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Familiar faces highlight Greatest Juniors field
Kaylee Neumeister was a softball player.
That’s the sport she grew up playing. That’s the sport she loved.
In 2008, the Lakeview High sophomore was diagnosed with a brain tumor. That was the end of her softball career.
“It was really difficult being unable to play softball,” Neumeister said. “I had to find something else to do, so my dad had me pick up a golf club.”
Four summers later, she won the Greatest Golfer of the Valley juniors event in the 12-14 age division.
Not bad for a softball player.
“I wasn’t very good at all at first,” Neumeister said. “My dad actually took me out to a par-3 course and on the eighth hole I chipped one in from like 20 yards out.
“I think that’s the only reason I kept coming back.”
That, and she was pretty good at it.
Neumeister will be one of the returning champions to tee it up Saturday at Pine Lakes Golf Club in Hubbard in this year’s first Greatest Juniors qualifier event created by The Vindicator, its partners Farmers National Bank, Covelli Enterprises and Superior Beverage.
It’s the first of six qualifiers throughout the summer, culminating in the championship at Avalon Lakes Golf Club on July 27.
Players can still register for Saturday’s opener by going to vindy.com/golf.
Neumeister finished third last year after moving up from the 12-14 age group to the 15-17 division. She has her eyes on getting back to the top this year.
“I really want to improve my score on the courses out there,” she said. “My goal is to win, but I think that’s everybody’s goal.”
She’ll be joined in Saturday’s opening qualifier by a couple Greatest veterans, Kerra Loomis and Brian Velasquez.
Loomis, a junior at Canfield High, has competed in the Greatest junior events since the inaugural 2011 series. She cleared a personal hurdle for the first time last year when she qualified for the championship. Now she wants to win it.
“It was fun to be able to be recognized as one of the better golfers in the area,” Loomis said. “Because it was my first time playing in the finals, I think I was a little nervous.
“I think I adjusted pretty well as the round went on, but I’d like to do better this year.”
For Loomis, Greatest Golfer provides a perfect start to her golf season. She gets to play at some of the same courses that she’ll see as a member of the Cardinals girl’s team in the fall. Plus it gives her a chance to scout some of the competition she’ll see.
“Everybody’s been really good,” Loomis said. “It helps me interact with kids that aren’t on my team and that’s one of the best parts. It’s a great experience.”
Velasquez, a sophomore at Poland, started competing in Greatest Golfer in 2012. He has yet to qualify for the championship yet, but he’s hoping this will be his year.
“I’ve been working on my game a lot lately,” Velasquez said. “I’m going to practice all week and go into Saturday and try to relax.
“I’m looking forward to it, though.”
It didn’t take long for Neumeister to win her first Greatest Juniors title. It also didn’t take long for her to start playing better than her dad.
“It’s definitely bonding time,” Neumeister said laughing. “He stopped trying to win now.
“At least that’s what he says.”
A change to the junior series this year involves qualifying for the finals. Just six of 12 finalists will earn spots by winning qualifiers. The other six in each division will reach the finals based on points earned during the series.