In one of the most dramatic finishes in tournament history, Caden Boyd rolled in a 6-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole to win the 41st Kenny Novak Northern Ohio PGA Junior Tour Championship on Wednesday at Club Walden.
Boyd’s putt capped a comeback from six shots behind at the start of the final round and ended a terrific duel with runner-up and first-round leader Silas Kirkpatrick. Both players finished regulation play at one-under 143; Boyd, of Concord Township, shot 33-37=70 in the final round to Kirkpatrick’s 38-38=76.
The playoff got off to a rousing start as both players birdied the 420-yard 18th hole with magnificent, nerve-testing putts. Boyd, who will be a senior at Painesville Riverside, went first and curled in a 35-foot, left-to-right downhill putt that appeared to give him the advantage.
Not to be outdone, Kirkpatrick, from Clinton and a junior-to-be at Green High, poured in a 25-foot, uphill putt that extended the playoff.
Both players parred the 403-yard first hole before Boyd’s 8-iron tee shot on the 158-yard second curled to a stop about six feet behind the hole while Kirkpatrick left himself with an 18-footer from the right. It ended when Boyd made his birdie putt and Kirkpatrick’s effort rolled just by the hole on the high side.
Ben Scheeff, of Olmsted Township, shot a final-round 72 to climb into third place at one-over 145.
GIRLS 16-19: After building a four-shot lead with an opening 3-under par 69, Aurora’s Gracyn Vidovic played no-risk, conservative golf and cruised to a four-stroke win with a final-round 75 for a 36-hole total of even-par 144.
Siena Maschke, of Cleveland and a freshman-to-be at Dennison University, finished in second place with a final-round 72 and a 4-over 148 total. Julia Gulla, of Sagamore Hills, also had a strong finish with a 73 for a third-place total of 6-over 150.
Vidovic, who plans on attending Ashland University following her senior year at Aurora High, is the reigning NOPGA Player-of-the-Year but the Kenny Novak title had eluded her in three previous tries.
BOYS 11-13: Norwalk’s Mason Beatty made a 40-foot left-to-right putt on the final hole for a 2-shot victory, holding off hard-charging Coleson Paez with a 36-hole total of 76-78=154. Kent’s Andrew VanDamme finished third at 158. The victory was the fifth of the season for Beatty, who will be an eighth-grader at Norwalk St. Paul.
BOYS 14-15: Hudson’s Dexter James added to his lead on the NOPGA season-long points race when he added a sparkling one-under 71 to an opening 72 and a 4-stroke victory at one-under 143. Akron’s Tommy Kinder (73-74=147) and Mogadore’s Jacob Rainieri (77-70) tied for second.
James, 15, finished with six birdies on the day, including a spa in which he birdied three holes in a row down the stretch to seal his victory.
GIRLS 11-13: Stow’s Sarah Vojtko and Fairview Park’s Kayla Knaze staged a marvelous two-horse race over the entire tournament before Vojtko prevailed by one shot. Vojtko began the day with a one-shot lead and held it as both players played their final 18 holes in one-over 73. Her victory was not assured until the 35th hole.
Vojtko had rounds of 72-73 and Knaze went 73-73.
RD2 PHOTO GALLERY: 2024 NOPGA Kenny Novak >
FINAL RESULTS: NORTHERN OHIO PGA
41st NOPGA JUNIOR TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Club Walden, Aurora
Tues, July 30 – Weds, July 31, 2024
Blue Golf Hole-by-Hole Results >
BOYS 16-19
1. Caden Boyd, Concord TWP, OH, 2025, *73-70-143 -1
