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Kordupel outduels teammate Jonda in qualifier
By Greg Gulas
VIENNA
The Greatest Golfer of the Valley is officially under way with the first qualifying round taking place Saturday at Avalon Golf and Country Club’s Squaw Creek course.
Boardman’s Bryan Kordupel defeated Spartans teammate Bobby Jonda in a one-hole playoff to win the 17-U division while Erika Hoover of the Wilmington Greyhounds, whose home course is New Castle Country Club, defeated Gillian Cerimele of Flying B for top honors in the girls 17-U division.
Robert Shelton’s 84 was six shots better than Dominic Kapics in boys 14-U play, while Leah Benson’s 95 was enough to defeat Kyra Woods in girls 14-U play.
It took a little more work but Kordupel, who was playing in his third Greatest event and captured top honors with a par on the first extra hole.
“The course was in great condition and the field was very competitive, which made the entire day a lot of fun for everyone,” said Kordupel, whose round included an eagle on No. 7. “I feel like I’ve improved quite a bit from my first year in this event, but you also have to credit Bobby for the great round that he played today.”
Both Kordupel and Jonda shot similar 36-41—77 rounds to force the playoff.
“I thought that I played a solid front nine, but hit a bogey stretch on the back nine and also had a chip that lipped out,” Jonda said. “For the most part, I was pleased with my play. I was just disappointed in my finish.”
Brookfield’s Justin Atkinson, who had played the last three years in the 14-U division, finished with an 81 (37-44) to finish third.
“I felt like I played well, but there were a few challenging holes for the entire field,” Atkinson said. The tee placements were different and you had to make adjustments for that as well.”
Hoover (43-43—86) almost bypassed the event after she had braces placed on her teeth just 48 hours earlier and wasn’t feeling 100 percent.
“I didn’t know how I would feel and this was a tough field overall. I was hoping to finish in the top-three, but to win it all is a great feeling,” Hoover said. “It was a combination of everything coming together, staying on the fairway and keeping out of the rough. The rough is deep here, so staying out of that really helped me overall.”
Cerimele (44-46—90) was four shots off the pace. Jonda’s twin sister Brittany (44-48—92), a member of the Boardman girls golf team, finished third.
Finishing third in boys 14-U was Nathan Cene (48-45—93).
Benson and Woods both hail from Hickory, Pa., and going head-to-head is something to which they have become accustomed.
“The course was in excellent condition, especially with the amount of rain that we have had over the past week or so,” Benson said. “It wasn’t muddy and I was able to drive the ball really well.”
Woods actually held a one-shot lead at the turn, but fell behind and had to play catch-up on the last nine holes.
“I actually played better than I thought I would,” she said. “I drove well, but my putting could have been a little better. Overall, it was a fun day.”