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Casi earns second place at amateur tournament
By Jon moffett
East Palestine
Anyone who knows Alexandra Casi understands that she hates to lose.
The East Palestine High and Youngstown State graduate finished second in the Ohio State Golf Association’s Amateur Tournament on Friday. The match-play tournament took place at the Belmont Hills Country Club in St. Clairsville.
“It was a great experience,” Casi said. “The golf course was wonderful. It was up and down, and I really got my practice in. The members were great, and I couldn’t ask for a better venue.”
Casi, 25, held off 62 other golfers from around the state. She was defeated by Laura Nochta, of Cortland.
And while happy with her performance, Casi thinks she could have done better.
“I just couldn’t get my putter going on the last 18 today. I just couldn’t putt,” she said. “I three-putted from 15 feet out when I could’ve putted for birdie.”
Casi and Nochta played a 34-hole final. Nochta was ahead by three holes with only two to go. The final was scheduled for 36 holes.
“It’s a little bit of a disappointment, but it’s also very encouraging too,” Casi said. “I played a lot better when I was behind. And I was happy with that.”
Casi, the No. 2 seed in the tournament, defeated Centerville’s Kathleen Glavin to reach the final. Glavi was the No. 3 seed. Nochta was seeded ninth.
Casi said her stamina was a big part of her game.
“I’m still learning what my body does under pressure,” she said. “And if I keep putting myself in those kind of pressure situations, I’m going to win eventually.”
The course, although impressive, was pretty rough, Casi said.
“This was the hilliest golf course I have ever seen in my life,” she said. “Every fairway was on a hill, and you couldn’t hit a flat area if you tried.”