By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School golf team finished a solid fourth in the nine-team Northwest Conference championship meet Thursday, September 22, at Hickory Sticks Golf Course in Van Wert.

Leipsic captured the league title with 347 strokes. The Vikings narrowly defeated second-place Delphos Jefferson by just two shots.  Lincolnview was a close third at 351 strokes.

Bluffton finished fourth (364), with Crestview fifth (374). Spencerville was sixth (380) in the tightly-bunched field, followed by Columbus Grove (383), Allen East (389) and then Ada (525).

Leipsic medalist Brevin Brandt captured the NWC tournament individual title after winning a playoff with Isaac Gallmeier of Jefferson. Each shot an 18-hole score of 80 in regulation play.

Tournament champion Leipsic also won the NWC regular season with a 15-1 record, followed by Lincolnview (14-1) and Bluffton in third (12-4). Delphos Jefferson finished 11-7 in league play, followed by Grove (6-9), Allen East (4-9), Crestview (5-11), Spencerville (2-13) and Ada (0-14).

Bluffton plays in the Div. III Northwest sectional meet Thursday, September 29.