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Eye on moving ahead
By STEVE WILAJ
YOUNGSTOWN
Emily Koehler has been playing Tam O’Shanter since she was 10, so the Mathews High senior hoped her experience would pay off in Friday’s third round of the Flynn Automotive Group Juniors Greatest Golfer of the Valley tournament at the Hermitage, Pa., course.
And she indeed shot a strong round, notching an 81.
However, it only tied for first place in the girls 17-U division, and she was ousted by Gillian Cerimele in three playoff holes.
“It was an intense few holes,” Koehler said. “But even though I lost by one, I’m very happy with the way it turned out. I’m really glad that I had the chance to experience that — it’s something I haven’t experienced in a really long time.
“So I was really hoping that would be where I would qualify. But since I didn’t, I’m really, really striving for Mill Creek.”
The Greatest Golfer tournament continues on Wednesday at Mill Creek Golf Course, where play begins at 9 a.m.
Koehler is hoping to ride Friday’s strong play into a championship-qualifying performance, as she’ll try to join Hannah Keffler, Jenna Vivo and Cerimele in the finals on July 22-23.
“Definitely feel like I have some momentum,” Koehler said. “I’m more familiar with the north side [of Mill Creek] than the south side, but I’ve gotten some practice on both sides. So I know the course pretty well.”
Koehler has participated in all three Greatest Golfer tournaments, getting better with each round. She shot a 92 at Squaw Creek and an 84 at Pine Lakes, before her 81 at Tam O’Shanter.
“Over the summer, I actually began working on my putting a little bit more,” said Koehler, a Greatest member since 2012 who finished third a year ago. “It’s what I’ve been focusing on the most — I’ve also been focusing on the other important stuff too — but putting is what I needed to work on because it’s never been my strongest point.”
Even so, she has had a stellar career at Mathews. The Mustangs are coming off back-to-back conference titles, as Koehler competes with the boys team during the season. She also became the first Mathews girl to surpass sectional, as she has competed at districts all three years since her freshman year. Additionally, she was an all-conference selection as a sophomore and junior.
But now, Koehler has her eyes on qualifying on Wednesday.
“It’s my target,” she said.
In the boys 17-U division, the three championship qualifiers so far are Brian Terlesky, Anthony Graziano and Cade Kreps, who shot a 72 at Tam O’Shanter.
Brian Tolnar, Mill Creek’s PGA Director of Golf, said his course is “probably in the best shape that I’ve ever seen it.
“We couldn’t ask for better conditions — from green speed, to bunkers being edged and manicured,” he said. “It’s going to play really good for the kids this week.”
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.
“Just coming off the AJGA this past week, we’re trying to be a leader in the area for junior golf and player development,” Tolnar said. “This is a perfect tie-in.”