Saturday, May 30, 2015
YOUNGSTOWN
It’s been a busy month for junior golfers all across the Valley.
For Cardinal Mooney classmates Ken Keller and Nick Braydich, that’s been a good thing.
Best of friends off the course, the two have developed a healthy rivalry when they tee it up against each other in area tournaments. They’ll do so at Pine Lakes Golf Club on Sunday in the season’s second Vindicator Greatest Golfer of the Valley junior qualifier.
Both missed the first qualifier because of schedule conflicts, but they each feel they’re playing some of their best golf.
“This year, I have a very aggressive schedule with what tournaments I’m playing in,” Keller said. “As far as my game, I’m playing very well right now. I have two wins at both the Optimist and the Northern Ohio tournaments.
“I think playing in these regional events has really helped make me into a better golfer.”
Keller shot 70 in the Optimist International regional qualifier at Deer Creek Golf Club in Hubbard at the beginning of the month and followed that up by winning the Northern Ohio PGA Junior Golf sectional qualifier at Trumbull Country Club the next weekend.
“I’ve had moments where I’m playing well,” said Keller, who is finishing his sophomore year at Mooney.
“But the last few weeks rank up there as far as the best I’ve ever played.”
Braydich, a year ahead of Keller at Mooney, hasn’t placed too far behind his classmate and friend. He shot a 79 at both the Optimist and the Northern Ohio events Keller won. However at last weekend’s Northern Ohio qualifier at Riceland Golf Course in Orrville, Braydich finished in second with a 1-under round of 70.
“I feel like I’m peaking at the right time,” Braydich said. “I was really happy with how I played last week and it’s good to see the results because I’ve put a lot of time and hard work into it.”
In the fall, Keller and Braydich are teammates on the Cardinals’ golf team. At last year’s state tournament, they had matching rounds of 78 and 79 to lead the team and tie for sixth place individually in Division II.
This time of year, their friendship on the course becomes a little less cheerleader and a little more competitive.
“It’s really fun playing with him,” Braydich said. “We’re best friends, but when we’re playing golf [against each other], we’re big rivals.
“There’s still competition when we’re playing for fun, but we both want to get better at the end of the day.”
Keller added: “It’s very fun to compete against him. He’s a really good player and for that I think there will always be a competitive edge.”