Panthers finish third at Districts, advance to fourth straight State Tournament

The Springboro Girls Varsity Golf Team is heading back to State at Firestone CC. With a team total of 339 (+51) at the OHSAA Division I Southwest District Tournament at Pipestone Golf Club on Wednesday, the Panthers secured third place, earning one of the three qualifying spots for the State Tournament. This marks Springboro’s fourth consecutive trip to State and the sixth in program history.

The field was stacked with talent, but the Panthers stayed composed throughout the round. Anderson (325, +37) took home the top team honors, followed closely by Sycamore (326, +38). Springboro’s steady play and depth gave them the edge over Lakota East, who also finished with a 339 but fell short in the tie-breaker for the final qualifying spot.

Senior Kinsley Brown led the way for Springboro, shooting a 79 (+7) to place in the top 10 individually. Payton Bailey and Elise Dunkle each shot 86 (+14), while senior Ari Lietzow posted an 88 (+16) and sophomore Mickaela Grieshop added an 89 (+17) to win the 5th place tie breaker against Lakota East.

The defining moment came on the final hole, where Payton Bailey calmly drained a clutch four-foot par putt on 18, securing the tie that ultimately propelled the Panthers into the top three.

Springboro will now turn its attention to the OHSAA Division I State Championship, where they’ll compete against Ohio’s best at Firestone Country Club's Fazio Course. With a mix of experienced seniors and emerging underclassmen, the Panthers are eager to build on their legacy and chase another strong finish on the state’s biggest stage.