The Portage County Kids Am and the Portage County Junior Amateur took over Windmill Lakes and Sunny Hill Golf Courses for three days this week. More than 80 junior golfers competed in the two events, which gave experienced junior golfers great competition and offered new juniors the opportunity for their first tournament.
10TH PORTAGE COUNTY KIDS AM
More than 40 junior golfers ranging in age from second to ninth grade filled Sunny Hill Golf Course on Sunday for the 10th Portage County Kids Amater.
For many junior golfers, it was their very first tournament, learning the etiquette of golf, keeping a scorecard and additional knowledge of the rules.
Parents and grandparents followed the youth golfers, cheering at every shot no matter how far the ball traveled.
In the end, eight youth golfers earned medals for topping their division but all of the young golfers were winners as they discovered that competitive golf is fun.
More information about the Kids Amateur will be shared in the Sunday Par for the Course column in Portage Sports.
Juniors ranged in age from first grade to entering ninth grade.
FINAL RESULTS:
10TH PORTAGE COUNTY KIDS AM
Sunny Hill Golf Course, Brimfield
Sunday, July 21, 2024
CHAMPIONS:
Boys Flight A (9 holes): Nathan Waesch, Rootstown 42.
Girls Flight A (9 holes): Jenni Mix, Deerfield 48.
Boys Flight B (9 holes): Mason Dillon, Rootstown 43
Girls Flight B (9 holes): Ava Sayre, Diamond 66
Boys Flight A (6 holes): Bo Birchak, Lake Milton 30.
Girls Flight A (6 holes): Camilla Drevna, Canfield 34 and Josie Lehman, Kent 34.
Girls Flight A (4 Holes): Laurel Biber, Stow 14
18TH MATT MISHLER JUNIOR PORTAGE COUNTY AMATEUR
The 18th Matt Mishler Junior Portage County Amateur crowned six champions after two days of competition at Windmill Lakes Golf Club in Ravenna and Sunny Hill Golf Club in Brimfield.
Beautiful weather greeted the juniors for both days of the competition that featured 36 holes of golf for ages 13-19 and 18 holes of golf for ages 12 and under.
GIRLS 16-19
Closest competition among the age groups took place among th girls 16-19 as only two strokes separated the top three girls, all from Kent.
Ashlyn Leavery, a senior for the Lady Riders this fall, improved from a 90 at Windmill Lakes to a 78 at Sunny Hill to grab the championship with an overall total of 168.
Teammate Adrianna Mineo, in the lead after the first day by two strokes, fired an 81 on the final day to take second place with a final total of 169.
The two were pushed throughout the competition by teammate Cassidy Singer, also a senior who came back from a 101 at Windmill to fire an 87 on the 18-holes at Sunny Hill to capture third place, just one stroke behind second and two-strokes behind third.
The three girls will seek to continue the traditions established by the Lady Riders of winning conference titles and sending individuals and teams to the state tournament.
BOYS 16-19
Parker Barrett (78-79 157) of Aurora earned a seven-stroke victory over Tyler Pendergast of Mogadore to take home the championship trophy. Barrett competed for Walsh Jesuit while in high school and will take his talents to John Carroll University this fall.
Pendergast, who just came out for Mogadore’s golf team one year ago, carded rounds of 83-81 for a 164 total to grab second place.
Jack Flynn of Kent rounded out the top three medalists in the division, firing rounds of 87-84 for a 171.
GIRLS 13-15
Coco Golden of Kent held onto first place through the tournament to earn the championship, firing scores of 93-102 195.
Only one stroke behind was Jenni Mix of Deerfield who improved four strokes during the two rounds of the tournament carding rounds of 100-96 196.
Taking third was Brook Beatty who tallied 197 over the two day tournament, again creating a close competition.
Golden and Beatty play for Kent Roosevelt, Mix competes for the Southeast Lady Pirates.
BOYS 13-15
Max Shannon of Mogadore turned in scores of 92-95 for a 187 that was good enough to win the championship trophy.
Sully Evans finished behind Shannon, scoring a 196 for the two-days with Drew Just of Rootstown firing a two-day total of 211 that included a 99 at Sunny Hill.
12 AND UNDER
The boys in the 12 and under division are not only excellent golfers but also good friends who both will play for the Southeast Pirates varsity golf team when they enter high school.
The 12 and under competitors played nine-holes each day of the tournament.
Mason Dillon found the conditions outstanding for his play as he scored back-to-back rounds of 37-36 for a 73.
Bo Burchak of Lake Milton scored outstanding rounds of 49-43 for a 92.
Elizabeth Jia of Hudson captured the championship with a two-round total of 82 as the talented golfer was solid on her short game and on the green.
Brielle Rowles of Streetsboro scored 103 strokes for the two-nines total for the runner-up spot with Ivy Tittel turning in two nines that earned her a 113 18-hole score, good for third spot.
This was the 18th edition of the Portage County Junior Amateur, highlighting the excellent junior golfers in the Portage County area just prior the start of the high school season.
The event was sponsored by Portage Spots, Fairways at Twin Lakes of Kent and Birdie Shack of Kent.
FINAL RESULTS:
18TH MATT MISHLER JUNIOR PORTAGE COUNTY AMATEUR
Windmill Lakes GC, Ravenna
Sunny Hill Golf Course, Brimfield
Monday, July 22 – Tuesday, July 23, 2024
BOYS 16-19
CHAMPION: Parker Barret, Aurora 78-79 157
RUNNER-UP: Tyler Pendergast, Mogadore 83-81 164
THIRD: Jack Flynn, Kent 87-84 171
FIELD: Lucas Flowers, Rootstown 86-86 173; A.J. Halsne, Stow 96-76 172; Cooper Mraz, Boardman 95-78 173, Brett Epple, Streetsboro 89-85 174,Deacon Smith, Kent 86-88 174, Anthony Cambarerri, Kent 99-87 186, Trentan Sines, Rootstown 106-92 198, Logan Uphold, Rootstown 99-100 199, Anthony Pratt, Ravenna 109-92 201, Joe Weaver, Rootstown 104-98 202.
GIRLS 16-19
CHAMPION: Ashlyn Leavery, Kent 90-78 168.
RUNNER-UP: Adrianna Mineo, Kent 88-81 169
THIRD: Cassidy Singer, Kent 101-87 188.
FIELD: Samantha Clark, Streetsboro 97-101 198, Jessi Mix, Diamond 107-93 200, Kae Ennemoser, Kent 104-109 213, Ava Miller, Rootstown 1115-99 214, Layna Tittel 122-113 235.
BOYS 13-15
CHAMPION: Max Shannon, Mogadore 92-95 187.
RUNNER-UP: Sully Evans, Uniontown 104-92 196.
THIRD: Drew Just, Rootstown 112-99 211.
FIELD: Alex Jarvis, Akron 169-106 215, Nathan Waesch, Rootstown 121-99 220, Samuel Klem, Rootstown 116-108 224, Jackson Lanham, Akron 119-110 229, Liam Miller, Rootstown 132-1151 247.
GIRLS 13-15
CHAMPION: Coco Golden, Kent 93-102 195.
RUNNER-UP: Jenni Mix, Deerfield 100-96 196,
THIRD: Brooke Beatty, Kent 96-101 197.
FIELD: Emily Morrison, Ravenna 112-111 2Kristen Dillon, Rootstown 126-124 250, Bianca Blair, Diamond 122-136 258, Morgan Giebel 125-141 266.
BOYS 12-UNDER
CHAMPION: Mason Dillon, Rootstown 37-36 73.
RUNNER-UP: Bo Birchak 49-43 92.
