Ohio State Adds Trio On National Signing Day – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/13/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Nov. 13, 2014
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Donnie Darr, Ohio State head men’s golf coach, has added three golfers to his 2015-16 arsenal on National Signing Day. Will Grimmer, Jack Mancinotti and Caleb Ramirez each inked their names to become the newest members of the Buckeye men’s golf program.
“I’m very excited about the signing of these three young men,” said Darr. “They each bring a different skill set to the team, and I have no doubt they will have an immediate impact on our program. We had a nice fall season, winning twice, finishing second once and third once. Today is the exclamation point on our fall.”
Grimmer, a Cincinnati native, chose to remain in state and attend The Ohio State University. This past summer he was the low amateur at US Open sectional qualifying, posting a two-round 135 (70-65) to earn his spot in the USGA major championship as the youngest participant in the field at 17 years old.
He competed against men at the 2014 Ohio Men’s Amateur Championship as well, claiming runner-up honors with scores of 72-66-69-70. Grimmer was also a member of a three-man team for the USGA Men’s (Ohio) State Championship which earned a share of eighth place.
Grimmer’s Junior accomplishments are a long list that includes titles at the Ohio Junior Amateur Championship and AJGA Memorial Juniors in 2013. He qualified for Junior competition on the national stage in back-to-back years at both the USGA Juniors and Junior PGAs (2013-14). He was the local/state qualifier medalist for both competitions in 2013 and was exempt from local/state qualifying in 2014.
He is ranked amongst the country’s elite junior players, ranked eighth in the Class of 2015 and 12th overall by Junior Golf Scoreboard.
Will Grimmer (Photo: USGA/Matt Sullivan)
“Will is a great ball striker who has excelled at the highest level,” said Darr. “He is a very seasoned junior golfer, having competed at the highest level during this summer’s US Open. He is a mild mannered kid, but a fierce competitor. He absolutely loves playing the game. In other sports he would be referred to as a gym rat. As a coach, you can never have too many people like that in your locker room.”
Will is the son of Kevin and Sarah Grimmer. He is a member of the National Honor Society and the Leadership Council.
Mancinotti is a native Buckeye as well hailing from Toledo, Ohio. Competing on the OSU Golf Club’s Scarlet Course, Mancinotti wrapped up his high school career for St. John’s Jesuit High by securing the Division-I individual state championship with a 36-hole total of 145, eight strokes better than the runner-up. The dominating performance earned him First Team All-Ohio honors for the second straight season after finishing as the Ohio state championships runner-up in 2013. As a senior in 2014, Mancinotti fired a cumulative score of 21-under during 18-hole events.
Mancinotti arose victorious at the Hudson Junior Invitational after carding rounds of 68-75-72. He also brought home the hardware for the Golfweek Junior Tour at Stone Ridge, sinking a birdie on the final hole to secure the tournament title. Winning ways continued in the US Junior Boys Championship local qualifying, firing scores of 70-71 to win medalist honors.
Jack Mancinotti (Photo: The Blade/Lori King)
“Jack is a competitor,” said Darr. “He has a very natural golf swing and plays the game like an athlete, but his greatest strength is his competitiveness and his desire to win. I’m excited to get Jack on campus because I believe his attitude will be infectious within the team.”
Jack is the son of Ann and Craig Mancinotti; one of five children. His uncle, Rick Smith, is a world-renowned golf instructor. Jack participates in the Christian Service program, volunteering his time to tutor younger children in the community.
Ramirez will make the cross-country trek from Blythe, Calif., to attend Ohio State at the start of the 2015-16 academic year. He qualified for the 2013 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship by winning medalist honors in his qualifying tournament at the Cooper River Country Club. He placed fifth at the AJGA Sunriver Junior Open by shooting 69-70-70. Ramirez notched another top-10 performance in the AJGA Junior Gainey Ranch with tallies of 69-70-71.
Ramirez excelled on the baseball mound as well, throwing a no-hitter to lift his team to victory at the district all-stars championship.
Caleb Ramirez (left) (Photo: Palo Verde Valley Times)
“Caleb is a raw talent with huge potential for growth,” said Darr. “He hasn’t had the opportunity to play as much competitive golf as some juniors, but when he has, he’s prove he can play with the best. He has wonderful golf instincts and understands how to play the game.”
Caleb is the son of Israel and Martha Ramirez; one of three children.
