With tee time instead of throwing a shotgun, flags that must always remain in the holes and no rake in the bunkers, the Niagara District Junior Golf Tour this summer is like no other.
It was not necessary to distance oneself when the annual competition for golfers aged 19 and younger began in 1993. Before COVID-19 changed the way sports were practiced, the five and handshakes were in order. of the day, as well as paper scorecards and play-offs.
But not everything has changed as golfers adjust to a new normal, especially not in the under 19 division of the girls on the tour.
As happened last year, Megan Miron and Payton Bennett, both four-time winners in 2019, are alternating again at the top of the rankings.
Bennett won the first leg of the tour, at Brock’s golf course, before Miron took two in a row, Rolling Meadows and Bridgewater.
Biniron’s defending division champion Miron also won the Legends on Tuesday on the layout of the Niagara battlefield, but also Bennett. They both finished 5 times ahead, and their score of 77 was 11 shots better than Casey Kenney, who finished second with an 88 round.
Bennett was 1-over on the turn and 1-over on the back nine – and in a position to win the tournament in full – with two holes remaining.
It was exactly when the putter left her, as she wrapped herself with a bogey and a double bogey.
“I was missing a foot. Sometimes that’s how golf goes, ”he said, bringing the experience to the whims of the game.
Bennett, engaged in sports administration with an athletic scholarship from Ball State University in Muncie, India, since the fall of 2021, was impressed with her game on Tuesday, despite the disappointing ending.
“The whole round I played great. Just the last few holes, going down the stretch, my putting has become a little shaky, “he said.” But honestly, you can’t help it.
“I hit more fairways and greens than I’ve ever seen in a long time, so I was really happy with the way I played.”
WINNING THE SECOND TOUR
Matthew Martel had seven birds, three of which were in a row, on the way to a six-round win over week 1 winner Andrew Scott in the under-19 flight.
He credited a strong wedge for his second win on this year’s tour and for the first time since the Rolling Meadows.
“I have achieved many good drives, I have put myself in a good position on most tees. Make good throws, “said Martel after carding a 4-under 68.” I was able to put myself in the right position to make many birds. “
The biggest improvement in his game in the past year has been to put.
“I got stronger over the winter, which helped me control everything in some way, but certainly in terms of saving carts and just letting go was my goal.”
Martel, who scored a win on the junior tour in 2019, said his golf goal this year is more about overall improvement than winning a number of events.
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“Just to go out, have fun and have some competitive experience under my belt for bigger events, like in provincial tournaments,” said the 16-year-old student at Welland’s Notre Dame College School.
He was scheduled to play in Wednesday’s men’s amateur qualifying and got an exemption to play in the Ontario junior championships.
Ty Werynski turned a 2-over 74 to speed up the field in the boys ‘under 15 division, while Kian Oelofse overtook the boys’ Under 13 flight with a 12-over 84 for his fourth touring victory in as many stops. He won the events at Brock and Rolling Meadows and tied Ben Julie for first place on Monday in Bridgewater.
The tour resumes Friday in Willodell in Niagara Falls before taking a two-week break.
LEADER ON THE LINKS
The best finalists of the Niagara District Junior Golf Tour stop in Legends on the layout of the Niagara par-72 battlefield Tuesday at Niagara Falls:
Children under 19, under 17: 1. Matthew Martel, 33-35 = 68; 2. Andrew Scott, 41-34 = 75; 3. Adam Scarlett, 40-37 = 77; 4. Cian Burke, 45-34 = 79; Caleb Shorthouse, 40-39 = 79.
Girls under 19: 1. Payton Bennett, 37-40 = 77; Megan Miron, 41-36 = 77; 3. Casey Kenney, 44-44 = 88; 4. Mya Mackey, 46-45 = 91; 5. Sasha Baker, 48-46 = 94.
Children under 15: 1. Ty Werynski, 38-36 = 74; 2. Brendan Jarrett, 40-39 = 79; Will Burleigh, 38-41 = 79; 4. John Kingdon, 43-42 = 85; Sam Boich, 43-42 = 85.
Underage boys: 1. Kian Oelofse, 41-43 = 84; 2. Ben Julie, 45-44 = 89; 3. Matthew Gray, 46-47 = 93; 4. Chase Partridge, 47-51 = 98, 5. Lucas Sartor, 52-49 = 101.
Next stops: Friday 24 July, Willodell Golf Club; Tuesday 11 August, Grand Niagara Golf Club; Wednesday 12 August, Sawmill Golf Course.
Source: BlueGolf score
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