Sophomore Samuel Griffis shot an 80 in the Division II sectional, helping to lead the West Union Dragons to a berth in the district tournament. (Photo by Mark Carpenter)
All four county teams moving to district play
By Mark Carpenter
People’s Defender
The 2025 high school boys golf season hit the postseason track last week and for all four of the teams from Adams County, it was a successful beginning. All four squads advanced to district golf competition with the Manchester Greyhounds coming out on top in the Division III tournament and claiming a sectional crown.
The boys golf teams from Manchester, North Adams and Peebles congregated at the Jaycees Course in Chillicothe on September 24, all looking for the opportunity to move to the district tourney, and all of them did just that. The top five team scores in the sectional earn district berths and it was Manchester placing first, North Adams second and Peebles fourth. The county also had the individual champions in Division III, with Manchester’s Parker Hayslip and North Adams’ Christopher Hall both shooting 75 to tie for the top spot. Peebles was led in the sectional by sophomore Calen Vogler, who carded 90 for the day.
:I’m proud of the kids for winning the sectional for the first time since 2018,” commented Manchester head coach Austin Kingsolver. “While winning sectionals is great, ultimately our goal is to advance to the state tournament.”
The West Union Dragons were the only county team that did not appear in Division III as the Dragons competed in the Division II sectional at the Portsmouth Elks on Friday, September 26 after inclement weather forced cancellation earlier in the week. Again, the top five teams moved on to the district and Coach Carl Schneider and the Dragons finished third overall, punching their ticket to the districts. The Dragons were led by sophomore Samuel Griffis, who went 40 on both the front and back for a total of 80, which tied him for fifth overall in the individual standings.
The trio of Division III teams were in district action on Monday, September 29 at the Portsmouth Elks, where things got much tougher as only one team and one individual not on that team move on to the OHSAA State Tournament. The results of that competition were not yet available at press time. West Union will be in district play on Wednesday, October 1, traveling to the Crown Hill course in Williamsport, Ohio, There, two teams and two individuals will earn the right to advance to the state tournament.
Division III Sectional Scores
Manchester: Parker Hayslip- 75, Brayden Palmer- 84, Elijah Crabtree- 87, Joel Blythe- 87, Bryce Young- 89
North Adams: Christopher Hall- 75, Carsyn Raines- 83, Jayden Edmisten- 90, Cash Hupp- 91, Caleb Brown- 91
Peebles: Calen Vogler- 90m Gage Bennington- 91, Cooper Meade- 92, Daniel Clark- 95, Andy McFarland- 118
Division II Sectional Scores
West Union: Samuel Griffis- 80, Adam Cooper- 83, Teagan Knox- 88, Landon McIntosh- 90, Alex Dillow- 92
Division III Sectional Team Scores: Manchester 333, North Adams 339, Fairfield 349, Peebles 368, Adena 373
Division II Sectional Team Scores: Gallia Academy 309, Ironton 334, West Union 341, Fairland 342, Coal Grove 348
