Patella medalist at Tamer Win for Greatest Junior Golfer of Valley

Tamer Win Greatest Jr. Golf Boys

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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

Greatest Jr. Golf. Tamer Win, Boys

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

Dominic Patella is the medalist at Tamer Win qualifier for Greatest Junior Golfer of the Valley tournament

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

CORTLAND

On Tuesday at Diamond Back Golf Club, Dominic Patella played in his first qualifier for The Vindicator’s Greatest Junior Golfer of the Valley tournament.

It didn’t go so hot.

“I couldn’t really do anything,” said Patella, who finished tied for sixth with a 13-over 85. “Couldn’t make a putt. Couldn’t hit a green. Couldn’t hit a drive straight.

“Nothing was working.”

On Thursday, Patella played a Northern Ohio PGA Junior Golf event at Manakiki Golf Course in Willoughby Hills.

That didn’t go so hot, either, as Patella shot an 8-over 80 to finish tied for 12th.

Fortunately, Patella found his game on Friday. Playing in the Greatest Junior Golfer’s second qualifying tournament, Patella shot a two-over 73, finishing with birdies on 17 and 18, to finish first in the boys 16-18 division at Tamer Win.

“I was coming off kind of a rough round [Thursday], so I thought I played all right,” said Patella, who attends Cardinal Mooney High. “I hit a few drives right and left but the course is pretty open, so it was easy to save them. And I made some putts.

“I was two-under on my last two holes, so that kind of saved my round.”

Warren JFK’s James LaPolla shook off two back-nine bogeys to shoot 74 and place second. JFK’s Joey Canann (77) and Salem’s Bart Wyss (77) finished fourth and sixth, respectively, to grab the other two qualifying spots.

South Range’s Brandon Pluchinsky, who won Tamer Win’s Junior Boys Tournament last year with a 75, shot a 76 to finish third. Mooney’s Max Pikunas finished fifth with a 77.

Pluchinsky (first at Diamond Back) and Pikunas (third) had already qualified for the Greatest tournament, which will be held July 31 at Trumbull Country Club.

LaPolla bogeyed the par-4 10th — “I was kind of upset because I hit the fairway and duckhooked the snot out of the second shot,” he said — and followed with a bogey on 11. But birdies on 14 and 17, combined with steady play on the other holes, allowed him to finish strong.

“After those [bogeys], I was like, ‘OK, let’s get my drive back,’” he said.

LaPolla’s father, James Jr., won the second division title at last year’s Greatest Golfer of the Valley tournament — the younger LaPolla was at a golf tournament that day, but can describe his father’s clutch putt on 18 as if he was there — and could have an advantage at this year’s junior tournament since it will be held at his home course.

“I’ve been playing Trumbull most of my life,” said the 16-year-old LaPolla, who started playing golf at 5. “My parents have been members since before I was born and I know a lot about the course.

“I hope I play as good there as I did here.”

Tamer Win will hold the second girls qualifier on Monday and Tam O’Shanter will hold the final qualifier (boys and girls) on July 21. For details, visit Vindy.com/golf/juniors.

Qualifiers can schedule a practice round at Trumbull Country Club by calling John Diana or Seth Zipay at 330-372-5127. Cost is $20.

Also, any golfer that participates in a Greatest qualifier tournament — and graduates in either in 2011 or 2012 — is eligible to apply for a tournament scholarship. Four winners will share in $5,000 and will be selected based on academics, citizenship and golf ability. Applications are available for download at Vindy.com.