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Inaugural Greatest Golfer winner returns
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After missing last year’s championship, Youngstown’s Jacinta Pikunas, the 2011 Greatest Juniors winner, will compete in the opening qualifier of this year’s tournament.
By Brandon Judeh
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Pikunas — the event’s inaugural champion in 2011 — did not compete in last summer’s Greatest championship presented by Farmers National Bank and The Vindicator.
Instead, she traveled nationwide for various amateur golf events, including the Optimist International in Florida.
Her heart, however, remains close to home.
“It was such an honor to have the title as being the first junior girls Greatest Golfer,” Pikunas said. “For me, it will always remain one of my most special memories in golf.”
Pikunas’s other achievements include a fourth-place finish in the National PGA Junior Series in Mansfield and third place in a Golf Week Junior Series Tournament at Avalon Lakes Golf and Country Club. She also has won two consecutive Optimist state championships.
Pikunas enjoyed success in golf at an early age, but continues to find new ways to improve her game.
“Last Monday, at the U.S. Women’s Open Sectional Qualifier in Pennsylvania, I concentrated more on using my fairway metals on what was an exceptionally lengthy and fast golf course,” Pikunas said. “I find that it’s usually best for me to concentrate on playing against the specific challenges of the golf course itself.”
She enjoys winning, but also relishes the relationships forged on the courses.
“I consider all of my competitors my friends,” Pikunas said. “We all push each other to get better. There are a lot of great golfers I will be competing against — [Canfield’s] Christina Cooper being one of them. She pushes me to get better.”
Also headlining the field will be 12-14 division Greatest champ Kaylee Neumeister, Kera Loomis and Cooper — last year’s 15-17 runner-up.
Rosy Hearns, a Hickory (Pa.) High player, won the division a year ago, followed by Cooper, while Hubbard’s Gina DePasquale took third.
The first junior qualifier tees off at 1 p.m. Saturday at Pine Lakes Golf Club in Hubbard. The top two finishers from each division will move on to the finals which will be played on July 28 at Trumbull County Club in Warren. Other qualifiers are set for Mohawk Trails Golf Course, Salem Golf Club, Tam O’Shanter Golf Course, Diamond Back Golf Course and Tamer Win Golf & Country Club. The registration deadline for Pine Lakes is 2 p.m. today.
Twelve golfers won Greatest Golfer titles in 2012. More than 500 players between the ages of 12 and 74 participated a year ago. Visit vindy.com/golf for information and to register.