PATASKALA — The Licking Valley boys golf team, with high hopes for the upcoming season, is getting a bit of a jump on 2026.
Senior Jackson Gieseler shot 74 with classmate Landon Hinger right behind at 76 on June 29 as the two Panthers took runner-up and third during the Licking County Junior Golf Association event at Willow Run. They trailed a 69 from Gahanna graduate Sergio Yamamoto, who took medalist honors.
“It wasn’t bad. There are a few things I am lacking. I need to clean up the short game a little bit and just work on my contact with the ball a little bit,” Gieseler said. “Overall, I battled. I didn’t play horrible. I made some big putts I needed to. I just need to keep working and keep playing tournaments, so hopefully when school comes around, I can shoot low.”
It was the fourth of six weekly LCJGA events, with the final two scheduled for July 13 at Clover Valley and July 20 at Licking Springs Country Club. It is providing the Panthers a springboard into the school season, which begins across Ohio on July 29.
“Last year was one of the best seasons we’ve ever had. We won three tournaments, and this year we have a lot of seniors coming back plus some new people coming in that are good,” Hinger said. “We have a good shot at winning the [Licking County League-Buckeye Division championship] for the first time.”
Gieseler shot 36 and 38 on the front and back nines, respectively. Hinger slipped to 41 on his back nine, but he did not let a double bogey and triple bogey ruin a strong showing.
“That has been what I am averaging this summer,” Hinger said. “I am happy with how I have been playing. Hopefully I can keep it going into the school season.”
Valley was led in last season’s Division I sectional tournament by juniors Hinger, Gieseler and Brody Wolfe.
“It’s been fantastic. We have a lot of guys coming out for the team,” Gieseler said. “Golf is becoming a big thing for Valley. Especially having the younger kids coming and playing in these tournaments, it’s just giving them experience. I know we have a good team with a lot of experienced players. We are just hoping we can contend this and give Licking Valley our first league title.”
Lancaster graduate Gabriel Betts shot 78 to place fourth. Newark sophomore Will Bolte followed at 81, and Granville senior Todd Dao shot 87.
Booher tops girls
Watkins Memorial freshman Emma Booher is quickly emerging as one to watch. She shot 88 to take medalist honors in the girls standings.
“Today, I didn’t do great, but I ended up scoring fine,” said Booher, who recorded nine-hole scores of 45 and 43. “Over the summer, I have been getting a little better. I am mostly looking forward to seeing what I can do [in high school]. My best this summer is an 81 at Cumberland.”
Watkins senior Hailey Smith finished with a 97. Adding Booher to a lineup that includes Smith and classmate Ella Yost, the Warriors have a formidable core that could threaten Granville, the three-time defending champion, in the LCL-Buckeye later this summer.
“It’s really fun to have someone you know here, and it’s nice to get to know [Smith] more before the season starts,” Booher said.
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking Valley golfers headline Licking County junior event
Reporting by Kurt Snyder, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kurt Snyder, Newark Advocate | USA TODAY Network
