Ottawa Hills will return as a team to the Division III boys state golf tournament Friday

10/11/2012

Ottawa Hills will return as a team to the Division III boys state golf tournament Friday, led by third-year varsity standout Ben Silverman.

The Green Bears were state team runners-up for coach Jim McGill in 2010, and Silverman, then a freshman, was the team's low scorer with a 164 that placed him 13th overall individually.

Last season, Ottawa Hills did not qualify as a team, but Silverman returned as an individual qualifier. He earned All-Ohio first-team honors by placing fourth.

Joining Silverman will be Bears senior Brian Hoeflinger, junior Ben Dayton, sophomore Matt Abendroth, and freshman Michael Denner. Ottawa Hills placed second at the district with a 337, paced by Silverman's 78. The Bears players will tee off between 9:56 a.m. and 10:28 a.m. on the 10th hole at the North Star Golf Resort in Sunbury.

Also competing at D-III state will be the Van Buren team of seniors Brennon Swain, Jason Sawyer, Erik Glass, and Tim Mutchler, and junior Sawyer Junge. The Knights placed fourth at district with a 332, led by Swain's 78.

Two Northwest Ohio Athletic League teams will be competing in the D-II state tournament at the OSU Scarlet Course. Wauseon and Bryan finished first and second, respectively, at district.

The Indians' contingent includes senior Trey Rupp, junior Clay Teffet, sophomores Trevor Dominique and David Marshall, and freshman Brady Rupp. Dominique was Wauseon's low scorer in district play with a 74.

Bryan returns to state after placing 10th last season. The Golden Bears' lineup includes seniors Luke Shaffer and David Miller, junior Shea Vogelsong, sophomore Bailey Martin, and freshman Jaret Miller.