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Zylstra returns to OFSAA golf
St. Joe's Ram wins WOSSAA while Strathroy Saints take team title
September 29, 2023
By Rob J. Ross
UNION, Ont. - Jack Zylstra is returning to OFSAA.
The St. Joseph's Ram won the Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association (WOSSAA) boys' golf title, by one stroke, shooting a three over 75 Thursday at the St. Thomas Golf and Country Club.
"It feels good especially after hole 11 when I got nailed with a golf ball in the back," said Zylstra, who was hit by a stray tee shot. "I was one-under (par) through 11 and then went four over, so it felt good to hang on after that happened."
A year ago, Zylstra won the OFSAA high school division. This year Zylstra heads to the provincial championship in the open division.
"I'm hoping to repeat, but in a different division this year," said Zystra. "There will be definitely some good competition. Two guys who were top three last year are with Team Canada. Hope I can show them what I have. Take some momentum here and carry it over."
And not be hit by a ball.
Strathroy District won the team title, led by Ben Hudson, who finished one shot behind Zylstra, with a four over 76.
"I was playing really well. I was actually three under through the first 13, but a couple bad shots carried me to a four over score," said Hudson. I was four over through the last two holes to shoot four over (par)."
The Grade 10 student will be joined by Strathroy teammates Keagan Hackney, who shot a 77 and Logan Woodiwiss and Hunter Talbot, who both carded 83s.
"We all played well today," Hudson said. "I thought there was going to be a playoff. I heard a couple other teams were in our area for scores. We were waiting for our last guy to come in and once I heard he was one stroke ahead of the last guy on the other team, I knew we had it."
Parkside Stampeders Zander Battaglia qualified for OFSAA, placing third with a round of 77, tied with Strathroy's Hackney.
"I had a good round out there. I was hitting them good off of the tee and the putts were just dropping," Battaglia said. "Hopefully I can carry that on to OFSAA. I'm going to go play and have fun."
OFSAA is at the Ambassador Golf Club, October 11-12 in Windsor.
Parkside's Dawson Broadhead finished tied for seventh (80), while Central Elgin Titans Liam Miskelly was tied for 10th (81) with Glencoe's Will McEachern.
Dorchester's Ryan Johnson and Rams' Gryffin Gold, tied for 13th, both carding an 82.
St. Joe's placed third in the team standings behind Strathroy and London Aquinas. Parkside was fourth and Dorchester, fifth.
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