Eastwood made it as close as it could possibly get, but when all the scores were added up Woodmore earned the inaugural Northern Buckeye Conference boys golf championship this fall.

The Wildcats, coached by Steve Burner, won the Suburban Lakes League title last year, in the league's final season, then clinched the NBC title on Sept. 21 behind the play of conference first-teamer Billy Blausey. Eastwood finished second.

“Coming off being champs from last year, we had everybody back but one person,” Burner said. “We thought we would be the favorites, but the league this year was pretty loaded with seniors. Eastwood had four seniors and I think Genoa had five seniors. You never know, maturity-wise, what's going to happen. Our kids came through.

Matt Zatko	Ty Burner

“I think it opened their eyes when they took fourth at Tanglewood. They knew what they had to do and they went out and did it. They were pretty happy about it.”

The NBC champion is crowned by adding the total points from four “shootouts” and the NBC tournament at Green Hills in Clyde. This year, because of rain, the fourth shootout, at Birch Run, was held a day after the NBC tournament.

Blausey, a senior, shot 35 to earn medalist honors at Birch Run, followed by a second-place tie by Eastwood's Tommy Blanchard and Austin Speck. Woodmore's Ty Burner, Genoa's Taylor Darling and Lake's Nate Yeager all tied for fourth.

Blausey, a first-team All-SLL performer last year, led the NBC with the lowest nine-hole scoring average (37.6) and in points scored (235).

“He's playing very well this year,” coach Burner said. “He's hitting the ball pure. I can't say enough about Billy. He's kept his temperament and control and has done a very good job for me.”

The All-NBC first team consists of Blanchard, the medalist at the conference tournament, Blausey and Woodmore junior teammates Mikayla Baer and Matthew Zatko, Yeager and Genoa’s Andrew Goeckerman.

“Mikayla has played tremendous the last two weeks,” coach Burner said. “She started out not where she wanted to be, but the last two weeks she has played really well. She's brought her game along. Matt is just about where I thought he would be. He's averaging around 80 and done a good job.”

Ty Burner, a second-team All-SLL performer last year, earned second-team All-NBC honors this season.

“He started out real well,” coach Burner said. “We had to work on his swing with his swing coach because when the weather changes, his swing changes a little bit. We're trying to get him going, because we're going to need him big-time in the sectional.”

Woodmore junior Paul Makulinski made honorable mention all-conference along with Speck and Nathan Schuessler from Eastwood and Casey Conine of Lake.

“Paul lettered last year but didn't play in all the tournaments,” coach Burner said. “This was his first year playing totally on the varsity and he's done a real good job being in our No. 5 spot.”

Woodmore, which placed third at last year's sectional tournament to miss advancing to the district tournament by one spot, played its sectional tournament at Green Hills on Thursday.

“Even losing Mikayla to the girls (tournament), I think we're good enough and deep enough to get out this year,” coach Burner said. “They just have to go play. Freshman Alex Gedert will replace Mikayla. What I like about him is his knowledge of the game. He's still very raw, but he knows the game.”

On Tuesday, Baer shot a 1-over 71 at the Division II girls sectional tournament at White Pines in Swanton.

“She could have shot so much better,” coach Burner said, “but I'm not going to complain about a 71.”

Baer, who tied for 10th at last year's D-II state tournament, advanced to the district tourney Oct. 4 at Sycamore Springs in Arlington.

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