Ashland County Sports Hall of Fame
Ashland County Sports
Hall of Fame
 
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1962 Ashland High School
Championship Golf Team

Season Record: 17-2

1962 Ashland High School Championship Golf Team
Left to right: Dave Deever, Jim Nordstrom, Rex Benton, Rich McConaghy, Bob Miller.
Not pictured: Terry Castor, and Joel McCuen.

1962 Ashland High School Championship Golf Team
Season Record: 17-2
Coach Rex Benton

The 1962 Ashland High School golf team won the first “team” State championship in AHS sports history. A trio of three-year lettermen led Coach Rex Benton in his third year as head coach. Jim Nordstrom had the best season average (38.9), while Dick McConaghy (39) and Bob Miller were the only seniors on the squad. Dave Deever was the No. 4 man, and Terry Castor and Joel McCuen vied for the fifth spot on the Varsity team. 

The Arrows had a 17-2 regular season record, while losing close matches at Orrville and Wooster. They redeemed themselves by soundly defeating both teams at home 14 ½ to 1 ½. They, also, set a school record by shooting a 294 against Findlay and Kenton. Dick McConaghy had a 68, while Bob Miller and Dave Deever shot even par 72’s. 

The linksters advanced to Columbus, when they won the District tournament at Findlay by 31 strokes over runner up Findlay on their home course. Dave Deever, the medalist in a playoff, and Bob Miller each shot 72. 

At the OSU course as the returning 3rd place finishers AHS went against the defending State champs Kettering Fairmont, Coach Benton received an unusual premonition. After a poor practice round a young man said to him, “Coach, your team looks real good. They have patience. I think they will win this thing.” When Coach Benton inquired of a spectator, “Who is that guy? The observer said, “Oh, that’s Jack Nicklaus, he played golf at Ohio State.”  

At the 36th State Golf championship the A’s finished first with a score of 646, which bettered Kettering Fairmont by two strokes. Jim Nordstrom, who was 8th in the State, shot 159, Dick McConaghy, who was 13th in the State, shot 160, Dave Deever (162), and Bob Miller (165) made up the four-man team. It was the era when every shot by every player counted for the team’s score. 

In a post-season tournament where a distinguished field of 10-teams played in the Sandusky Invitational the Arrows finished first by 12 strokes with an 18-hole score of 317. Jim Nordstrom tied for medalist with a 74, but lost in a sudden death playoff. 

In there careers Nordstrom, Deever, and Castor were four-year lettermen, and Dave Deever made four trips to Columbus in the State tournament.

Nominator: Paul Dienstberger

1962 Ashland HS Boys Golf State Champs

1962 Ashland Golf Team (photo by Maurer Photography)
Left to right: Terry Castor, Dave Deever, Joel McCuen, Jim Nordstrom, Bob Miller.

 
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