The Division II and Division III district golf tournaments are completed for both boys and girls as Portage County was represented very well by all competitors.

It is worth a look back at the past week and the success of Portage Trail Conference linksters.

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THE WILDCATS THREE-PEAT -- After the Mogadore Wildcats advanced to the state tournament in 2006, everyone expected the team to continue their success in 2007.

This year was setting up to be a different story.

The Wildcats lost two seniors to graduation last year and lost matches to the Waterloo Vikings and the Rootstown Rovers in the regular season.

Losing the PTC County Division crown to the Division II Rovers, the Wildcats set their sights on the postseason tournaments and taking it one shot at a time.

Three-time PTC Player of the Year Nathan Tarter is always good for a solid score. He is one of those players that other golfers look to see if they are competing against.

A great competitor, many golfers in the PTC will be glad to see Tarter graduate, opening the door for other golfers to make their way to the top spot that has been solely his for three seasons.

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PENALTIES AND DQS -- A golfer kicks the ball into the hole and is disqualified.

Another golfer takes a wrong drop and receives a two-stroke penalty, keeping him out of the district tournament.

A third golfer whiffs at the ball after grounding his club and almost pushes his team from a district qualification.

As a reporter, I don't think I have ever seen as many penalties, DQs and incorrect drops as witnessed this season.

Golf is an individual sport and requires the competitors to make their own rulings and keep their own scores. No other sport -- not tennis, bowling, cross country, track or gymnastics that are all considered individual sports -- demands so much of their competitors.

But that's no excuse.

Football players do not have to call clipping on themselves but they certainly know and understand the rule.

Soccer players understand offsides, basketball athletes realize what traveling is as well as the three-second rule, track runners know they can't jump the starting pistol.

All players are expected to know the rules -- golfers just have to be more honest and meticulous about following them.

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LEARNING A VALUABLE LESSON -- The sectional tournament is no time to be learning a lesson, but that is exactly what happened to Shawn Maulis of Ravenna.

The senior golfer and two-time Player of the Year in the Metro Division fired a 77 at the always-tough Fowlers' Mill Division I Sectional.

Shawn went over his scorecard with the opposing player, signed it and turned it in.

But Maulis failed to look at the scorecard -- just signing it after both players agreed on the scores.

The place for the 10th-hole score had been left blank, causing Maulis to be disqualified. He had to relinquish his third qualifying spot to the district tournament at Pine Hills.

One of the best players in the PTC, Maulis joins a long list of excellent Ohio golfers who just never made it out of sectionals. But Shawn's record stands with outstanding scores during his tenure as the No. 1 golfer on the Ravens squad for the past three years. He is also a four-year letterman.

Look for him to be playing college golf when the season starts in August 2009.

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IT REALLY HAPPENED -- During the recent Division II district tournament at Windmill Lakes Golf Course in Ravenna, a four-hole, sudden-death playoff was needed to determine the final individual qualifier advancing to the state tournament in Columbus.

Rain and sleet caused the deterioration of golf course conditions for the playoff. Windmill Lakes staff members rushed to the greens with squeegees to keep the putting surfaces in top-notch condition.

Golfers who think the life of a pro is glamorous should think again.

Holding one of the squeegees, while he was available to make rulings as necessary, was head pro and Kent State University golf coach Herb Page.

You just never know what the professional's duties might entail.

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GOOD LUCK -- To the Mogadore Wildcats as they enjoy their trip to the OHSAA State Tournament at The Players Club this Friday and Saturday.

This is one of those times that the Wildcats are simply thrilled to be in the hunt. The good wishes of the entire PTC go with them.