Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SUNBURY — There are a lot of good things that come in a dozen, like donuts, cookie, cupcakes, soft drinks, even the 12 days of Christmas.
But for Rock Hill Redmen senior golf Logan Reed, the No. 12 will have a special meaning after playing in the Division II state tournament last Friday and Saturday at the NorthStar Golf Course.
Reed finished tied for 12th in the 72-player field. He fired a 3-over par 75 on the first day and a 78 on the second day for a two-day total of 9-over par 153 on the NorthStar Par 72, 6,665-yard course.
“After the first day, I was pretty happy. I was in sixth place and that’s where I wanted to be. The second day I left a few shots out there. But 12th out of 72 players is pretty good,” said Reed.
“Other than that, I played pretty well for the state. It was long and wet and windy. It had rained a whole lot and the course was a little wet and it was windy. The greens were a lot faster the second day.”
The state tournament success capped an impressive golf season for Reed who won three post-regular season tournaments.
He was the Ohio Valley Conference tournament medalist with a 73 at Shawnee State Golf Course, tied Waverly’s Talon Osborne for medalist honors at the sectional tournament with a 73 at the Portsmouth Elks Country Club, and then shot a sizzling 69 to claim medalist honors at the district tournament on the Crown Hill Golf Club course in Williamsport to punch his ticket to the state tournament.
“I accomplished all my goals I set besides not winning the state,” said Reed.
“My freshman year I wasn’t that good of a player. I had a whole lot to work on mentally and physically. After my freshman year, I went to a swing coach (Bob Sowards) in Columbus. He helped a lot with the physical part of my game. He made sure my swing was in tune.
“My sophomore year I got a lot more wins, somewhere around 10 or 11. It was great to see a lot of progress. My junior year was somewhat of a slump but it got better and I made it the district, but it didn’t go well. So, it was bittersweet my senior year because I won. Winning those three tournaments gave me a lot of confidence going into the state. Three straight wins was nice to have.”
Reed has already visited Tennessee Tech, Shawnee State and Marshall and has a trip planned to Otterbein.
Besides his coaches, Reed said two local golfers — Nathan Kerns and Brent Morgan — have been very instrumental in his career. Kerns played at Marshall and Morgan currently plays at St. Bonaventure.
“Nathan Kerns and Brent Morgan have really pushed me and helped me through the four years. They’re two pretty special guys. It meant a lot to me that I always had their support,” said Reed.
Columbus Academy had a 596 total to capture the Division II team state championship. Chardon Notre Dame Cathedral Latin was second at 606 and Kettering Archbishop Alter was third at 628.
Conner Heffner of Waverly was 22nd with a 157 on rounds of 72 and 85. Charlie Toman of Chardon NDCL was the medalist with a 7-under 137 score.
The girls’ Division II state tournament was also held this past weekend in Columbus at the Ohio State University Gray Course.
Fairland Lady Dragons’ sophomore Hanna Shrout was 23rd overall in the field of 72 players Shrout shot rounds of 86 and 82 for a 168 total in her first-ever state tournament as she played the Par 70, 5,560-yard Gray Course.
Shrout shot an 82 at the Chillicothe Jaycees Golf Course to finish fourth and advance to the district.
In the Southeast District tournament at the Ashville Landsdown Golf Club, she fired an 80 to take medalist honors and became the first Fairland female golfer to ever qualify for the state tournament.
She also played in the boys’ OVC tournament and shot a 90 to place eighth and earn all-conference honors
Independence won the girls’ Division II team title with a 652 score. Shelby was second at 663 and Lima Central Catholic third at 667. Waterford was eighth at 709.