Blake Hopkins Clinches Spot in Golf State Championship

Open Door Senior Blake Hopkins has been working his entire high school career for the chance to play in the state tournament … and he wasn’t about to let nerves get in the way.

Hopkins shot a 5-over 77 on Thursday at the Division III district tournament at Tannenhauf Golf Club in Alliance to earn one of three individual qualifying berths to next week’s state tournament.  “Those last three holes, my hands were shaking and my knees were shaking,” Hopkins said. “I just had to trust my swing and my putting stroke. I got off to a great start, I was really confident in my short game and my putting really saved me today.”

Hopkins teed off on the back nine at Tannenhauf, where he shot a 1-over 37 that kept him among the leaders all day.  He finished with the fourth-best score in the 54-man field, two strokes off the pace of district medalist Mark Pillar of Independence who shot a 73 and earned one of the individual qualifying positions alongside Lake Center Christian’s Dylan Maninga.

“This is something I’ve certainly been thinking about for the last couple weeks but honestly I’ve been dreaming about it for a long time,” Hopkins said. “I’ve always really wanted to play Ohio State’s Scarlet Course. I’m really looking forward to that.”

Hopkins is tentatively scheduled to tee off next Friday at 10:40 a.m. as the first Open Door golfer to play in the state tournament since Max Vandermersch in 2015.  “I’m really excited to know I’ll be in Columbus next week,” Hopkins said. “It’s so awesome to see all of my hard work finally paying off. I spend so much time practicing and now it’s paying off in a really big way.”

Hopkins also joked that an added bonus is he gets to miss two days of school next week to play in the event. Come out and support Blake at the Ohio State Scarlet golf course in Columbus Ohio on Friday and Saturday!