SUNBURY — Kalida sophomore Paul Stechschulte capped off a dominant two-day performance to claim the Division III boys state golf championship at NorthStar Golf Club on Saturday.

Stechschulte followed his opening-round 71 with an impressive three-under 69 in the final round, finishing five strokes ahead of the field to earn the individual state title. His steady play, highlighted by a birdie on the second hole, anchored Kalida to an eighth-place team finish with a total score of 665.

Teammate Chris Rall added an 86 for the Wildcats, while Van Buren placed sixth overall behind a 77 from Ben Heitkamp and a 79 from Jake Schroeder. Botkins finished ninth with a 322 team score, led by Quinn Keonig.

Delphos St. John’s placed 10th at 328, with Parker Will contributing a strong showing. Among individual qualifiers, Crestview’s Mathew Dealey shot a 77, Riverdale’s Nathan Alge posted a 79, and Ottoville’s Evan Altenburger turned in a 78. Russia’s Leo Counts finished with a 91.

Stechschulte’s title run cements his place among Ohio’s elite young golfers — and delivers Kalida its second individual state golf champion in school history.

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