Congratulations to Oxford’s Bennett Paden (L) and Abby Denz (R) on both qualifying for individual golf sectionals that will be held in late May 2025. (Submitted Photos)

OXFORD – Following their outstanding performances on the Oxford Blackhawks golf team this past fall, Bennett Paden and Abby Denz have qualified for individual sectionals.

The girls’ individual sectionals will take place on May 29th at Soaring Eagles in Horseheads while the boys will return to Mark Twain in Elmira with a TBA date, sometime in late May. Both events will take place following the conclusion of the spring golf season.

Abby Denz

Abby Denz is the first girl in Oxford Academy school history to qualify, averaging 53.9, easily making the cut of 55 strokes.

Coach Paden and Coach Thorne are very proud of both Paden and Denz but what makes Denz stand out is overcoming her adversity.

Abby returned to golf following an ACL injury in soccer. She took care of herself by slowly and carefully rehabbing back to full strength over the summer.

Abby, now a senior, who has started on the team in seventh grade, was able to make the seamless tradition back to competitive golf, where she now excited to play in the individual sectionals.

The coaches also added that because the team is technically a boys’ team, girls that play do tee off from the men’s tees, which adds considerable distance to each hole.

Congratulations, Abby.

Bennett Paden

Bennett Paden is making his second appearance at individual sectionals, where he easily qualified and had the lowest scoring average in the MAC league of .73 strokes over par. He was once again named to the MAC League First Team all-star list for the third year in a row for his statistical performance throughout the season.

Like Denz, the junior also overcame a dislocated shoulder injury during the season, where the team wasn’t sure he would be able to even golf in the MAC championship. However, his orthopedic surgeon, who knew how important golf is to Bennett, allowed him to participate, where he finished third at the Championship at Delhi.

Congratulations, Bennett.

Coach Paden and Coach Thorne also are pleased with both athletes as they are very talented and extremely coachable. Both Bennett Paden and Denz have also been working hard in the offseason and show tremendous leadership on and off the course, which has impressed college golf coaches as well.

Good luck to both Bennett Paden and Abby Denz!