LOCKBOURNE - It was just too steep a hill to climb.

After finding itself in eighth place and 13 strokes behind leader Cincinnati Wyoming, the Ironton Fighting Tigers altered their approach and their game.

The change didn't work,however, as they finished ninth Saturday in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II state golf tournament.

Wyoming was at 311 Friday and Ironton had a 324. District champion Piketon was five strokes behind Ironton.

But the Fighting Tigers struggled with a 333 team score on Saturday and finished behind Piketon which shot a 325 and posted a 654 total. Ironton's final team score was 657.

Lima Bath, third after Friday's first round at the par 72, 6,790-yad Foxfire Golf Club, rallied to win the tournament wtih a 638 total, three strokes ahead of Wyoming.

Seth Christian shot a 77 on Friday and followed with a 79 on Saturday to post a two-day total of 156.