2025 Fort Recovery boys golf preview

2024 season:

The Indians returned a bulk of its 2023 lineup, but struggled to get consistent scores from its top guys, resulting in an 8-8 record. They finished 4-5 in the Midwest Athletic Conference, tying Parkway, but earned fifth place outright after finishing third in the MAC Championships with a 318. Four different players earned match medalist honors throughout the course of the year, but three of those four also managed to fail to score in two matches. Despite underperforming during the regular season, the Tribe earned a spot in the district tournament after placing fourth at the sectional with a 327. They finished third in the district, missing a spot in the state tournament by just one spot and 15 strokes.

Projected lineup:

Reece LeFevre, Sr.

Caleb Smith, Sr.

Garrett Diller, Sr.

Andrew Rehmert, Fr.

Will Faller, So.

Carter Fortkamp, Jr.

Top returners:

Reece LeFevre

41.3 strokes/9, 1st team All-MAC

Caleb Smith

44.3 strokes/9, HM All-MAC

Key departures:

Eli Lennartz

42.7 strokes/9

Keegan Muhlenkamp

43 strokes/9, 1st team All-MAC

Mason Diller

46.1 strokes/9

Coach Dean Sanders says:

“I think we’re kind of looking at a rebuilding year this year. Lost a lot of seniors last year and real proud of how the team did last year … but obviously you have those years where you’re going to be having a new set of guys. The best thing is we’ve got 10 returning players this year so we’ve got some guys with varsity experience. … We’ve got four new guys too that know how to play the game and we’re looking for good things out of them too. … One thing we are going to work on are skills and drills in the short game and the irons.”

Fast facts:

•Reece LeFevre excelled in 18-hole tournaments last year, earning medalist honors in the Mercer County Invite and the Midwest Athletic Conference Championships.

•Dean Sanders enters his seventh year of coaching Fort Recovery.

•The Tribe will be 14 players deep with 10 returning from last season and four newcomers.

Matches to watch:

Thursday, Aug. 14, at Parkway

The Tribe and Panthers both finished 4-5 in the MAC last year, so this match can help create some separation.

Saturday, Sept. 20, at MAC Championships

Along with impacting other conference honors, this tournament is the final 18-hole event Fort Recovery will play at prior to the sectional.