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ZANESVILLE — It took only a few days into the season for River View to remind the Muskingum Valley League just good its golf team will be this season.
Junior Gavin Gress, a two-time state qualifier, fired a school-record 7-under-par 64 and the Black Bears shot a 284 to win by 34 shots at the MVL Preseason Tournament on Aug. 4 at par-71 Jaycees. The event counts for one-third of the season standings, along with dual matches and the MVL postseason tournament.
Gress’ 7-under is believed to be a league record for 18 holes, but the Times Recorder had not confirmed that as of late Aug. 4.
The Bears, in the Big School Division, had three underclassmen shoot 73 or better — freshman Lucas Massa shot 70 and sophomores Clark Frischen had 73 and Colton Gress 77.
They shot 134 on the front nine. Coach Chad Gress said the team stay composed overall and credited Colton, who “hung in there and grinded it out,” after some early errant approach shots got him behind early.
The 284 tied the team’s lowest score in 2025, when it shot 7-under. This round was 4-under.
“Gavin kept firing away,” Chad Gress said. “When you get guys going that far under par it covers up a lot of mistakes. I’m more proud of their attitudes than anything else. It’s a big thing for us to work on the mental game.”
More Big School firepower
Defending two-time Division I district champion Sheridan, led by veterans Liam Gutridge (76) and Wyatt Satterfield (81), was second with 318. Logan Ward also had 76.
Ethan Wright and Ryder Dodson had 79 and Hayden Hardcastle 80 to lead Maysville (320), which has returned to the Big School and will compete in Division I.
Cale Preston’s 73 and Dylan Hreha’s 77 paced Tri-Valley (333), which also got an 81 from Tyler Hindel; John Glenn’s 338 included a 77 from Will Hubal and 82 from Quentin Yanosik.
Philo (408), under first-year coach Tyler Baughman, got a 94 from Tanner Brookover and 99 from Evan Mallett.
Lambert lead Small School
A balanced effort from West Muskingum was headed by No. 1 man Hayden Lambert, whose 76 was six better than teammate Briar Wilson (82) and eight in front of No. 4 man Ryan Schneider (84).
The Tornadoes’ 330 was well ahead of runner-up Meadowbrook (372), paced by Kam Winnett’s 83 and Gage Lynch’s 91, and third-place Crooksville (373). Drew Horn and Brody Cottrell had 88s for the Ceramics.
New Lex posted 375 as Neil Spangler posted 91 and Rocco Stanton 94; Morgan, now in the Small School, was at 390 behind William Shriver’s 94 and Cole Smith’s 98.
Bransyn Dawson’s 88 and Tristan Hartmeyer’s 95 paced Coshocton, which had only two players.
sblackbu@usatodayco.com; X: @SamBlackburnTR
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Gavin Gress, River View make early statement at MVL Preseason tourney
Reporting by Sam Blackburn, Zanesville Times Recorder / Zanesville Times Recorder
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By Sam Blackburn, Zanesville Times Recorder | USA TODAY Network
