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Pine Lakes to host qualifier for jr. tourney
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July 31, 2011, James LaPolla and Jacinta Pikunas, winners of The Vindicator’s 2011 Greatest Junior Golfer of the Valley tournament at Trumbull Country Club. The event this year tees off on May 20 and has grown from three qualifying rounds to six.
TOURNEY GROWS
By Ryan Buck
With the summer golf season fast approaching, The Vindicator’s Greatest Golfer of the Valley Junior Competition returns for its second year, featuring a series of six qualifying tournaments that will run through mid-July.
The competition culminates on July 21 at Trumbull Country Club in a 48-player championship round for the top 12 players in two age groups of boys and girls who emerge from the qualifiers.
In collaboration with seven host sites, the event’s organizers are building on the success of last year’s event and are now reaching for greater heights.
“We started Greatest Golfer to honor Valley golf. It’s vital to honor the youngest in our sport as well, and that’s what juniors mean to us,” Vindicator editor Todd Franko said. “We introduced juniors last summer with three events, with hopes to double it in year two. That’s where we’re at, and we’re proud.”
The tournament is a unique opportunity to highlight the importance of growing the game within an area full of talented players and dedicated teachers.
“This allows quality courses and quality kids to come together and compete at a high level without traveling an hour or more by car,” said Brian Snyder of Diamondback Golf Course in Canfield. “It brings golf to the forefront.”
Boys and girls are broken down into two divisions each, based on age as of July 21.
Players U-14 and U-17 in The Vindicator delivery area are able to register for the qualifying rounds at the participating courses, with the top two finishers from each division eligible for the final at Trumbull Country Club.
The popularity of last summer’s 90-player event at the returning sites of Tamer Win of Cortland, Hermitage’s Tam O’Shanter and Diamondback will enable three new hosts to open their doors to nearly 200 expected contestants this year: Mohawk Trails in New Castle, Pa.; Salem Golf Club; and Hubbard’s Pine Lakes, set for the opening qualifier on May 20.
Chris Carfangia is in his eighth year as Club Professional at Pine Lakes. He oversees the locally-owned, 85-year-old course that’s undergone several renovations in recent years.
“Since ’99 we’ve added five new holes and renovated another six of them,” Carfangia said. “Our last one was No. 16 and that was two Julys ago.”
Pine Lakes will provide not only a picturesque layout, but several obstacles in place to thwart back-nine runs.
“No. 16, that’s our signature hole,” Carfangia said. “It goes between 105 yards and 178 yards. There’s an 8,000 square-foot green with a water fountain in a big lake off to the right with some stones and a fewbunkers.
“It’s quite beautiful, a double- tiered green,” Carfangia said. “Our eighteenth hole is our toughest hole. It’s 440 yards. That one’s waiting there for you at the end.”
Carfangia’s looking forward to seeing the youngsters show off their games.
“We like to see these kids compete on the best golf courses in thearea to see what they can do, see how low of a number they can get.”
Mohawk Trails will host the second qualifier on June 9, followed by Salem Golf Club on June 18, Tam O’Shanter on June 27, Diamondback on July 2 and 5, and Tamer Win on July 13 and 16.
Tournament and registration information is available at all seven facilities, Vindicator publications, and on the website.
The Vindicator will present previews of each round, live on-course updates via Twitter and Facebook, and recaps from each event.