Dandy Andy wins first event of season
Andrew Burciul found himself in the winner’s circle for the first time this year Wednesday at Twenty Valley.
The 16-year-old Thorold resident fired a 70 to capture top spot in the U17/U19 boys division on the fifth stop of the season on the Niagara District Junior Golf Tour.
“It feels great. I haven’t been playing the best this year but my game is starting to come along the last couple of weeks, which is good,” said Burciul, who attends Denis Morris.
The Sawmill golfer won by two strokes over John Kingdon (72). Kian Oelofse was third with a 74.
“To be honest, I try to shoot some kind of score, I don’t try to win,” Burciul said. “I try to shoot a score that could get me to win, but could also get me into the top three or top five.”
Burciul said his overall game was strong Wednesday.
“Everything fell together,” he said. “Everything was just pretty good — my putting was good, my driver was OK and I was putting it in spots where I could make some putts and I chipped well.”
Burciul, who is playing some Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) events this summer and is also scheduled to participate at the Ontario Summer Games, feels success breeds success.
“The confidence goes up like crazy. When you shoot a good score, everything rises —your putting, off the tee, everything else— and goes on to the next round.”
Burciul is also planning to attend at the Golf Ontario U17 championship qualifier.
U15 BOYS
Brennan Turner made it five wins in a row in the U15 boys division, firing a 75 to edge Charlie Smith by four strokes. Mike Nevinger was third with an 82.
The 14-year-old Rockway Vineyards member says he never takes winning for granted.
“Every tournament is it’s own thing,” Turner said. “I could go out and shoot 67 one day or 79 the next. You just never know.
“It’s hard because you can’t count on anything. You can’t count on winning every week but you just have to try and shoot constant scores.”
Turner won every event in the under-13 division in 2022 and placed first in two events to finish second overall in the under-15 division last year.
“It keeps me in a winning mentality and gets me used to scoring. Winning all the time is good,” he said.
Turner said the course was understandably wet.
“That kind of called for a little inconsistency on some greens but usually those greens are pretty fast so you just have to play for it,” he said. “I thought I played pretty well, maybe not as well as I could have, but good enough to get the job done.”
Turner is also playing on the MJT Tour this winner and recently qualified to play in U15 Ontario provincials Aug. 8-9 in Hamilton.
U19 Girls
Casey Kenney made it three wins in row, firing a 73 to finish first in the U19 girls division. Sierra Kowalyshyn was second with a 76 followed by Mikayla Lacey with a 79.
“My approach shots and putting were working well,” Kenney said. “The course was a little wet but a lot better than I expected. I had a lot of birdie opportunities on the back which really helped my score because I didn’t have the best front.”
Matthew Milton fired a 97 as the only competitor in the U13 boys division.
U13 Boys
1. Matthew Milton 97.
U15 Boys
1. Brennan Turner 75; 2. Charlie Smith 79; 3. Mike Nevinger 82; 4. Vince Belardi 84; 5. Callum Birdsell 89; 6.
Joshua Bertrand 90; 7. Eli Corfield 91; 8. Brett Sharpe 98; 9. Daxx Partridge 104; 10. Logan Taylor 107.
U17/U19 Boys
1. Andrew Burciul 70; 2. John Kingdon 72; 3. Kian Oelofse 74; 4. Michael Martel 75; T5.
Dawson Dermatas 76, T5. Will Burleigh 76, T5. Townes Bestward 76; 8. Leo Savio 77; 9.
Jack Ilskens 79; 10. Thomas Gale 80.
U19 Girls
1. Casey Kenney 73; 2. Sierra Kowalyshyn 76; 3. Mikayla Lacey 79; 4. Alivia Nickason 91; 5. Hazel Templeman 96.
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