Burns’ District Berth Highlights Tree of Life’s Golf Season

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Garrison Burns became Tree of Life Christian School’s first district golf qualifier since its 2012 state tournament team, extending the Trojans’ postseason through Thursday, Oct. 1. Burns finished 18th among 36 players at the Division III Central District tournament. That appearance followed a season highlighted by conference runner-up honors and a third-place team finish at sectional.

Burns finished runner-up for MOCAL Player of the Year and took second in the final round of the conference’s three-event tournament series. Tree of Life’s team results reflected a lineup that gained depth during the season. The Trojans had only three players for the opening conference tournament event, one short of the four required for a team score, but placed fourth and fifth in the remaining events after adding a fourth golfer. Liberty Christian won the three-day team competition by one stroke over Granville Christian.

The regular season also produced results beyond Burns’ individual finishes. Tree of Life team finished with a season record of 12-14 which is its best season in about 10 years, and finished 2-5 in MOCAL regular season. In two non-league, road matches against Madison Plains and Ross County Chrsitian, Burns was medalist as Tree of Life won both matches.

The program’s middle school golfers also showed improvement throughout the year. At the eight-team 18-hole Marysville Bunsold MS Golf Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 26., the Trojans lowered their team score by 30 strokes from the previous year, though they finished just behind the next-place team. The Coaches are excited for the seven 8th graders who all show promise as they move to High school next year.

The Team’s strongest postseason result came Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Darby Creek sectional. Rated sixth entering the eight-team field, Tree of Life finished third with a 403, surpassing its tournament goal on a wet, challenging course. Burns shot 83 to earn individual advancement, returning the Trojans to district competition for the first time in 14 years. Garrison was named to the All-District Honorable Mention Team in Division 3.

The broader Division III postseason ended with Central District champion Wellington School placing sixth among 12 teams at the state tournament at Northstar Golf Club in Sunbury on Oct. 13. Wellington’s performance included an individual second-team All-State honor. Ottawa Hills, from the Toledo area, captured the team state championship with a two-day total of 586, 10 over par.