Martel, Miron place first
Megan Miron shot a 75 to capture the U19 girls division Monday at Rolling Meadows. Photo by: BILL POTRECZ
Matthew Martel survived an inconsistent round to place first in the boys U17-19 division Monday at Rolling Meadows on the second stop on the Niagara District Junior Golf Tour.
The 16-year-old Welland resident fired a 72 to finish two strokes ahead of Isaac Ellis of Smithville. Owen Sartor of Thorold was third with a 77.
Martel double bogeyed the first hole but quickly recovered.
“It was a great start,” he said sarcastically. “I hit it fine but I couldn’t score, but then I ended up making three birdies in the last six holes.”
Martel admitted it was far from an ideal start.
“It sucks. You can do all the mental preparation you want but sometimes it just goes out the window and you just have to deal with it.”
Martel said it’s imperative to not let one bad hole ruin the round.
“You just know there are birdies out there,” said Martel, who golfs out of Lookout Point. “It’s one hole. It’s one thing if you go four or five over, but a double (bogey), you can make that back on the next hole.”
Martel, who is in his fifth year on the tour, now has three titles to his credit. He last won at Willodell in 2019.
“It should have been a few more but every time I would shoot a 73 or 74 and give myself a chance, my buddy Ben MacLean would usually shoot a 68,” he said. “I’m just really happy with the way I ended and happy I could win today.”
Martel began taking the sport seriously about five years ago.
“My dad always wanted to get me into golf but I was stubborn and played soccer and baseball in the summer,” he said. “I started about five or six years ago and I was probably mid to high 80s and just got better from there.”
It was a good day for the Martel family. Matthew’s 13-year-old brother, Michael, placed first in the boys U15 division with a 74.
“He’s going to be better because he started younger than I did,” Matthew said of his younger brother. “For now, I just want to beat him. I’ll try and hang on for as long as I can. He’s 13 and shooting 70s. When I was 13, I don’t think I had broken 80 yet.”
MIRON BACK ON TOP
Boring is good as far as Megan Miron is concerned.
The 18-year-old Binbrook resident turned in solid round, staying away from extreme ups or downs, to take first place in the girls U19 division.
Miron shot a 75, six strokes ahead of last week’s winner, Payton Bennett of Stoney Creek.
“It was almost like a boring round, no birdies, just consistent greens and fairways,” Miron said. “I just tried to play smart and eliminate possible dumb decisions and put myself into situations to play consistent.”
Miron feels that consistency is crucial to her overall success.
“My goals are just to remain consistent and try and make sure I don’t have that blow-up hole and make sure I stay mentally in it,” she said. “Stay in the moment and have fun too. That’s half of it. You have to love what you are doing.”
Miron and Bennett were neck-and-neck until Bennett shot an uncharacteristic 10 on the 14th hole.
“I didn’t even see her scorecard,” Miron said. “Usually I keep track of the people in my group and now what they’re doing but I have no way of knowing what people in other groups are doing.”
Miron, who won the overall girls title on the tour last summer, is looking forward to the fall when she is slated to attend Grand Valley State University in Michigan on a golf scholarship.
“I’m really excited,” said Miron, who will major in behavioural neuroscience with a minor in French.
She admits having her future mapped out takes the pressure off.
“Instead of trying to impress coaches, it’s playing for myself and improving and just trying to be the best you can so you can represent your new team well. You want to play well under their name.”
Having said that, she would love to repeat as points champion.
“Of course, that’s the ultimate goal.”
The tour continues July 20 at Bridgewater, July 21 at Legends on the Niagara, July 24 at Willodell, Aug. 5 at Sawmill, Aug. 11 at Grand Niagara and Aug. 24 at Beechwood.
BOYS U13
1. Kian Oelofse, Fonthill, 85; 2. Matthew Gray, Beamsville, 91; 3. Joseph Zupanic, Stoney Creek, 94; T4. Trent Clarke, Vineland, 99, T4. Chase Partridge, St. Catharines, 99; 6. Lucas Sartor, Thorold, 110; 7. Jackson Jones, Thorold, 122.
BOYS U15
1. Michael Martel, Fonthill, 74; 2. Brendan Jarrett, Niagara Falls, 81; 3. John Kingdon, Grimsby, 89; 4. Cole Thompson, Beamsville, 94; 5. Jaxon Christie, Beamsville, 101; T6. Sam Boich, 102, T6. Alec Linton, Niagara Falls, 102; 8. Leighton Wurm, Beamsville, 130.
BOYS U17-19
1. Matthew Martel, Fonthill, 72; 2. Isaiah Ellis, Smithville, 74; 3. Owen Sartor, Thorold, 77; 4. Bradyn Wark, St. Catharines, 78; 5. Adam Scarlett, Fort Erie, 79; 6. Johnny Romak, 80; T7. Ben Kelly Vineland, 81, T7. Benjamin Hebert, Thorold, 81; 9. Deryck Burke, St. Catharines, 82; T10. Cameron Mullins, Welland, 84; T10. Jordyn Rowling, Fort Erie, 84; T10. Noah LeBrasseur. Niagara Falls, 84.
GIRLS U19
Megan Miron, 75; 2. Payton Bennett, Stoney Creek, 81; 3. Jade Gracie, Niagara Falls, 86; 4. Sasha Baker, 87; 5. Mikayla Lacey, Port Colborne, 89; 6. Mya Mackey, Grimsby, 90; 7. Casey Kenney, St. Catharines, 91; 8. Alexis Alderson, Vineland, 98; 9. Ella Zanatta, Hamilton, 117.
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