By Cort Reynolds

ARLINGTON__Two members of the Ada High School golf team qualified for districts by playing well in the 12-team Div. III sectionals at Sycamore Springs Golf Club on Thursday, Sept. 24.

Senior Brody Rister led Ada with an 18-hole round of 42-42=84 to finish in a tie for sixth place amid the 60-player field. Rister qualified to districts, one shot behind fellow individual qualifier Arden Cline of Arcadia, who shot 81 to finish fifth.

Sophomore Arden Shook fired a 41-45=86 to end up eighth and also advance to districts as the third individual qualifier.

The Bulldog squad came in fourth place with 362 strokes, four behind third-place New Riegel (358) for the last team spot in the district tournament.

“In the final standings, Ada finished with three individuals in the top nine out of 60 golfers,” enthused second-year head coach Tod Schmidt. 

“Unfortunately, first-year sophomore Case Vieira missed advancing by a single stroke over 18 holes,” said Schmidt.

Vieira carded a 43-44=87.

Senior Lawson Klingler posted a 54-51=105 as the fourth Ada scorer to finish in a three-way tie for 40th place. Junior Max Baumgartner came in with a 62-57=119 round to end up 54th.

VB senior Peyton Beilharz fired a 35-39=74 to win the boys individual sectional title.

“This was a week of exciting girls and boys tournament golf punctuated by frustrating near misses,” said Schmidt.

“The margin between advancing or falling short for Brooklyn, Case or the whole team is agonizingly small,” he remarked. “These players have worked so hard all summer long in the heat, the rain, the long hours. They have represented their school, their town, and their families in a way we should all respect and appreciate. 

“Although the season continues for Brody and Arden, many of us are already looking to our off-season to get better and come back even stronger next year,” he offered.

The Ada boys ended the 2026 regular season with a 56-9 record, and they finished second in the BVC. 

“We have a young team returning in 2027, and we have very high expectations,” said Schmidt. “The team is excited to improve on that mark in 2027.”

Rister and Shook will compete in the Div. III Northwest district tournament Thursday, October 1 at Stone Ridge Golf Club in Bowling Green.

Powerhouse Blanchard Valley Conference champion Van Buren won the sectional crown with 321 strokes, 35 shots ahead of second-place Carey (356).

Only the top three teams and top three individuals not on a qualifying team advanced to the district level.