Youth reigns at first Greatest Junior qualifier
VIENNA
Connor Stevens had the round of the day at the year’s first Greatest Golfer of the Valley junior qualifier event at Squaw Creek Country Club.
Although he felt it could’ve been even better.
“I could’ve had a couple more birdies,” Stevens said. “That three-putt on 18 hurt a little bit, but oh well.
“I could’ve shot 68 probably.”
As it turned out, his 1-under par 71 was good enough to win the boys 14-and-under division by five strokes over second place Keegan Butler.
Stevens, a seventh grader at Brookfield Middle School, had his driver working on Sunday, consistently hitting the ball around 250 yards off the tee.
“I like the tight courses,” Stevens said. “This course really fits my strength.”
With the win, Stevens qualified for the Greatest Juniors final at Avalon Lakes Golf Club on July 26. He seems to like getting the hard part out of the way first. Last year, Stevens qualified for the final in the first event as well.
“I’m happy this one’s out of the way,” he said.
In the girls 14-and-under division Hannah Keffler put together an impressive round of 79 to earn her qualifying spot in the championship.
It was her second 79 in as many days, after shooting the same score at the Northern Ohio PGA Junior Golf event at Trumbull Country Club.
“I guess that’s where my game’s at,” Keffler said of her consistent play. “Those are the only two tournament’s I’ve done so far this year.”
Keffler, a eighth grader at Canfield Middle School, said her offseason focus targeted her putting. She wanted to make sure that was the strongest part of her game heading into this summer’s tournament play.
“I think I’m playing really well,” Keffler said. “My putting’s been really good, really keeping my score down.
“That’s helped me a lot.”
This summer is an important one for Keffler, leading into her freshman year of high school. She wants to play well to impress her future golf team teammates and coaches.
“I’m friends with a lot of the girls and they’re really nice,” Keffler said. “I know the golf coach there is excited to have me come up.”
It appeared the boys 17-and-under division was heading for a playoff in the year’s first qualifier. That was until Jacob Wilson pulled out a even-par back nine to shoot 78 and beat out the competition by four strokes.
“I made a put on No. 10 that got me going and from there I just kept rolling,” Wilson said.
Wilson, a junior at Kennedy Catholic High School, earned a spot in last year’s championship, but was less than pleased with his performance.
“Last year I didn’t play very well, but it was still good experience,” Wilson said. “Since it was 17-and-under I knew I’d be able to come back [this] year.”
While Wilson wasn’t ecstatic about his score of 78, he understood all that mattered on Sunday was qualifying.
“A win’s a win,” he said. “It’s nice now that you don’t have to worry about the other events.”
Last year, Alexa Tringhese made it difficult on herself. She had to qualify for the final in the girls 17-and-under division through an at-large bid with the points system.
This year, she’s assured a spot after just one round.
“This feels pretty good,” Tringhese said. “It’s definitely relieving.”
The next qualifying event is May 31 at Pine Lakes.