Girls Golf: Keystone's Sophia Clarico blows away field in LEGGA Preview

LAGRANGE — In many golf tournaments the most agonizing moments for the leader is the walk up the final fairway knowing an errant chip or a missed putt could undue a day's worth of excellent work. Keystone sophomore Sophia Clarico didn't have that problem Tuesday. She was able to smell the flowers, admire the scenery and plot out the rest of her summer vacation because she had a 14-stroke lead. Clarico and her Wildcats teammates easily outpaced the field at the Lake Erie Girls Golf Association Preview at Grey Hawk Golf Club. Clarico shot a 2-over-par 74 and Keystone posted four of the top six scores of the day on its way to a 347 total. The Wildcats finished 58 strokes ahead of second-place Bay (405). "I played pretty good. I only had one really bad hole, but other than that it was really smooth," Clarico said. The Wildcats return four golfers from last year's Division II sectional championship team and all four were at the top of the scoreboard as they played the preview on their home course. Junior Caseabella Fye was second with a round of 88. Kennedy Accavallo finished in a three-way tie for third with Westlake's Riley Knapp and Rocky River's Rylie Quaiser at 92. Wildcats senior Alexis Askew was one stroke behind the trio with a 93. "I had high hopes coming into today," Clarico said. "I shot 1 over yesterday when we shot nine holes here. I wasn't sure if I could repeat that so it was really exciting when I came out and had a good first couple of holes. The course was playing shorter than a lot of my summer tournaments so I was able to get on on a couple of par 5s in two. "It's always fun to play with all of the girls in this tournament." The preview counts for a portion of the final LEGGA standings along with the league dual meets and the end-of-season tournament next month at Big Met in Cleveland. Crowded leaderboard atop SWC The Southwestern Conference kicked off league play with its preview at FoxCreek Golf and Racquet Club in Lorain, and if the results are any indication, the battle for league MVP will be tighter than a U.S. Open fairway. Midview senior Leah DiFranco, Avon Lake freshman Presley Martter and Berea-Midpark's Abbigail Roy shared medalist honors with rounds of 45. Amherst's Ally Cvetkovic (47) and Olmsted Falls' Addison Mullen (46) were within two strokes of the leading trio. Defending SWC champ Avon Lake won the nine-hole preview with a score of 195. The Shoregals got a 49 from Lily Dorsey, while Adalyn Becker and Julia Skelton shot 50 and 51. Second-place Avon (202), Olmsted Falls (204) and Midview (210) were within 15 strokes of the Shoregals. Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. Southwestern Conference Preview Team results: Avon Lake 195, Avon 202, Olmsted Falls 204, Midview 210, Amherst 213, Berea-Midpark 230, North Ridgeville 239. Co-medalists: Presley Martter, Avon Lake, 45; Abbigail Roy, Berea-Midpark, 45; Leah DiFranco, Midview, 45. Individual results: Avon Lake (195): Lily Dorsey 49, Julia Skelton 51, Sammy Kennedy 55, Presley Martter 45, Adalyn Becker 50, Isla Rowney 59. Avon (202): Mylah Beran 50, Reese Thomas 54, Emma Fitch 52, Ella Feronti 64, Jena Planter 50, Jocelyn England 50. Olmsted Falls (204): Addison Mullen 46, Ashley Veverka 60, Mya Hovan 54, Abbey Riley 53, Lenna Kosunick 51, Livia Golden 55. Midview (210): Leah DiFranco 45, Nina Ballachino 57, Hunter Crum 64, Olivia Keenan 60, Sophia Morgan 48, Kaylani Carrucini 65 Amherst (213): Shyla Plezia 50, Peyton Zakrajsek 62, Charlie Supers 54, Ally Cvetkovic 47, Leah Sprague 67, Addy Wright 63 Berea-Midpark (230): Abbigail Roy 45, Isabella Santori 57, Miya Walker 65, Avery James 63, Gianna Noll 67, Annalee Svoboda 69. North Ridgeville (239): Amiya Bitzer 62, Carissa Cirigliano 69, Maddie Gerber 54, Courtney Kuhn 64, Alexa Reese 59, Zoey Verbickey 63. Lake Erie Girls Golf Association Preview Team results: Keystone 347, Bay 405, Rocky River 408, Westlake 419, Columbia 469, North Olmsted 525, Wellington (no team score). Medalist: Sophia Clarico, Keystone, 74. Top 10 individuals: Caseabella Fye, Keystone, 88; Kennedy Accavallo, Keystone, 92; Riley Knapp, Westlake, 92; Rylie Quaiser, Rocky River, 92; Alexis Askew, Keystone, 93; Annabel Sjoberg, Bay, 96; Sophia Taylor, Westlake, 97; Charlotte Fox, Bay, 98; Caroline Kousaie, 102.