Porter’s 64 beats Avalon, Mother Nature, Greatest
It was the last qualifier of the ‘Joe’ Dickey Electric Greatest Golfer juniors season on Tuesday, and with a lot of the line for 50+ players, the biggest show of the day was set to be put on by Mother Nature — who cracked, rattled and poured for 75 minutes at Avalon Lakes Golf Course.
But defending Boys u17 champ Michael Porter of McDonald High School would one up her.
He went 6-under on the front, and stayed hot through the back until storms struck.
After sitting out the delay with most of the field waiting with him and gasping of his score, Porter returned to a rain-slogged course with a nice gallery and finished what he started — leaving Avalon with a Greatest-record-low 64 shot over the 6,500-yard layout.
“I am so excited. I can’t believe I just shot 64. It’s a miracle,” said the senior-to-be.
He credited great putting and great drives that allowed him perfect looks at pins all day.
His summer has not been so stellar, and he thinks Tuesday’s round sets him up nicely for a good run at repeating.
“I’ve been looking forward to (the championship) all year. So has my brother, who will caddie for me. (He did last year) It will be so exciting regardless of what happens.”
The Boys u17 Joseph Nohra Insurance division had another great feat as Fitch’s Dominic Kapics made his first appearance of the year, and posted low-qualifier round of 75 to earn a spot in the Friday-Saturday finals.
Boardman’s Ryan Sam finished just in front of him at 74. He had already qualified. Canfield’s Connor Daggett was at 77, securing his finals seat based on points for the season.
Girls u17 Magnolias on the Green play was clipped to 9 holes due to weather, and finals-bound players all slugged it out in this tune-up event. Hickory’s Luciana Masters was 42, Mooney’s Jayne Bernard and Alyssa Rapp finished at 42 and 46, and Canfield’s Jocelyn Zhao was at 43. The last qualifying seat went to JFK’s Samantha Calderone with a 46.
In Girls u14 Ambrose Family Eye Care play, Miya Cohol of Canfield grabbed the last finals seat with a 52 — just edging out classmate Taylor Morrone.
In Boys u14 Kreps Drywall play, Poland’s Matthew Morrone’s 40 secured his finals seat this weekend.
FINAL RESULTS: The Greatest Golfer
2021 Joe Dickey Electric Junior Series
Avalon Lakes Golf Club, Warren, OH
Tuesday, July 20, 2021
BOYS 17U:
1 Michael Porter 64 F
2 Ryan Sam 74 F
3 Dominic Kapics 75 F
4 Connor Daggett 77 F
5 Caleb Domitrovich 78 F
6 Rocco Turner 81 F
T7 Nolan Williard 82 F
T7 Nathan Kelly 82 F
T7 Matthew Morelli 82 F
T7 Zack Ross 82 F
T7 Chaz Ekoniak 82 F
12 Bryce Van Horn 84 F
13 Noah Rusnak 86 F
14 Luke Eyster 87 F
15 Sachin Nallapaneni 88 F
T16 Bryce Daggett 89 F
T16 Gabe Ball 89 F
T18 Robert Lucarell 97 F
T18 Timmy Domer 97 F
20 Drew Marzich 98 F
21 Dominic Nohra 99 F
22 Thomas Pesa 102 F
23 Nick Vassis 107 F
GIRLS 17U:
T1 Luciana Masters 42 F
T1 Jayne Bernard 42 F
3 Jocelyn Zhao 43 F
T4 Alyssa Rapp 46 F
T4 Samantha Calderone 46 F
T4 Jackie Kinnick 46 F
7 Ava Liburdi 47 F
T8 Shaylee Muckleroy 50 F
T8 Kaitlyn Hoover 50 F
T10 Madalyn Rauzan 53 F
T10 Matilyn Zines 53 F
12 Daniella Patrone 56 F
13 Joselyn Bishara 57 F
14 Serena Grenga 59 F
15 Zoey Fick -Mills 60 F
BOYS 14U:
1 Mick Ambrose 39 F
2 Matthew Morrone 40 F
3 Dante Turner 42 F
4 CJ Brew 51 F
5 Braeden Sallee 53 F
6 Eliot Davis 54 F
7 Carter Fick-Mills 58 F
GIRLS 14U:
T1 Lindsey Hoover 52 F
T1 Miya Cohol 52 F
3 Taylor Morrone 55 F
4 Kendall Johnson 61 F