Greatest Junior qualifying starts Tuesday

Staff report

The area’s best youth golfers hit the links Tuesday, trying to make a name for themselves and collect the scholarship that comes along with the success.

It’s the kickoff to the first “Greatest Junior Golfer in the Valley” tournament, and the first ball will be launched off the tees of the Diamond Back Golf Course in Canfield. Throughout the month, golfers under the age of 18 as of Aug. 31 will attempt to qualify and be named the best.

Brian Snyder, Diamond Back Golf Course director of golf, said youth golf has always been a key component of his family-run course.

“We’re glad to be part of the tournament,” he said. “We’re always trying to promote local golf here with specials to get kids out and playing golf — we want more lifetime players.”

Diamond Back Golf Course is home to the Western Reserve High School boys and girls golf teams, as well as the Canfield High School girls team. He said the course has been the traditional home to a 16-22 high school team tournament at the beginning of the school season, and this is a good way to keep the youth golfers in shape during the summer.

“It’s neat to bring all these high school golfers together before the season and let them play in preparation for the fall,” he said.

The event is sponsored by Farmers National Bank and The Vindicator. It’s an extension from last year’s “Greatest Golfer in the Valley” tournament for the best adult amateur golfers in the area.

The top four boys and girls at this tournament between the ages of 16-18 will qualify for the finals to be held July 31 at Trumbull Country Club. All qualifiers participants will be eligible to share in $5,000 in scholarships provided by PowerBilt Golf and Golf Headquarters in Boardman and Niles.

Snyder has coached golf, and said he’s had players move onto to college golf and even qualify for the U.S. Amateur tournament.

“That’s always neat when one of our players moves on to bigger and better things as a golfer,” he said. “We’ve had some pretty good ones come through over the years.”

Snyder has two sons learning the game — Payton, who will be a junior at Western Reserve, and Nolan, who will be a freshman at the school.

“We try to hit the local courses as much as we can,” he said. “As many as the family calendar will allow.”

He said he was interested in last year’s tournament because some of his golfers did well and many people from Diamond Back cheered them on. His interest grew when approached about the junior golf tournament, and said it was a way to promote and enhance the local scene.

“We have great golfers in the area, we just need more of them,” Snyder said. “And this could be a great way to bring in new golfers.”

He said the challenge today is getting youth on the course. He promotes golf as a “lifelong” sport, where the talents learned now carry onto adulthood and are passed down to the next generations.

“We had a family in here the other day, a dad and his four kids, and he told me it was the first time they ever played together and it was one of the best times the family ever had together,” he said. “So whether you are playing competitive golf or just playing for fun, golf is great bonding experience.”

Those still interested in registering for Tuesday’s tournament can still call Diamond Back at 330-533-3053 today. Snyder said pairings will be determined tonight and Monday.

Following Diamond Back, qualifying tournaments will take place at Tamer Win Golf Course in Cortland July 8 for boys and July 11 for girls, and Tam O’Shanter Golf Course in Hermitage on July 21.