By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School golf team finished 12th at the 14-team Div. II sectional tournament Thursday morning, September 28, at the Moose Landing Country Club.

Van Buren won the tournament crown with 305 strokes. Napoleon was second, 12 strokes back at 317. Liberty-Benton edged Coldwater for third by one stroke, 324-325.

Bluffton totaled 372 strokes to finish ahead of Paulding and Elmwood.

Pirate junior Evan Speicher shot 41-43=84 to pace Bluffton. He finished in a tie for 25th out of 69 golfers.

Sophomore Nick Lovett carded a 45-44=89 to tie for 37th.

Senior Preston Laytart registered a 48-49=97 round to end up 54th.  

Sophomore Grady Coonfare was the fourth Pirate scorer. He finished 63rd with an 18-hole score of 53-49=102.

Nate Rayle posted a 51-53=104 to come in 64th and round out the Bluffton participants.

Senior Ben Giere of Coldwater shot a 32-38=70 to earn sectional medalist honors. VB’s Carson Foltz came in second with a 72.

The top three teams and top three individuals not on a qualifying team advanced to the district tournament next week.