Terlesky, 10, headed for the big time

By Pete Mollica

BOARDMAN — Junior golfer Brian Terlesky has won just about every tournament he’s competed in over the last four years, but now the third grader at Boardman’s Stadium Drive school will be moving up to the big time.

Terlesky, who has three times been named the Ohio Junior Golfer of the Year, has been invited to participate in the third annual World Youth Team Challenge, which will be held June 13-16 at the Bolingbrook (Ill.) Golf Club.

In all of his competition over the past four years, Terlesky, who is the son of Brian and Christine (Moschella) Terlesky, has played in 9-hole tournaments, but now, since he will soon turn 10 years old, will begin playing in the 18-hole divisions.

The World Youth Team Challenge is a Ryder Cup-type competition and Terlesky will be playing for Team USA, which is the defending champion of the tournament.

Team USA will be competing against teams from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Colombia.

There are six age groups in the competition, ages 10-15. There are also three age groups in the girls division of the tournament.

Each nation will be comprised of at least two players in each age group.

As a 10-year old, Terlesky will be playing in the red division on a course that measures 2,600 yards (9 holes). Each player will play 18 holes a day over the four-day event including practice rounds on June 11-12 at Bolingbrook.

Terlesky will have plenty of time to get ready for the event.

He’ll begin playing as soon as the weather breaks and has tournaments scheduled all over the country including stops in Mississippi, Texas and North Carolina.

Every year the youngster gets a little closer to his ultimate goal which is to play golf at Ohio State and then eventually earn his playing card and compete on the PGA Tour.

Terlesky is playing basketball for his elementary school team and also loves to play baseball in the summer when his golf schedule doesn’t conflict.

“He’s a very good basketball player,” said his grandfather, Ted Terlesky. “He’d also like to play football like his father did, but more than likely he’ll contain his sports to basketball and golf as he gets older.”

Terlesky’s other grandfather is Ron Moschella, the girls basketball coach at Boardman High. His mother, Christine, was a standout player under her father and later helped him coach the Spartans.

mollica@vindy.com