Boys golf: Vermilion's Noah Penton gets ace, but Avon has best finish among locals at Amherst Comet Invitational

OBERLIN — Vermilion junior Noah Penton sure knows how to set the tone for a new season. Penton's first career hole-in-one on the par-3 fifth hole was the highlight of the day as area teams began the year at the Amherst Comet Invitational at Oberlin Golf Club. Penton, who splits time in the fall between golf and soccer was already accomplished on the course as a member of the Sailors' 2024 district qualifying team. He had a 43.4 nine-hole average last year, but before Monday, the one thing missing from his resume was an ace. "It was downhill, about 150 yards, so I tried to hit a smooth seven iron," Penton said. "I hit the shot, it went up in the sky and it was really sunny out so I couldn't see it real great. Then I saw it bounce and roll and it just kinda disappeared, then I heard all of the fans and coaches cheering." Penton finished with a 7-over 79, the eighth-best score of the day among the 96-man field. "I knew I hit it well, but when I figured out what happened it was shocking. It didn't feel real," he said. Penton left the course with a lasting memory, but it was Avon Lake's Kooper Nilson who walked away with something to add to his trophy collection. The Shoremen senior took medalist honors with a 3-under par 69. "I haven't played for a while so I was able to get my mind off of the game. I guess that's what worked for me today," Nilson said. "I wasn't thinking too much about every shot. I was just stepping up and hitting it. "Sophomore year going into junior year, I played a lot of golf in the summer, but this year I focused on hockey. I had camps I was going to that kept me busy, so I wasn't able to get into golf, but that turned out to be a pretty good thing." It was a three-team race for the title between Avon, Avon Lake and Westlake with the Demons pulling it out with a total of 313 led by senior Cooper Albers with a 2-over par 74. Avon had to settle for second with a 315 behind the efforts of juniors Jack Hecei and Ethan Olszowy, who had rounds of 75 and 76. Avon Lake finished with a 318. "I had a good round. My ball striking was good," Hecei said. "There were a couple of putts I could have dropped but overall it was pretty good. As a team, we could have played better for sure, so there is still a lot of room to grow." The Comets finished fourth, shooting 329, with senior Jordan Miller leading the way at 76. "I struggled to make birdies but kept putting pars on the card so that's all that matters," Miller said. "Fighting off the nerves is the biggest part for me. I struggle with that a lot. To beat the nerves, I just go back to what I've practiced, find my swing and routine and groove it in." Behind an 82 from senior Jack DeGeeter, Padua finished fifth with a score of 331. Vermilion and Elyria Catholic tied for seventh with rounds of 336. The Panthers were led by Sean Howell's 80. Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. Team results: Westlake 313, Avon 315, Avon Lake 315, Avon Lake 318, Amherst 329, Padua 331, Berea-Midpark 331, Vermilion 336, Elyria Catholic 336, Olmsted Falls 340, North Ridgeville 340, Keystone 342, Bay 353, Columbia 363, Midview 377, Firelands 378, Benedictine 381, North Olmsted 392, Wellington 393. Medalist: Kooper Nilson, Avon Lake, 69 Top Individuals: Cooper Albers, Westlake, 74; Matthew Brown, Westlake, 75; Jack Hecei, Avon, 75; Ethan Olszowy, Avon, 76; Jordan Miller, Amherst, 76; Gavin Wagner, Berea-Midpark, 78; Noah Penton, Vermilion, 79 Westlake (313): Cooper Albers 74, Peyton Wolf 80, Matthew Brown 75, Blake Jenson 84, Noah Fix 89, Cole Artman 93. Avon (315): Jack Hecei 75, Ethan Olszowy 76, Zack Snyder 86, Cam Ocepek 81, Sam Griffiths 87, Jack Arnold 83. Avon Lake (318): Chase Cartwright 82, Kooper Nilson 82, Kollin Nilson 69, Tyler Fenton 85, Ben Santo 86, Emmit Lotz 86. Amherst (329): Alek Kissane 87, Jordan Miller 76, Jaxson Yoder 80, Landon Wolf 86, Ben Taylor 92, Devin Juristy 91. Padua (331): Adam Coyne 85, Jack DeGeeter 82, Jacob Rivalsky 84, Brandt Boomsa 80, Logan Zwiener 85, Ryan Dolinar 91. Berea-Midpark (331): Luke Nedoma 82, Oliver Marcelo 86, Gavin Wagner 78, Luke Higgins 85, Thomas Harrington 88, Caden Davis 97. Vermilion (336): Adam Gerber 82, Noah Penton 79, Sam Riddle 86, Landon Booker 92, Brody Morrow 101, Jackson Fahr 89. Elyria Catholic (336): Alex Meecha 86, Sean Howell 80, Dylan Kirsh 86, Giovanni Barb 84, Griffin Volney 96, Josh Anastasiadeis 93. Olmsted Falls (340): Cole Odon 87, Quade Hess 89, Connor Lehmann 86, Ryan Henderson 91, Cam Bond 87, Owen Lehmann 85. North Ridgeville (340): Josh Behlke 84, Ethan Crevda 85, Mason Limpert 81, Matthew Luca 91, Teddy Greenfield 90, Jakob Holland 92. Keystone (342): Quinn Otto 85, Austin Duta 85, Liam Goran 88, Brady Schacht 84, Brody O'Boyle 93, Ryan Younglas 95. Bay (353): Travis Ropelewski 81, Matthew Mileti 92, Trevor Ormsby 96, Ben Wagner 93, Emmitt Naughton 88, Ryan Skryp 92. Columbia (363): Logan North 83, Avery Goodman 91, Owen Edwards 90, Mason Chervnak 99, John Conlon 119, Tanner Cochrane 120. Midview (377): Patrick Dolin 90, Lucas Hendershot 99, Jon Klooz 90, Sam McCully 109, Landon Taylor 102, Zach Rubin 98. Firelands (378): Aaron Bement 90, Mikey Janosik 100, Kase Rogers 105, Lukas Griez 85, Camden Arnal 114, Kolbe Dodson 103 Benedictine (381): Will Mylen 97, Luca Bucci 99, Ryan Winterich 96, Zack Ade 89, Cameron Huggins 100, Topher Felts 106. North Olmsted (392): Kody Schneid 91, A.J. Ryant 98, Mason Anders 101, Brady Lane 102, Charlie Shuck 121, Caleb Gilchrist 102. Wellington (393): Zach Kehl 92, James Wacker 89, Colson West 99, Luke Sword 113, Caleb Hamer 116, Nathan Gereke 123.