Pirate golfers 5th at tight NWC meet
Coonfare 1st team NWC
By Cort Reynolds
HARROD__The Bluffton High School boys golf team finished a deceptive fifth in the tightly-bunched seven-team Northwest Conference championship tournament at Colonial Hills on Thursday, September 18.
In one of the closest tournaments in league history, Allen East edged Lincolnview by just one stroke (339-340), and beat Columbus Grove (341) by only two shots to narrowly win the NWC team title.
Crestview came in fourth with a 347 total, just eight shots off the title pace. Bluffton (349) finished a mere 10 strokes behind champion AE at 349.
Nick Lovett paced the Pirates with a round of 85, while teammate Ethan Fifer carded an 86.
Bluffton’s Coby Dailey shot an 88, while Grady Coonfare posted a round of 90.
Lima Central Catholic (378) and Delphos Jefferson (388) finished sixth and seventh respectively, in the team standings.
Crestview’s Matt Dealey, who shot an 18-hole round of 76, earned tournament medalist honors at the league event.
Regular season champ Lincolnview and tourney titlist AE tied for the overall league championship with 13 points apiece. Grove finished third with 10 points, while Bluffton tied for fourth with Crestview at seven points.
Brady Brooks paced the NWC tournament champion Mustangs with a score of 79.
Pirate Grady Coonfare made first team All-NWC. Nick Lovett and Ethan Fifer were named second team all-league.
Gibson Meyer and Coby Dailey earned honorable mention all-conference status.
2025 NWC TOURNAMENT TEAM SCORES:
Allen East 339
Lincolnview 340
Columbus Grove 341
Crestview 347
Bluffton 349
LCC 378
Delphos Jefferson 388