The District 10 3A champion Warren boys golf team includes, from left, assistant coach Scott Pearson, Reid Olsen, Johnny Palmieri, Braddock Damore, Conner Zaffino, Brady Berdine, assistant coach Fuzzy Merenick and head coach Nate Sandberg. Photo submitted to Times Observer

MEADVILLE — Region 6 champion Warren is now District 10 champion Warren.

The Dragons defeated Cathedral Prep 314-323 on Monday for the D10 3A boys golf championship at The Country Club of Meadville.

In addition to their first-ever team D10 title, the Dragons will be represented today in Meadville on day two of the individual District 10 3A championships by seniors Braddock Damore and Brady Berdine.

Damore not only led the Dragons on Monday with an 18-hole 72, but he also leads the D10 3A field. Berdine is only three shots back, tied for second with his 75. Out of 14 individual qualifiers for the D10 individual championships, they advanced among the top eight to the second day.

Warren junior Reid Olsen missed the individual cut with his 84 on Tuesday, but that 84 and senior teammate Conner Zaffino’s 83 helped secure the Dragons’ team title. Johnny Palmieri shot a 94, three shots behind Prep’s final scoring golfer. The top four scores from each team counted toward the final team scoring.

“To capture the first-ever district team title is extremely significant,” said Warren coach Nate Sandberg. “I am thrilled for the entire team and am so proud of all the hard work we’ve been putting in since summer began. We have work to do for the subregional this Thursday and have the final day of individuals to worry about. So we will definitely enjoy this win and hope to continue our successes Tuesday and Thursday.”

Damore echoed that the “job’s not finished.” He has set his sights on individual success, as well as team success, all season long, and plays for the individual D10 title today, also at The Country Club of Meadville.

“I think it says that our hard work as a team is starting to show and we have come a long way since, I think, my freshman year our team was probably fifth in the district,” added Damore. “Now, as a senior, our team has dominated all year long and we hope to continue our season as a team on Thursday.”

Damore, again, enters play on day two three strokes ahead of Prep’s Cooper Wierzchowski and Berdine.

“The pressure of districts is there,” said Berdine. “With all the players and spectators and everyone (it is) much more serious, but luckily I had a good group of kids who I have previously played with to drown most of the pressure out. It is still hard to not think about at some points during the round compared to regular mega-matches.

“Winning District 10 to us just validates all the practice we’ve done together in the summer and throughout the season, and will just give us more confidence going forward,” added Berdine. “This is also Warren’s first District 10 golf title, so it feels nice to be on the good side of Warren history.

“I’m hoping that I can have a solid round tomorrow and move on to states and then hope that we can play well at Sub-Regionals Thursday,” he said.

The top two individuals from individual districts advance to states.

GIRLS

SHIPPEE MISSES CUT BY 1

Warren’s Kate Shippee missed the cut by one shot on Monday on day one of the District 10 3A girls golf championships, also at The Country Club of Meadville.

“I’m super proud of her qualifying (for the individual D10 championships) as a freshman,” said Sandberg. “She has a bright future.”