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Keller, Christman go low in junior qualifier
HUBBARD
Ken Keller had your ho-hum, so-so. even-par round of golf on Friday.
At least that’s the way he explained it.
If that doesn’t sound like the most glowing review, it’s because Keller said it wasn’t exactly the most exciting round he’s played — and he’s fine with that.
“I hit every green and I two-putted almost every green,” said Keller, whose 73 was the low score in the boys 17-and-under division at Friday’s Vindicator Greatest Golfer of the Valley junior qualifier at Pine Lakes Golf Club in Hubbard.
“It was mostly fairway, green, two-putt, even on some par 5s.”
Keller, who will be a junior at Cardinal Mooney High School in the fall, was pleased with the way he had been playing leading up to the qualifier. But he acknowledged that didn’t mean much, because he knows how quickly things can change out on a golf course.
“I try to take the same mindset into every qualifier,” Keller said. “Play smart, play my best, play conservatively.
“Today I was just very calm out there, had a lot of confidence and was hitting my driver well.”
He’s the third player in his division to qualify for the junior final at Avalon Lakes Golf Club on July 26, joining Jacob Wilson and Joey Shushok.
“It makes it a lot easier to play from the fairways as opposed to the trees,” Keller joked. “For example, I shot 73 last Monday and I was all over the place. I scrambled like crazy.
“Today I was more in play and didn’t need to save myself by getting up and down or hitting miraculous shots.”
Shooting the lowest round of any player on Friday was Cole Christman with a 1-under par 72. Sporting a bright neon green outfit, Christman light up the course with five birdies.
Although it was a double-bogey, par finish that had him scratching his head after the round.
“It just put a bad taste in my mouth,” Christman said. “It kind of reflects poorly on the whole day, because I think I played pretty well.”
Christman, who will be a freshman at Boardman High School in fall, said he was putting horribly at the beginning of the summer. But it was his short game that he credited for his success at Pine Lakes on Friday.
Christman joins Connor Stevens and Joey Vitali as automatic qualifiers in the 14-and-under division for the junior final.
In the girls 17-and-under division, Alexa Tringhese continued her outstanding play in Greatest junior events with a round of 84. Tringhese has had the low score, or tied for the low score, in each of the three qualifiers this year.
Since she’s already qualified for the final, Emily Koehler earns the automatic bid to play at Avalon Lakes with a score of 85. Nicole Gula is the other qualifier in the older girls division.
Hadley Spielvogel, who will be a freshman at Cardinal Mooney, rounds out the qualifiers from Friday. She wasn’t happy with her first 10 holes, but turned things around on the back nine to shoot 90.
“I thought I was playing terrible to start,” Spielvogel said. “My putting and chipping got a lot better on the back nine, which I was happy about.”
Jenna Jacobson also shot 90, but she already qualified at Tam O’Shanter. Hannah Keffler is the qualifier in the younger girls division.
The next junior qualifier is scheduled for Wednesday at Mill Creek Golf Course. It was originally set for last Wednesday, but was rained out.