Irish, JFK golfers going to state

Ursuline won state titles in 1977 and 1978 and JFK won in 2000 and 2001 and was runnerup 2002.

By JOHN BASSETTI

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — A conference that qualifies 50 percent of its members for state competition is entitled to a little boasting, even if it’s a four-school league.

That’s the case with the Steel Valley Conference in boys golf.

Ursuline and Warren JFK qualified for this week’s state event at Ohio State University’s Scarlet and Gray courses.

Ursuline qualified by placing fourth in the Div. II district at Windmill Lakes in Ravenna, while JFK was runner-up to Mogadore at Seven Hills in Hartville in Div. III.

The fourth-place finish for Ursuline coach Joe Metzinger was like a moral victory.

“We finished two strokes ahead of Canton Central Catholic for the final qualifying spot, so it felt like a win,” Metzinger said, referring to Canton Central’s dominance over the Irish during the last four years.

Within their conference, Ursuline won the SVC crown and JFK was runner-up.

Although Metzinger has been around the Ursuline golf program the past 10 years, this is his first as head coach.

In 2005, the Irish finished 10th out of 12 teams at state.

By contrast, Bob Todd has been JFK’s coach for nine seasons, eight of which have produced state-qualifying teams.

“We’ll give it our best shot,” Todd said of his team which comprises four seniors: cousins Mike Guarnieri and Brian Guarnieri, Nick Basciano and Matt Litke and freshman Bruce Timko.

Mike Guarnieri and Basicano were on JFK’s 2005 team that finished seventh at state.

“They were sophomores, but regulars then,” said Todd, whose only team to miss qualifying for a state berth was last year’s.

“We just missed out at district by four shots,” the coach said.

JFK won Div. III state titles in 2000 and 2001 and the Eagles were a state runner-up in 2002.

JFK tees off on the Scarlet course on Friday at 9:30 a.m.

Ursuline’s top five are seniors Paul Cene, Jake Detec and Zach Humphries, junior Ryan Alders and sophomore James Daley.

Cene, Detec and Humphries were on Ursuline’s state team as sophomores.

Unlike two years ago, their focus should be better.

“They’re not down there just to go, they’re down there to win it,” Metzinger said.

Div. II competition starts Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Detec has the team’s top stroke avgerage of 37.4, followed by Cene’s 37.5. Their nine-hole scores include district and sectional matches.

Over the season, only four strokes separated Detec and Cene — 824 to 820.

Daley averaged 39.3, Alders 39.7 and Humphries 39.9.

Todd compares Timko to one of JFK’s best golfers, Jason Kokrak, who was on the Eagles’ 2000, 2001 and 2002 squads.

“He’s had a ton of practice and has played in a lot of junior tourneys all over the U.S. He could rank right up there with Jason by time he’s a senior.”

Kokrak plans to turn pro when he graduates from Xavier University in December, Todd said.

bassetti@vindy.com