By Tim Rogers
NOPGA Media

CANTON: Elizabeth Coleman was a study in impeccability.

Ben Fauver was a study in perseverance.

Both passed the test. In different ways.

Long ago a wise man – he might have been Scottish – said there were two ways to win a 36-hole golf tournament. You either construct a big lead in the first round, never take your foot off the gas pedal and go on to win in a rout.

  Or you tactfully craft a small lead, fight like a junkyard dog to maintain it and just when things were going haywire you conjure up the tenacity to win in a nail-biting playoff.

Welcome to the 2026 Northern Ohio PGA Junior Section Championship and the Coleman and Fauver Show.

That’s how things unfolded on a bright and slightly windy Tuesday at testy Glenmoor Country Club where Coleman and Fauver won championships in diametric ways and won themselves a trip to PGA Headquarters in Frisco, Texas and a spot in the PGA Junior Championship at the end of July.

Coleman, a product of the program that coach Mary Becker built at Medina Highland and a Ball State commit, fashioned back-to-back rounds of 67-67 for a 36-hole total of 10-under 134 and a whopping 14 stroke victory.

It was easily the most artistic and impressive performance of the tournament by either gender.

“I’ve been playing pretty well lately,” said Coleman, who had 13 birdies against three bogeys and zero double-bogeys over the two days. “Last week I played two tournaments where I played well but just came up short where I wanted and I think that helped me be more extra-motivated in these two rounds.”

Her play was consistent and the epitome of stress-free both days. She made birdie putts in the final round of 6, 4, 12, 15, 15 and 18 feet. She also two-putted for birdie on the 480-yard 10th hole, just missing an eagle by inches.

Playing with a monstrous lead was something new for her.
“It was different,” said Coleman, who is planning for a career in dentistry after graduating with a 4.30 GPA. “It was kind of fun knowing that if I kept playing my game, I’d be good. I don’t think I’ve ever had a lead that big. And I always compete against myself.”

Fauver, an Ohio State commit out of Hudson, had a two-stroke lead after opening with a two-under 70. He birdied two of his first six holes in round two and padded his lead to three and followed with five straight pars and another birdie before things got sticky.

  Consecutive double-bogeys on the 427-yard 13th and the 170-yard 14th cut his lead to one over eventual runnerup Ethan White, of Chagrin Falls with several others – Rocky River’s Coleson Paez, Chagrin Falls’ Alexander Eckstein and Medina’s Cameron Stafford — making strong, but not strong enough, runs.

It became a two-man race at that point. Both players parred the 15th and 16th with some solid play before White hit his best – and most crucial – putt of the day from about 28 feet for birdie on the par-3 17th. Fauver two-putted for par and he was in a tie for the first time in 35 holes.

The players stayed even through the first playoff hole, but Fauver put himself in great position on the 397-yard 11th when his second shot settled in a small patch of light rough just off the green and short of the pond on the left. He hit a superb uphill chip that left him with a kick-in par putt.

White, a junior at St. Igntius, made bogey from an even tougher lie from the hill on the right side of the green.

Both young men looked tired and relieved when it was over, the competitive pressure of the past two days perhaps taking a toll.

“It was a long day,” said Fauver. “It was a grind out there with the wind but fortunately I hung on tough in the end and got it done.”

What’s tougher, playing with a slim lead or a big one?

“I think it’s all hard,” he said. “Anytime you have the lead you really have to stay focused and be committed to every shot. Anytime you are playing with the lead you have to focus up and make some really good decisions.”

And how about playing with the lead or chasing?
“I like playing with the lead,” he said while proving he can do that. “I like winning, so I like playing with the lead.”

He had no special plans when he stood on the first tee.

“I just wanted to play as good as I can,” he said. “I played really steady yesterday, so I just wanted to repeat that, you know, fairways and greens. I knew I’d be good if I did that.” 

Fairview Park’s Calli Reed rallied from an opening 77 and fourth place with a final-round one-under 71to grab the runnerup spot behind Coleman. As runnersup, Reed and White also will head to the PGA Junior in Texas where they will compete against players from the other 40 PGA Sections nationwide.  

Coleman looked at her victory as a testament to her diligence.

“It’s really fun to win,” she said. “Any time I am practicing or even playing it’s always to get better and try to win whenever I can. It’s fun when it comes out with a win and you play well and you can see all the hard work you’ve put in starting to show.”

It showed, all right. It showed over 36 holes for Coleman and 38 for Fauver. The magic was there when it was needed.


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