Juniors tame Rockway Vineyards
Casey Kenney’s Summer of Fun continued Friday at Rockway Vineyards.
Committed to enjoying her time on the golf course and not putting pressure on herself this summer, the 18-year old Sir Winston Churchill graduate won her second straight event on the Niagara District Junior Tour. Kenney’s even par 72 was good enough for a four-shot victory over Mikayla Lacey.
As she completed her best round since carding a 69 last year at Pen Lakes, Kenney wasn’t quite sure how she shot so well.
“It was just working and I wasn’t trying hard or anything. Honestly I could’ve done better but I am not going to be mad about a 72 obviously but it is not a bad thing to feel that I could do better while shooting even.”
Her round included a few three putts and mishits.
“There were some dumb things but I made up for them which is good.”
It came on an unlikely course for Kenney.
“I don’t know why but last year I was scared of this course because two years ago is when I shot my 70 here. I don’t know why it was scary. It should motivate me instead of scaring me away. I thought it was something I had to do but in reality it’s just a good course for me and it works for me. I shouldn’t look at it as a bad thing.”
Kenney’s excellent play doesn’t have her considering ramping up her schedule to include Golf Ontario events. She is content playing on the local junior tour and representing the region at the upcoming Ontario Summer Games.
“Golf Ontario is another conversation. I was talking to one of the other girls and Golf Ontario is a different atmosphere. You can feel everyone’s nerves while on this tour, everyone is here for a good time.”
UNDER-19 BOYS
Will Burleigh has worked his way up the ladder this summer in the under-19 boys division of the Niagara District Junior Golf Tour.
The 17-year-old West Niagara graduate placed third at the first tournament he played at Sawmill, lost in a playoff last Friday at Willodell and then carded a two-under par 70 at Rockway Vineyards Friday to record a two-shot victory.
Burleigh is a former points champion in the under-15 division and finished fourth overall in the under-19 division last year.
“I haven’t won too many events but I have always been right near the top,” he said.
He put it all together Friday at Rockway Vineyards.
“Everything seemed to be going really well today. I was hitting fairways and greens and the putter was on. There were a couple of little mistakes but nothing that killed me.”
Burleigh has played well at the course in the past and won when he was competing in the under-15 division.
“It is wide open and you can pretty much hit the ball anywhere.”
His goals for the summer are to play as many Niagara tour events as he can as well as competing on the Maple Leaf Junior Tour. Next week, he is exempt to play in the Ontario junior championship at Otter Creek in Otterville thanks to making the cut at last year’s championship.
“I’d like to make the cut again and maybe break into the Top 30 this year.”
When summer is over, he will be studying kinesiology at Brock and plans to try out for the school’s golf team. His long-term plans involve golf.
“After that I would potentially like to get a pro card. I just love playing. It is so fun when you are playing well and I strive for that feeling again.”
Next stop on the tour is Wednesday, July 10 at Cardinal Lakes.
Following are the leaderboards from Friday’s tournament at Rockway Vineyards:
Under-19 girls: Casey Kenney 72; Mikayla Lacey 76; Sierra Kowalyshyn 79; Alivia Nickason 82; Hazel Templeman 89.
Under-19 boys: Will Burleigh 70; Michael Martel 72; Andrew Burciul 74; Dawson Dermatas 78; Owen Martini 80; Tommy Goodwin 80; Austin St. Croix 81; Cameron Strugar 82; Christopher Elliott 83; Benjamin Shaver 83.
Under-15 boys: Brennan Turner 75; Callum Birdsell 84; Daxx Partridge 84; Mike Nevinger 85; Carter Thompson 85; Avrey McGuire 86; Landon Friesen 87; Charlie Smith 88; Vince Belardi 91; Joshua Bertrand 92; Alex Shorthouse 92.
