Missing out on a state championship team berth by a single stroke can gnaw at you. No worries for Hudson High’s boys golf squad as the Explorers juggernaut continues this season.
Returning for his 10th year as head golf coach, Dave Kurtz isn’t worried about the past.
Kurtz believes this can fuel his club, which returns a wealth of talent this season and hopes to get back the coveted state tournament.
Last year, Hudson captured its fifth consecutive sectional championship and the sixth sectional crown in the last seven years for the Explorers.
The Division I Explorers expect to be a team to be reckoned with this season with a plethora of talent coming back as well as having gifted young players.
Placing fifth at districts and second in the rugged Suburban League National Conference in 2025, Hudson will have plenty of competition against a monster schedule this fall.
Hudson also has the horses to fend off those challengers.
“My early focus will be getting the boys sharper inside 80 yards and getting the newcomers into the lineup so that I can see what they can do under tournament pressure,” pointed out Kurtz.
Kurtz has four seniors back that will pace the team in Ben Fauver, Dexter James, Jerry Du, and Barrett Atchison.
Fauver is an ultra-talented Ohio State University recruit.
“Ben has no weaknesses,” stressed Kurtz. “Ben has strong leadership skills and is very consistent.”
Last year, Fauver fired a 70, including a red-hot 33 on the front nine to become a sectional champion.
Fauver was named the SL National Conference Player of the Year after firing a 3-under 69.
The talented Fauver is hungry to avenge last year’s back nine score of 41 at Pine Hills Golf Club in a loaded district field. On pace to qualify for states with a front nine of 35, that back nine score pushed Fauver to 24th overall in the heated action in Hinckley.
James had an incredible 2025 campaign as he came on strong to place 28th in Ohio last year in the Division I state championships.
A rising talent, James had a 154 at states – including a 75. James fired a 71 at districts to place fourth overall. James, who has a unique ability to recover positively after a tough ball-strike, also made first-team all-league.
“Dexter has great hands and has a top-notch short game,” Kurtz said. “He is a very experienced tournament player and was an individual state qualifier last year.”
Du was a sectional runner up last season with a 71, including a 35 on the back nine. Du is a two-time All-Suburban League first-team standout who has also made second-team All-District.
“Jerry has a great demeanor for golf,” Kurtz said. “Jerry never gives up. Jerry also has a great focus on taking one shot at a time.”
Much like James, Atchison caught fire last season.
Atchison fired a 75 at districts to be in the hunt for a state berth. He was 18th at districts. Atchison also had a 79 (39-40) at sectionals last year and was second-team all-league.
“Barrett is good ball striker and is a very steady and consistent player,” Kurtz said.
Kurtz also has a deep junior class that can make an impact.
“We have five juniors who will battle for playing time,” said the coach. “Zander Ray, Isaac Mikolay, Carson Kirkland, Luke Chluda, and Ethan Gurzenski will all compete for the fifth and sixth spots.”
Chluda showed his promise in 2025 with a 77 at the University School Invitational.
The Explorers also have program experience with seniors Jack Ewing and Colin Klein.
“We have two other seniors, Jack and Colin, who will also battle for spots five and six,” Kurtz said.
Ewing has solid experience and was the 2024 Junior Varsity MVP.
Brecksville edged Hudson last year for the Suburban League National Conference crown, but was hit hard by graduation.
“The National division of the Suburban is always a battle,” said Kurtz. “The addition of Medina and Medina Highland (coming over from the SL American Division) will make it even tougher.”
Medina has Trent Riedel, who recently played in an American Junior Golf Association event and was the Greater Cleveland Conference MVP as a freshman in 2025. Medina also has Declan West, Johnny Quien, Kale Shockley-Macek, and Elliot Morgan.
Highland senior Hayden Hoyt recently won the Brunswick Tee-Off Classic with a 3-under par 68. Michael Caza made first-team all-league as a dynamic freshman in 2025 in the American Division while Cooper Lutz is also a threat.
Stow-Munroe Falls qualified for districts last year and has first-team all-league choice Oliver Huff back, plus Carter Edwards and Gavin Schneider.
North Royalton has Patrick Mansbery, plus Lucas Stringer, Ryan Wilson, and Spencer Sefcik. Luke Kasmarcak is back for Brecksville as is Solon’s Avi Gupta and Twinsburg’s Cale Anderson, plus Wadsworth has solid young players back.
Just missing out on a state team berth by a single stroke to University School (300-301) was tough to take at districts.
“We should be competitive in the Northeast district,” said Kurtz. “We fell just short of the state tournament last season and I think the boys are very motivated to reach that goal this season.”
In most recent action, Hudson garnered runner-up team honors at the Aug. 6 Brunswick Tee-Off Classic.
The field at Pine Hills was loaded. Cleveland St. Ignatius edged Hudson 287-297 for the team crown as Hudson beat powers like Archbishop Hoban (303), Massillon Jackson (306), Mentor (307), Lakewood St. Edward (307), Walsh Jesuit (311), Stow (311), and University School (313).
Hoyt chipped in for birdie in front of the 18th green to finish with a 68 while Fauver fired a 2-under par 69. Hoyt’s final shot broke a four-way tie with Fauver, GlenOak’s Eddie Karam, and Ignatius’ Patrick Myers, who all had a 69.
On the day before Brunswick, Hudson won its second tournament of the year.
The Explorers finished 2-under to win with a 282, eight strokes ahead of second-place Ottawa Hills (290), plus beat Toledo St. John’s Jesuit (294) and Massillon Jackson (297), plus a host of other power clubs at the annual Walker Jones Invitational at Shale Creek Golf Course in Medina.
Behing an incredible 6-under par 65, Fauver won the championship.
Fauver beat his teammate Du, who fired a one-under par 70.
Du excelled as did Atchison, who fired a 1-over par 72 and finished eighth overall. James carded a 75, Ewing had an 81, and Kirkland carded an 82.
Hudson kicked off league play by claiming the first Suburban League Tournament crown with a 287 on Aug. 4 at Good Park.
Fauver was the medalist as he fired a blistering 3-under par 68.
Du and James each turned in an even round of 71 for the Explorers.
Mikolay showed his promise as he carded a 77. Atchison had an 81 and Ray had some positive moments with an 82.
This article originally appeared on Kent Weeklies: Hudson looks to talented senior golfers in chase for state title
Reporting by Steve Batko, Hudson Hub / Kent Weeklies
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Steve Batko, Hudson Hub | USA TODAY Network
