Colin Clemente, Katie Dick top leaderboard

By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Colin Clemente flirted with winning an individual state high school golf title during his varsity career, but he always fell short.
Nonetheless, the Warren John F. Kennedy High senior learned something important about himself and his game.
"I always thought of myself as a consistent golfer," he said, "and it showed the last four years."
Clemente capped an amazing, rewarding career with his fourth straight trip to the Division III state tournament.
For his effort and consistency, Clemente was named The Vindicator's boys golfer of the year, joining girls selection Katie Dick, a senior from Cardinal Mooney whose career ended with her first trip to the state tournament.
4-for-4
Clemente not only qualified for state all four years while earning All-Ohio honors, he came close to winning it in each trip to Columbus.
After a runner-up finish as a freshman, Clemente was third as a sophomore, second as a junior and third this past season. He always had a chance.
"I always wanted to win the thing, but I really can't complain, since this was my fourth year" at state, Clemente said.
In his first three state tournaments, Clemente played alongside teammates as the Eagles won back-to-back titles in 2000-01 and finished second in 2002.
This year, however, was different. JFK failed to get out of the district, leaving its No. 1 golfer as the only state qualifier.
"In past years it was a lot of fun having all the guys around. They really take your mind off golf," said Clemente, who instead was joined by family and friends. "This year it was a little different because it was [just] me and I had to focus on what I was doing."
Clemente shot 18-hole rounds of 75 and 74 to finish at 149, three strokes out of the lead.
"With a two-day tournament, you can never win it on the first day, but you can definitely lose it," Clemente said.
After bogeys on two of his first three holes during the first day, Clemente birdied the fourth and played solid the rest of the way.
"I played good enough to win it, but my putting really held me back," Clemente reasoned.
Clemente signed a letter of intent to continue his golf career at the University of Akron, where he plans to major in biology and, after four years, enter dental school.
Goal fulfilled
Before her senior season, Dick set a goal to reach her first state tournament. She came through with a fifth-place finish after rounds of 78-75 (153).
"I didn't have any expectations going into it," Dick said of the state event. "After the first day, I realized I could actually place pretty well. So I was excited."
Dick was having so much fun, she was at 1-under par through nine holes on the second day and was feeling good about her chances.
"I was just playing regulation golf, always giving myself a chance for birdie or being able to save par," Dick said.
But her short game wavered on the second nine, where she shot 4-over and finished four strokes out of the lead.
"I got to thinking about winning it," Dick admitted, "and maybe I felt some pressure, I guess."
No matter, Dick's performance was among the state's elite, and that was satisfying enough.
"I realized it was just another tournament," she said. "I just had to play my game, and if it was good enough, it was good enough. If it wasn't, it wasn't.
"You have to have fun," she added. "It's the only way I can play."
Dick would like to play college golf, preferably in the south where she could compete year-round. She also plans to pursue a career in the game -- perhaps running her own golf course or teaching.
"It's something fun you can do all your life," Dick said of the game, "and it's brought so many great things to me."
richesson@vindy.com