Junior golf tour wraps up
Brennan Turner (U13 boys), Andrew Burciul (U15 boys), Casey Kenney (U19 girls) and Cole Thompson (U19 boys) were honoured Monday at Beechwood as the Niagara District Junior Golf Tour wrapped up its 30 season. Photo by: BILL POTRECZ.
It’s hard to imagine Brennan Turner having a better season than what he accomplished this summer on the Niagara District Junior Golf Tour.
The 12-year-old Wellington Heights Public School student was perfect, winning all nine tour stops to capture the overall points championship in the U13 boys division.
The Peninsula Lakes golfer kept his streak intact and ended the season on a high note shooting a 75 to win the final tour stop Monday at Beechwood.
“After not having a very good round here last year it felt good to shoot a good round today,” Turner said.
Turner didn’t think about the streak until late in the tour.
“Either on the seventh or eighth tournament when I started playing really good,” said Turner, who cited driving and putting as his strengths.
Turner, who began playing at “two or three” said he took to the game quickly.
“I was always pretty decent for my age and then this year I started playing really well,” he said.
Andrew Burciul, a 14-year-old Thorold resident who attends Denis Morris, won two events to narrowly edge out fellow Sawmill player Trent Clarke 230.67 to 229.67 for the overall U15 boys points title.
“It feels pretty good because I came second last year so it felt really good this year,” Burciul said.
Burciul admitted he was thinking about the title after seeing Sawmill golfers sweep all four divisions last season.
“There’s a lot of pressure,” he said. “You have to be good with 25 players on this tour. It sets the example for Sawmill.”
Burciul tied for ninth with a 91 Monday.
“I hit a long ball but my short game is not the best but I’ve really been working on that this year and sometimes succeeding,” he said. “I’m planning to work a lot on my iron and wedge game.”
Cole Thompson, 15-year-old Blessed Trinity student from Beamsville, won a pair of tour stops to place first atop the U19 overall points standings.
“I didn’t really think about it but I noticed I was in the lead that past two tournaments,” said Thompson, who finished tied for seventh with an 83 Monday.
Thomson said there is still work to be done on his game.
“I’m in a little bit of a slump right now. I’m not playing as good as I could but at the start of the year I was doing pretty well and that’s what helped me get a lot of points and the lead. It was pretty consistent,” he said.
Thompson just wrapped up his third year on the tour.
“I would have loved to win it. That was my goal but (also) to do as good as I could and improve as much as I could,” he said.
Casey Kenney, a 16-year-old 16 Sir Winston Churchill student, edged out fellow Sawmill golfer Sierra Kowalyshyn by one point for the overall U19 girls points crown.
“Obviously, I wanted to win but it was hard to compete with last year because I was six for six. I wanted to keep up with that, which would have been really hard to do,” she said. “I didn’t really, but I did it enough.
“Obviously, this year didn’t compare to last year. I started off pretty rough but I’ve been shooting lower and lower in each round.”
Kenney won Monday’s stop with an 77.
“Today, my putting is what got me into the 70’s. When my putting is good, I’m good,” she said.
Kenney enjoyed battling with Kowalyshyn on the tour.
“I love Sierra. She gave me a run for my money this year. She’s a good player and she’s young too,” Kenney said.
Following the final stop at Beechwood, players were treated to a banquet and awards night.
Among the highlights: Players raising $10,906 for the Kristen French Child Advocacy Centre of Niagara. Burciul was the leading fund raiser with $1,295.
The female rookie of the year on the tour was Sophia Reed while Jack Vitiello was the male rookie of the year.
The best left-hander of the year award was given to Cole Thompson.
The Sportsperson of the Year presented by Niagara College was Noah LeBrasseur.
OVERALL FINAL POINTS
U19 GIRLS
1. Casey Kenney, Sawmill 282; 2. Sierra Kowalyshyn, Sawmill 281; 3. Mikayla Lacey, Port Colborne 192; 5. Sophia Reid, Lookout Point 147.
U13 BOYS
1. Brennan Turner, Peninsula Lakes 360; 2. Vince Belardi, Sawmill 251; 3. Jack Vitiello, 218, Sawmill; 4. Carter Thompson, Sawmill 191; 5. Daxx Partridge, St. Catharines Golf & Country Club 170.
U15 BOYS
1. Andrew Burciul, Sawmill 230.67; 2. Trent Clarke, Sawmill, 229.67; 3. Ken Oelofse, Lookout Point 226.17; 4. Matthew Gray, Sawmill 175.5; 5. Chase Partridge, St. Catharines Golf & Country Club 169.5.
U19 BOYS
1. Cole Thompson, Sawmill 645; 2. Nathan Freure, Sawmill 636; Noah LeBrasseur, Cherry Hill Club
623.5; 4. Morgan Daly, St. Catharines Golf & Country Club 596.83; 5. Aidan Lopinski, Lookout Point 553.83.
MONDAY
U19 GIRLS
1. Casey Kenney, 77; 2. Mikayla Lacey 82; 3. Sierra Kowalyshyn 83.
U13 BOYS
1. Brennan Turner 75; 2. Vince Belardi 81; 3. Jack Vitiello 96; 4. Daxx Partridge 97; Carter Thompson 101.
U15 BOYS
1. Kiam Oelofse, 82; T2 Angelo Butera, 83, T2 Dawson Dermatas, 83; T4. Ryan Kirkpatrick, 85, T4. Ben Julie, 85; T4. Joseph Zupanic, 85; T4. Matthew Gray, 85; 8. Trent Clarke, 87; T9. Carter Fulkerson 91, T9. Andrew Burciul, 91.
U19 BOYS
1. Noah LeBrasseur, 74; 2. Nathan Freure, 75; 3. Benjamin Morin, 76; 4. Morgan Daly, 80; T5. Damien Stehling, 82, T5. Aidan Lopinski, 82; T7 Caleb Shorthouse, 83, T7. Elliott Culp, 83, T7. Anthony Sartor 83, T7. Cole Thompson 83.
Dear reader. If you liked this story or one of the 4,300 other stories found on our website, please consider hitting the Support Us button on the right-hand side of our home page and making a PayPal contribution to our website. Your support would be much appreciated. If you are a business owner, please consider advertising on our site. Our rates are reasonable and we provide plenty of exposure for your business. Contact bpotrecz@outlook.com for more information.
