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Junior finals field set
Terlesky, Neumeister roll into final championship spots
WARREN
Brian Terlesky had only one shot to qualify for the Vindicator Greatest Golfer of the Valley junior championship.
As it turned out, that was all he needed.
The 2012 boys 14-and-under champion will have a chance to add another title to his resume thanks to a 2-over round of 74 at Trumbull Country Club on Thursday. Terlesky earned the final automatic bid in the 17-and-under division to this year’s championship at Avalon Lakes Golf & Country Club.
“I think I hit seven greens today, which is not my best at all,” Terlesky said. “But I guess it was good enough.”
Terlesky, who will be a sophomore at Boardman High School, hit a ball out of bounds on the 15th hole, but was still able to rebound and close strong. He said it’s that part of his game that has really improved from last season.
“It takes a lot of mental toughness to keep your composure,” he said. “It’s important you don’t get out of yourself and you just have to keep playing your game.”
Terlesky joins Jacob Wilson, Joey Shushok, Ken Keller, Zach Jacobson and Ethan Thomas as qualifiers for the final on July 26. Thomas and Terlesky, teammates at Boardman, will have a chance to square off against each other a week from Sunday.
Kaylee Neumeister wasn’t at all pleased with her round of 84 at Diamond Back in the previous qualifier, but she was all smiles after shooting 74 at Trumbull.
“I knew I was better than [the 84] and I even went out and shot a 70 the next day,” Neumeister said. “I was pretty pleased with the way I rebounded and it’s really carried over since then.”
Her 74 on Thursday was easily the best score in the girls 17-and-under division. Neumeister, who will be a senior at Lakeview High School, won the 14-and-under title in 2012 and, along with Terlesky, will be seeking a second Greatest Junior championship.
“I’ve been busy all summer with different tournaments around the Cleveland area, so I think I’ll be ready for this test,” said Neumeister, who plans to attend Cleveland State University and play golf for the Vikings.
“My dad grew up around there and I have family that lives up there, so it’s been nice to go play in that area this summer.”
Neumeister joins Alexa Tringhese, Nicole Gula, Emily Koehler, Jenna Vivo and Jacinta Pikunas as automatic qualifiers in the 17-and-under division.
Justin Atkinson missed the previous two qualifiers at Diamond Back for a family vacation to Virginia Beach. He might want to consider another quick trip before the championship, because the time off appeared to pay off.
Atkinson qualified in the boys 14-and-uner division with a round of 76 on Thursday. He tied with his neighbor, Conner Stevens, but earned the automatic bid since Stevens had already qualified at the year’s first event at Squaw Creek.
Atkinson joins Stevens, Joey Vitali, Cole Christman, Keegan Butler and Matthew Kinkela in the 14-and-under division.
Olivia Taylor took the final automatic bid of the day on Thursday with a round of 106. She joins Hannah Keffler, Jenna Jacobson, Hadley Spielvogel, Gillian Cerimele and Erika Hoover in the girls 14-and-under division.
The junior championship begins at 1 p.m. at Avalon Lakes in Howland Township.