Kirtland’s Maggie Kothera and the Independence Girls Golf team both found exactly the kind of start they were looking for as the postseason began Tuesday at Punderson Golf Course.
Kothera fired an 86 to earn medalist honors at the 2026 Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division Girls Golf Postseason Tournament, while Independence delivered one of its most balanced performances of the season to run away with the team championship.
The Blue Devils posted a 382, finishing 70 strokes ahead of runner-up Willoughby South, which shot 452. Cuyahoga Heights finished third with a 462, and Lutheran West placed fourth at 487.
For Kothera, the victory carried additional significance as Punderson will also serve as her sectional course, making Tuesday’s championship round an important preview of what awaits when the state tournament begins.
“It was definitely a huge confidence booster to play well on a course I’ll see in a few weeks for sectionals,” Kothera said.
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Kothera finished eight strokes ahead of Independence’s Abbey Cottrell and Hawken’s Gabby Fisher, who tied for second with rounds of 94.
Her success began with consistently putting herself in position off the tee.
“I was hitting my driver well, which helped set me up for good second shots,” Kothera said. “I was also able to make a few lengthy putts, which is always helpful.”
Two holes stood out as momentum builders.
On No. 4, Kothera chunked her second shot but recovered by hitting the green and converting a long par putt.
“On number 4, I chunked my second shot, but was able to hit the green and make a long par putt, which gave me a big boost,” she said. “I also made birdie on 13. I think those two were the big holes on each nine.”
While Kothera separated herself in the individual race, Independence did the same in the team standings.
Cottrell led the Blue Devils with her runner-up 94, followed by Jamie Tresp with a 95, Maddie Krogman with a 96 and Marisa Mudra with a 97.
That gave Independence four scoring rounds separated by only three strokes.
Olivia Krysiak added a 99 to finish seventh overall, giving the Blue Devils five golfers among the top seven.
For Cottrell, the timing of the performance made it even more encouraging.
“It was really great to start off strong in the postseason,” Cottrell said. “I think it gives our team a lot of confidence for the rest of the season as we move on.”
Cottrell described her own round as a grind, but she was pleased with how she responded.
“I am pretty satisfied with my score,” she said. “Today was a long and a bit of a rough day, but I stayed focused, and the end result was pretty good for how I played.”
The larger takeaway for Cottrell was how well Independence performed throughout the lineup.
“Not to mention, our team all played really well too,” she said. “Our scores were all some of our best as a team.”
That depth has helped the Blue Devils build momentum heading into the next stage of the postseason.
Cottrell said the formula remains simple.
“I think the most important mindset to have is to just stay focused and try our best,” she said. “Our team has really improved, and we’ve all played very well all year.”
Independence will now try to carry that progress into sectional play.
“The most important thing we can do is apply that improvement, play our best, and keep a positive mindset,” Cottrell said.
Willoughby South Girls Golf finished second behind a pair of top-10 performances. Emma Hayes and Sophia Baker each shot 104 to tie for ninth. Keira Widemire added a 118, and Aven Buchter shot 126 to complete the Rebels’ 452.
Cuyahoga Heights Girls Golf was led by Olivia Gindlesperger, who placed eighth with a 103. Gianna Sciano shot 108, Celia Suma added a 124, and Alaina Lawrence finished with a 127 for the Red Wolves’ four scoring rounds.
Kennedy Hughes paced Lutheran West Girls Golf with a 110 to finish 12th. Samara Harris shot 115, Avery Kollar added a 126, and Audrey Deaton carded a 136.
Hawken Girls Golf did not post a team score, but Fisher’s 94 gave the Hawks a share of second place individually. Sophie Donovan shot 123, and Sophia Morton finished with a 137.
Kirtland also did not record a team score, but Kothera left Punderson with the tournament’s biggest individual prize — and a successful preview of the course she will see again when the postseason resumes.
“I’ll keep practicing with the boys as they prepare for their sectionals,” Kothera said, “and try to get another round or two in at Punderson.”
Girls Golf Team Results
| Place | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 Independence | 382 |
| 2nd | 20 Willoughby South | 452 |
| 3rd | 21 Cuyahoga Heights | 462 |
| 4th | 18 Lutheran West | 487 |
| — | 15 Hawken | — |
| — |  Kirtland | — |
Girls Golf Individual Results
Golf Tournament
| Place | Golfer | School | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Maggie Kothera | Kirtland | 86 |
| 2nd | Abbey Cottrell | Independence | 94 |
| 2nd | Gabby Fisher | Hawken | 94 |
| 4th | Jamie Tresp | Independence | 95 |
| 5th | Maddie Krogman | Independence | 96 |
| 6th | Marisa Mudra | Independence | 97 |
| 7th | Olivia Krysiak | Independence | 99 |
| 8th | Olivia Gindlesperger | Cuyahoga Heights | 103 |
| 9th | Emma Hayes | Willoughby South | 104 |
| 9th | Sophia Baker | Willoughby South | 104 |
| 11th | Gianna Sciano | Cuyahoga Heights | 108 |
| 12th | Kennedy Hughes | Lutheran West | 110 |
| 13th | Samara Harris | Lutheran West | 115 |
| 14th | Keira Widemire | Willoughby South | 118 |
| 15th | Sophie Donovan | Hawken | 123 |
| 16th | Celia Suma | Cuyahoga Heights | 124 |
| 17th | Aven Buchter | Willoughby South | 126 |
| 17th | Avery Kollar | Lutheran West | 126 |
| 19th | Alaina Lawrence | Cuyahoga Heights | 127 |
| 20th | Hailey Lamont | Cuyahoga Heights | 131 |
| 21st | Audrey Deaton | Lutheran West | 136 |
| 22nd | Sophia Morton | Hawken | 137 |
Top Performers
