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Greatest Golfer: Eagle helps Kreps lock up finals spot
By STEVE WILAJ
HERMITAGE, PA.
Before he teed off on hole No. 13 at Tam O’Shanter on Friday, Cade Kreps caught up with friend — and fellow competitor in the third Flynn Automotive Group Greatest Golfer of the Valley junior qualifier — Jared Wilson.
“He told me he was 1-under,” Kreps said. “So I’m thinking, ‘OK, I’m at 2-over right now, if I can just get one [stroke] back.’”
Turns out Kreps did even better, notching an eagle on the par-5 to gain two strokes.
It went a long way in leading to his eventual first-place finish in the boys 17-U division with a score of 72. The Boardman High junior barely edged Wilson who, along with Ken Keller, shot a 73.
“I figured I had to make a few birdies coming down the stretch,” Kreps said. “I was kind of disappointed that I didn’t, but I came in and it all worked out. So I’m excited.”
Kreps joins Brian Terlesky and Anthony Graziano in the championship round, which is slated for July 22-23.
Gillian Cerimele will be there as well, as the Canfield High junior won the girls 17-U division by ousting Emily Koehler after three playoff holes.
Both girls shot an 81 to reach extra-play. But after each went par-bogey on the first two playoff holes, Cerimele made par on the third for the victory.
“It was just about playing my best,” Cerimele said. “The first time I played [No. 3], I birdied it. So I knew the hole pretty well for the most part. When I hit it into the creek, I just stayed calm and hit a nice shot out. Basically I just stayed calm.”
Koehler earned five points for her second-place finish. Meanwhile, Erika Hoover shot a 92 for third place (four points), Carmel Cerimele shot a 95 for fourth place (three points), Victoria Messuri shot a 96 for fifth place (two points) and Nicolette Eddy shot a 101 for sixth place (one point).
In the boys field, Wilson and Keller each earned five points, R.J. Pozzuto and Michael Butch shot 74s for third place (four points) and Cole Christman took a 75 for three points. Also, Dean Austalosh, Bryan Kordupel and Graziano all shot 77s for two points and Bobby Jonda earned one point for his 78.
Still, it was Kreps’ day, as he notched two birdies to go along with his key eagle.
“The last couple days I’ve been working with my coach really hard,” he said. “I haven’t been swinging it well this year, so to come out here the last couple days and swing well and make a few putts, it felt really good.
“I killed my drive — hit 120 [yards] into the par 5 — and stuck a gap wedge in there to 10 feet. To roll that in, that was really big.”
Justin Atkinson — a Brookfield High freshman — won the boys 14-U by shooting a 76 to clinch a finals spot,. Luke Nord finished second with an 82, while Cameron Colbert shot an 84.
“It feels good even though I thought I could have played better,” said Atkinson, who notched three birdies and eagled No. 7. “I just hit a nice drive [on No. 7] and then a nice 5-iron onto the green and made the putt.”
Kate Brown won the girls 14-U with a 104 to earn a spot in the championship round.
Play continues on Wednesday at Mill Creek Golf Course — the fourth round of the seven-round summer series.
This is the seventh season for Greatest Golfer, and it has grown from an event serving 90 golfers to now impacting 3,000 golfers, 12 golf courses and 24 charities.