Baylor Boys Win 17th D-II AA Golf Title; Baylor Girls Take Second

 MANCHESTER – On a sun-drenched afternoon, it was a special day for Baylor golf and for the King Oehmig family.

Highlighted by a 5-under, 31 on the final nine holes, Baylor senior Oliver Simonsen shot a two-day, 3-under 141 to lead Baylor to the 2015 TSSAA D-II AA boys state championship at WillowBrook Golf Course here Tuesday.

Carrying one-of-a-kind black golf bags in honor of the late coach Oehmig who passed away in May, the Red Raider boys brought home the first place trophy and now have retired the specially-made bags.

Simonsen finished second overall in the individual competition and has committed to attend UTC next fall.

“Oliver played a great final nine holes for us is one of those players who will step up and go for the big shots and is not afraid to back off,” said Baylor coach Gary Partrick who also led Baylor to a boys state crown in 2012.

In the D-II girls’ competition, St. Agnes won its second straight title as Baylor was second and GPS third in the six-team field.

A Day of Tears As Well: It was also a tough day for the Baylor student-athletes who lost a classmate, junior Sumner Smith who passed away Monday of cardiac arrest.

“Sumner was a guy who always met me with a smile and hug and wished me the best,’” said Baylor junior golfer Danielle Bates who wiped away tears as she spoke. “He was one of the first students I met when I came to Baylor as a ninth grade boarder and knew no one. He will be truly missed.

“We learned of his death last night and it was difficult to focus on golf today, but we played for him.”

In Tribute: All the Baylor golfers wore black ribbons during today’s final round in memory of Smith. and the Baylor girls had the letters "COACH O" written on their lower right legs in remembrance of coach Oehmig.

Simonsen’s teammates Chase Roswall (+4, 148) and Matt McKenney (+7, 151) finished eighth and tied for 10th, respectively as the Red Raiders (596 +20) overcame first-day leader Briarcrest to finish six shots ahead of the Memphis-based school (602, +26) and Father Ryan (602, +26) in the six-team field. McCallie was sixth (625, +49).

The championship is Baylor’s state record 17th, first since 2012 and second for coach Gary Partrick.

Retiring the Black Bags: “We had the special bags made this summer with a king’s crown on the bag and the dates 1951-2015 representing King’s life here on earth,” said coach Partrick. “Today is the last time we will play with these bags as we give these to Margy Oehmig and her sons, John and Henry, in tribute to King.”

D-II AA Boys: Baylor trailed by one after day one, but rallied to win its 17th team title. The Red Raiders were led by senior Oliver Simonsen who finished second overall with a 3-under 141. Teammates Chad Roswall shot 4-over, 148 and Matt McKenney shot a 7-over, 151.

McCallie’s Evan Spence (+8, 152) tied for 12th, Crawford Collett (+10, 154) tied for 19th and Matthew McBrayer (+13, 157) tied for 25th.

Individual top three:

1 Brock Ochsenreiter (Ensworth)  5-under, 139

2 Oliver Simonsen (Baylor) 3-under, 141

3 Greg Gionfriddo (Christian Brothers) 1-over 141

Team Standings

1 Baylor 596 (+20)

T2 Briarcrest  602 (+26)

T2 Father Ryan  602 (+26)

4 Christian Brothers  605 (+29)

5 MBA 616 (+40)

6 McCallie  625 (+49)

D-II AA Girls: The St. Agnes Stars claimed their second straight D-II AA girls’ golf title with a two-day total of 284 (-4), 16 shots ahead of runner-up Baylor (300), with GPS finishing third (326 (+38) in the six-team field.

St. Agnes sisters Abby Heck (-5, 139) and Rachel Heck (+1, 145) placed first and second, respectively, in the individual competition, while Baylor senior Elina Saksa was third with a +4, 148. Mary Melissa Manuel (tied for 7th) was the top finisher for GPS with a +14, 158. Abby Heck also won the individual state title in 2014.
Baylor: Elina Saksa (3rd, +4, 148), Katherine Holmes (5th, +9, 153), Tia Teinketo (6th, +9, `57)

GPS: Mary Melissa Manuel (7th; +14, 178), McKenzie Frizzell (tied for 12th; +29, 173)

Top Three Individuals

1 Abby Heck (St. Agnes) -5, 139

2 Rachel Heck (St. Agnes) +1, 145

3 Elina Saksa (Baylor) +4, 148

Team Standings

1 St Agnes 284 (-4)

2 Baylor 300 (+12)

3 GPS 326 (+38)

4 Father Ryan 342 (+54)

5 Ensworth 349 (+61)

 

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net

6 St. Benedict 363 (+75)