STATE GOLF TOURNAMENT Casi improves mental part of game

The track and field star will play in this weekend's state tournament in Columbus.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Alexandra Casi has shown that she can conquer the challenges of track and field. She won the state long jump title as a freshman and junior.
Now, the East Palestine High senior would like to expand her state successes to golf.
"She feels that golf is much more of a challenge. She thinks it takes a lot more skill," said her coach and father, Stephan Casi. "For four to five hours, you have to be mentally alert. With track, she says, 'I run for 12 seconds and it's over.' "
Bound for Columbus: Casi gets the opportunity to show her mental toughness over a longer period of time when she competes in the girls state tournament this weekend at Ohio State. She tees off at 9:58 a.m. Friday on the Gray Course.
West Branch junior Alan Dattilio was a boys Div. I qualifier; he tees off at 9:58 a.m. Friday on the Scarlet Course.
Mind game: Developing visualization techniques has helped Casi strengthen the mental part of her game, which has improved her play around the green, Stephan Casi said.
She also has spent more time listening to motivational speakers and learning how to achieve what she believes.
"Since she was a freshman, she's always had the physical ability," Stephan Casi said. "But the mental aspect has really made the difference.
"There were times when she played well as a sophomore and junior, but if she had a bad hole, she let it bother her," he said. "It was a case of maturity. It took four years to mature into a good golfer."
Because East Palestine doesn't have a girls team, Casi competed on the boys team and recorded a team-best 36.5 stroke average.
Casi thrives on her long drives -- she participated in the amateur long drive competition during the Youngstown-Warren LPGA Tournament week, hitting one 244 yards -- but the improvement in her short game has made the difference, Stephan Casi said.
"Whether you hit the ball 50 yards from the green or 125, it boils down to the short game," he said. "If you can't get [your approach shot] close to the pin, the drive is meaningless."
Familiar territory: West Branch's Dattilio is making a second straight trip to Columbus. The Warriors qualified as a team last year, finishing 11th in Div. II, with Dattilio shooting 167 (82-85).
"It should be to his advantage," West Branch coach Lynn Grove said of Dattilio's experience on the Scarlet Course.
A 4.0 grade-point average student, Dattilio has benefited from a miniature driving range in his garage that has helped improve his game during the off-season. He has a 39.1 stroke average this season.
"His strong point is, he keeps [the ball] down the middle [of the fairway]," Grove said. "Right now, he's really putting well. At the Scarlet, that's what you need to do."
Dattilio's confidence and maturity as a junior have helped carry him to state, Grove said.
"Instead of being a striker, he's a golfer," Grove said. "He thinks a lot better on the course, he chooses clubs a little better and he obviously knows that it takes a lot of work to get there."
richesson@vindy.com