1. Silas Kirkpatrick, Clinton, OH, 2026, *67-76-143 -1
3. Ben Scheeff, Olmsted Township, OH, 2023, *73-72-145 +1
4. Eli Zimmerman, Medina, OH, 2025, *74-72-146 +2
4. Zachary Huscusson, Canal Fulton, OH, 2023, *72-74-146 +2
6. Andrew Fredenburg, Niles, OH, 2026, *75-72-147 +3
6. Alexander Eckstein, Youngstown, OH, 2026, *73-74-147 +3
8. Daniel Gambone, North Canton, OH, 2025, *78-70-148 +4
8. Mark Pillar Jr, Independence, OH, 2024, *78-70-148 +4
10. Henry Phillips, Warren, OH, 2026, *76-73-149 +5
10. Aryan Ahlawat, Broadview Heights, OH, 2023, *73-76-149 +5
12. Austin Mariani, Fowler, OH, 2025, *75-75-150 +6
13. Zachary Butcher, Medina, OH, 2025, *76-76-152 +8
14. Mick Ambrose, Canfield, OH, 2026, *77-76-153 +9
14. Nathan Menapace, New Philadelphia, OH, 2024, *77-76-153 +9
14. Ryan Yoder II, Amherst, OH, 2024, *76-77-153 +9
14. Thomas Mankowski, Canton, OH, 2026, *74-79-153 +9
18. Dante Turner, Canfield, OH, 2026, *77-77-154 +10
18. Vinh Lai, Lakewood, OH, 2025, *76-78-154 +10
18. Jack Mast, Millersburg, OH, 2026, *76-78-154 +10
21. Prince Tran, Lorain, OH, 2025, *71-84-155 +11
21. Andrew LaPolla, Warren, OH, 2025, *79-76-155 +11
23. Nathan Miller, Youngstown, OH, 2026, *81-75-156 +12
23. Chase Forsyth, Poland, OH, 2024, *80-76-156 +12
23. Garett Dillon, Alliance, OH, 2025, *79-77-156 +12
26. Brayden Abbott, Painesville, OH, 2024, *81-77-158 +14
27. Preston Kieschnik, Broadview Heights, OH, 2026, *78-81-159 +15
27. Paul Witschey, Wadsworth, OH, 2025, *81-78-159 +15
27. Tyler Cheetham, Stow, OH, 2026, *79-80-159 +15
27. Drew Mothersbaugh, Coventry Township, OH, 2026, *79-80-159 +15
31. Tim Mai, Avon, OH, 2025, *78-82-160 +16
32. Luke Butcher, Medina, OH, 2025, *78-83-161 +17
32. Gabe Jones, Tallmadge, OH, 2025, *77-84-161 +17
32. Jackson Keller, Uniontown, OH, 2026, *83-78-161 +17
32. Jack Kinder, Akron, OH, 2025, *82-79-161 +17
36. Andrew Cawrse, Mansfield, OH, 2024, *83-79-162 +18
36. Jordan Miller, Apple Creek, OH, 2026, *81-81-162 +18
36. Leo Carey, Brecksville, OH, 2026, *82-80-162 +18
39. Mica Thirion, Ravenna, OH, 2026, *86-78-164 +20
39. Rob Prevette, Twinsburg, OH, 2025, *83-81-164 +20
39. Patrick Witschey, Wadsworth, OH, 2023, *83-81-164 +20
42. Devon McGlothlin, Dover, OH, 2025, *78-88-166 +22
42. Michael Tyler Polca, Rocky River, OH, 2025, *84-82-166 +22
42. Gavin Sheppard, Kirtland, OH, 2025, *80-86-166 +22
45. Zachary Brahler, Dalton, OH, 2025, *81-86-167 +23
46. Judah Layton, Loudonville, OH, 2025, *93-78-171 +27
46. Blake Hopkins, North Ridgeville, OH, 2024, *89-82-171 +27
46. Cameron Stafford, Medina, OH, 2026, *85-86-171 +27
46. Charlie Wilson, Broadview Heights, OH, 2025, *83-88-171 +27
50. Michael Garwacki, Columbiana, OH, 2025, *81-91-172 +28
51. Michael Fahey, Wadsworth, OH, 2026, *87-88-175 +31
52. Aaron Payne, Akron, OH, 2025, *91-85-176 +32
52. Jack Senghas, Lagrange, OH, 2024, *88-88-176 +32
54. David Grajzl, Chagrin Falls,, OH, 2025, *100-86-186 +42
BOYS 11-13
1. Mason Beatty, Norwalk, OH, 2029, *76-78-154 +10
2. Coleson Paez, Rocky River, OH, 2030, *81-75-156 +12
3. Andrew VanDamme, Kent, OH, 2030, *82-76-158 +14
4. Jacob Snay, Mansfield, OH, 2029, *80-79-159 +15
5. Elijah Kasler, Massillon, OH, 2029, *86-84-170 +26
6. Hamilton Miller, Concord twp, OH, 2029, *88-87-175 +31
7. Enzo Marous, Waite Hill, OH, 2028, *86-94-180 +36
8. Ajay Deo, Richfield, OH, 2029, *100-92-192 +48
9. Benjamin Sheets, Mansfield, OH, 2030, *91-105-196 +52
Boys 14-15
1. Dexter James, Hudson, OH, 2027, *72-71-143 -1
2. Jacob Rainieri, Mogadore, OH, 2027, *77-70-147 +3
