Savio savours first victory
Leo Savio fired a 71 to capture the first tournament victory of his career in the U19 boys division on the Niagara District Golf Tour Wednesday at Grand Niagara.
Savio, who entered only a couple of events last season, took up the sport about five years ago.
“This is my second year of taking it more seriously and going in more tourneys,” said Savio, who also played a couple of Maple Leaf Junior Tour events this season and is a member of his school’s golf team at Notre Dame.
The 16-year-old Welland native gave credit to his putter for the victory.
“I think my short game was pretty good to be honest,” he said. “I didn’t have any three-putts. If I was off the green on a par four I could get up and down and save par and my chipping was pretty good too.”
Savio played it safe when needed.
“The greens were rolling fast,” he said. “Some of the pin positions were pretty hard. I tried to stay below the hole so I could have an uphill putt and if I was behind the hole I would definitely be cautious. If it was inside five feet I would go for it.”
The Lookout Point member edged Will Burleigh (73) and Andrew Burciul (78).
“I knew what was going on,” Savio said. “I could see he (Burleigh) had been through 14 so I was definitely following along. I went to the 18th green to see how he was doing and he finished one over. He was the closest to me so I knew I won it.”
U15 BOYS
Brennan Turner just keeps on winning.
The 14-year-old Fonthill resident made it seven tour victories this season, firing a 74 to easily outdistance the opposition in the U15 boys division. The only stop Turner did not win this season was the one he did not enter.
“It’s a tough course,” said Turner, who will enter Grade 10 at E.L. Crossley next month. “It’s definitely a tight one and you have to be pretty accurate and very careful with your putting — those greens were quick today.”
Turner doesn’t mind playing a conservative game.
“I was fine with today. I only hit drivers maybe four or five times, the rest of the time it was the three-wood. I hit my three-wood a decent amount so it’s not affecting me too much. It just goes from a sand wedge in to about a nine-iron,” he said.
Mike Nevinger finished second at 84 followed by Carter Thompson in third with an 87.
“I didn’t really focus too much on anybody’s scores. I usually make it just me against the course and play my own ball,” Turner said.
The Rockway Vineyards member won nine times on the tour in the under-13 division last year and this year should run away with the U15 boys points championship with only two tour stops remaining.
“It feels good. It’s an upgrade from last year. It feels nice to be back on top but just have to keep grinding it out,” he said.
U19 GIRLS
Mikayla Lacey had to work overtime to capture top spot in the U19 girls division.
Lacey and Casey Kenney were tied at 80 through 18 before Lacey won on the third playoff hole.
“We had some fun with it,” Lacey said. “After the first hole we both made par and then we went on to the next hole. We made fun and wondered why we didn’t play like this in the actual round.”
Lacey won when Kenney hit a shot out of bounds and had to take a drop (stroke).
“I knew I just needed to get it in play and keep it on the green.”
Lacey said she recovered after a slow start.
“It was mediocre,” she said. “I had a rough start. I had a couple of bogeys and a double and then I made two birdies to tie Casey after nine and then I had a better back nine. I only had one bad hole.”
Lacey loved how fast the greens played.
“I prefer to play on faster greens because that’s what I practice on as well,” she said. “It was a good day.”
The win was the first in 2023 for Lacey, who lost in a playoff earlier in the season.
“I struggled a little bit scoring-wise but I’ve played in lots of tournaments (this summer) and had fun,” she said.
Lacey, who turns 18 next week, graduated from Grade 12 student at Port Colborne High School and has accepted a scholarship offer to play golf and major in education from Niagara University in Lewiston, N.Y., for the fall of 2024.
“I’m very excited. I’m nervous but it will be good.”
U13 BOYS
Eli Perng continued his mastery of the U13 boys division, firing a 75 to defeat Matthew Milton by 14 strokes.
The tour continues Wednesday, August 21 at Cardinal Lakes.
U13 BOYS
1. Eli Perng 75; 2. Matthew Milton 89.
U15 BOYS
1. Brennan Turner 74; 2. Mike Nevinger 84; 3. Carter Thompson 87; T4. Charlie Smith 90; T4. Alex Shorthouse 90; 6. Brett Sharpe 94; 7. Callum Birdsell 105; 8. Logan Taylor 120.
U17/19 BOYS
1. Leo Savio 71; 2. Will Burleigh 73; 3. Andrew Burciul 78; 4. John Kingdon 79; 5.Dawson Dermatas 80; 6. Michael Martel 81; 7. Colby Franchetti 84; 8. Carter Fulkerson 85; 9. Pearse Conlon 86; 10. Braxton Fleguel 88.
U19 GIRLS
T1. Mikayla Lacey 80; T1; Casey Kenney 80; 3. Tiffany Kang 90; Hazel Templeman WD.
Lacey won on third hole of playoff.
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