn’t have done that.
“I was able to come back. I was feeling confident with my irons. I just knew if I was getting it close and making putts, I could come back from that.”
Hutzler’s state berth is her third in as many seasons. She qualified as a freshman and sophomore when Hoover advanced as a team. This year the Vikings came up just short of a team berth. They finished sixth, five strokes off a top four spot.
“It’s definitely going to be different than the ones before, not having my team there playing,” Hutzler said. ” … I feel like I’m going to be able to handle the pressure well because that’s something I’ve been going through the last two years. I think it will be a good opportunity.”
Hutzler played with some very good teammates during her first two high school seasons. She also grew as a golfer and leader on those teams.
When Hutzler’s former teammates graduated, she took on a bigger role.
“She leads by example,” Hoover head coach Scott Snyder said. “These other girls watch her, they see the things she does and they see how she practices. So many of them want to emulate her and do the stuff she does on the golf course.”
Hutzler is enjoying her best high school season. She set a Hoover 18-hole record by shooting 67 at Mansfield. That came 10 days after she fired a 68 at The Elms Country Club.
“I can’t tell you how many rounds she has been under par this year for 18 holes or nine holes,” Snyder said. ” … This was a tremendous season for her. You want to talk about a breakout and a breakthrough? There are so many schools looking at her and the records she broke.
“The best thing about it? She’s a junior. There’s one more year.”
Hutzler was in medalist contention until the final two holes. She had three birdies on the front nine and four overall.
The district tournament was delayed two days because of Tuesday’s heavy rain.
“I was ready to play on Tuesday,” Hutzler said. I felt like that would have been good, but I’m glad I had more days to prepare and practice on a lot of stuff.”
Now Hutzler will have only two days to prepare for the start of the state tournament. It will be held Sunday and Monday on Firestone’s Fazio Course.
“I think I’m ready,” Hutzler said.
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