2. Tommy Kinder, Akron, OH, 2027, *73-74-147 +3
4. Griffin Pickett, Painesville, Oh 44077, OH, 2027, *76-74-150 +6
5. Peyton Wolf, Westlake, OH, 2027, *78-73-151 +7
5. Angelo Rinaldi, Poland, OH, 2027, *74-77-151 +7
7. Jax Turner, Kent, OH, 2028, *75-77-152 +8
7. Kaden Schuette, Independence, OH, 2027, *73-79-152 +8
9. Carter Briskey, Mentor, OH, 2027, *79-77-156 +12
10. Danny Chaplow, Canfield, OH, 2027, *79-79-158 +14
10. Oliver Huff, Stow, OH, 2027, *75-83-158 +14
12. Gavin Schneider, Stow, OH, 2027, *75-84-159 +15
13. Matthew Czenszak, Twinsburg, OH, 2028, *82-79-161 +17
14. Eddie Karam, Canton, OH, 2028, *85-79-164 +20
15. Caden Lawrence, Rocky River, OH, 2027, *82-83-165 +21
15. Jack Hecei, Avon, OH, 2027, *77-88-165 +21
17. Nathan Vorthong, Akron, OH, 2029, *88-79-167 +23
18. Johnny Walsh, Independence, OH, 2027, *80-88-168 +24
19. Ryan Wilson, Broadview Heights, OH, 2027, *86-83-169 +25
20. Fritz Houston, North Canton, OH, 2027, *85-89-174 +30
21. Lucas Stringer, Broadview Heights, OH, 2027, *88-89-177 +33
Girls 11-15
1. Sarah Vojtko, Stow, OH, 2028, *72-73-145 +1
2. Kayla Knaze, Fairview park, OH, 2027, *73-73-146 +2
3. Yumi Kohara, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, 2027, *76-76-152 +8
4. Elena Varga, Hudson, OH, 2027, *76-80-156 +12
5. Sophia Clarico, LaGrange, OH, 2028, *81-76-157 +13
6. Korrine Knaze, Fairview Park, OH, 2029, *81-78-159 +15
7. Anuja Patel, Pepper Pike, OH, 2027, *84-77-161 +17
8. Emma Gonzalez-Ribble, Brunswick, OH, 2029, *81-81-162 +18
9. Rylee Roth, Brunswick, OH, 2027, *86-83-169 +25
10. Amrita Deo, Richfield, OH, 2027, *86-88-174 +30
11. Audrey Goebelt, Uniontown, OH, 2029, *88-87-175 +31
12. Leah Dang, Uniontown, OH, 2027, *89-90-179 +35
13. Rachel Rush, Hudson, OH, 2029, *95-91-186 +42
14. Lily Taylor, Akron, OH, 2027, *91-101-192 +48
15. Polly Loney, Northfield, OH, 2027, *108-101-209 +65
GIRLS 16-19
1. Gracyn Vidovic, Aurora, OH, 2025, *69-75-144 E
2. Siena Maschke, Cleveland, Ohio, 2024, *76-72-148 +4
3. Julia Gulla, Sagamore Hills, OH, 2025, *77-73-150 +6
3. Gianna Reginelli, Broadview Heights, OH, 2025, *73-77-150 +6
5. Christina Nagy, Macedonia, OH, 2023, *77-74-151 +7
5. Annelise Stencel, Akron, OH, 2024, *75-76-151 +7
7. Lauren Iannetta, Eastlake, OH, 2025, *75-81-156 +12
8. Addelina Carroll, Bolivar, OH, 2025, *80-77-157 +13
8. Kristina Chill, Columbia Station, OH, 2026, *78-79-157 +13
10. Gabriella Berlingieri, Stow, OH, 2024, *85-75-160 +16
10. Molly McGreal, Independence, OH, 2024, *79-81-160 +16
12. Olivia Berlingieri, Stow, OH, 2026, *85-78-163 +19
13. Mia Ginnetti, Rocky River, OH, 2025, *77-89-166 +22
14. Hannah Higgins, North Canton, OH, 2023, *87-80-167 +23
14. Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble, Brunswick, OH, 2028, *84-83-167 +23
16. Emerson Glending, Avon, OH, 2026, *83-85-168 +24
17. Blake Cody, Shaker Heights, OH, 2025, *87-86-173 +29
18. Julia Van Bokkelen, Hudson, OH, 2025, *91-85-176 +32
19. Gwen Slabaugh, Lakewood, OH, 2026, *89-94-183 +39
20. Kilee Duncan, Norwalk, OH, 2025, *92-92-184 +40
21. Annabelle Seville, Norwalk, OH, 2027, *93-92-185 +41
22. Mia Steigerwald, Louisville, OH, 2025, *92-94-186 +42
23. Samantha Przybys, Brook Park, OH, 2023, *99-92-191 +47
24. Gianna Rodenhauser, Aurora, OH, 2026, *95-98-193 +49
25. Natalie Barnes, Northfield, OH, 2026, *98-101-199 +55
26. Adrianna Mineo, Kent, OH, 2026, *102-102-204 +60
27. Madison Maxwell, Fairlawn, OH, 2025, *102-105-207 +63
28. Kylie Kittrell, Avon, OH, 2025, *122-107-229 +85