Ohio Girls Golf Foundation Showcase a fun day with meaning

AVON — It wasn't just preseason preparation taking place at Avon Oaks Country Club. It was a chance to celebrate girls golf and the lifelong friendships and memories the game creates. Teams from Avon and Keystone along with local golfers from Magnificat and St. Joseph Academy took to the course Monday as part of the Ohio Girls Golf Foundation Showcase. Fourteen teams and 18 girls who golfed as individuals competed in an 18-hole event after a morning of interactive clinics led by former LPGA pro Barb Mucha. Leading the way for Lorain County golfers was St. Joseph Academy senior Emerson Glending, who tied for third after shooting an even par-72. "My game all around was great. I was hitting my driver well and staying consistent," said Glending, who lives in Avon. "I had some putts that weren't dropping but overall it was a very solid round of golf." Glending has played in the Showcase throughout her high school career and enjoys the opportunity to be part of an event highlighting girls golf. "I love this event and being here with my team makes it even more memorable," Glending said. "I think we need more events like this to inspire young girls to play golf and really try to grow the game, especially for women. That's so important and this event does a great job." After the round the players were treated to dinner and had the opportunity to hear from Lexie Milford, a 2007 Avon Lake graduate who is a senior director with First Tee, a non-profit organization that promotes children's golf. "It's almost surreal and it's super cool to watch the game grow and evolve," Milford said. "Golf has become a lot more accessible. There's been a cultural shift from the PGA of America and lot of the founding bodies governing the game to make golf more open to everybody. Girls are really embracing the camaraderie of the game and more girls are wanting to try it out." Avon is hoping to contend for a Southwestern Conference title this year and got its preseason off to a strong start as Reese Thomas and Mylah Beran finished tied for 35th in the 91-girl field with rounds of 93. "I started off on the front nine not too hot, but by the time I got to the back nine I was shooting better," Thomas said. "This is a really good event because schools that we don't play in the regular season are here so we get to meet a lot of girls we would have otherwise never met." While Thomas struggled on the front nine, Beran was just the opposite, shooting five strokes better on the front side. "I was more consistent on the front, the back nine got a little rough but it was OK," she said. "I like this event because it lets me focus on what I need to work on so I can get better. I learned I need to work on my short game and my drive and I also need to make sure I keep a good emotional focus." As part of the Showcase 12 $1,000 scholarships were awarded to area golfers heading to college. The Greater Cleveland Golf Association Scholarship went to 2025 Avon grad Ava Furiga, who will be attending The Ohio State University. "I'm really excited and grateful to have been selected by the committee," Furiga said. "Playing in this event in high school was always the highlight of the summer. Coming back here was exciting because I got to see my old teammates. Ohio Girls Golf Foundation does so much for us girls. I'm excited to continue playing golf and hopefully meeting some people with the same interest. I am definitely bringing my clubs down to Columbus." The competition on the course was fierce Monday with three players breaking par, led by Aurora's Gracyn Vidoivc and St. Clairsville's Olivia Baker, who broke the event record with rounds of 6-under 66. Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.