Mielko, Kenney tops at Grand Niagara
Hudson Mielko shook off a shaky start to capture his first title this season in the U19 boys category on the Niagara District Junior Golf Tour Monday at Grand Niagara.
“It was a rough start. I was four over through five and I wasn’t really feeling my swing but the rest of the round I was really feeling my game,” the 17-year-old Grimsby resident said. “My irons were great. My short game was a little bit rough but off the tee was perfect.”
Mielko then settled down which turned his game around.
“It was my momentum. I made a couple of pars and I felt my swing come back to me and kind of carried on through there,” he said.
Mielko had no problems with the conditions.
“It started to rain here and there and the wind picked up occasionally but the conditions were just perfect. It was a great course,” he said.
The Blessed Trinity student is hoping to find more consistency in his game.
“This is my fifth year (on the tour) and I’ve had a couple of wins over the years. I had a rough start this year but hopefully I’m going to turn it around,” he said.
Mielko, who carded a 79, edged out Nathan Freure of Sawmill and Morgan Daly of the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club by one stroke.
“When I’m playing well I normally don’t look at the leaderboard because I’m more focused on playing my game,” he said. “To be honest I don’t think about much going into a tournament. Just kind of the aspect anything can happen and just try to play to the best of my ability.”
Mielko said he began playing at age 11 when his father and grandfather introduced him to the sport.
KENNEY WINS THIRD EVENT
Casey Kenney didn’t let a little rain and wind deter her from winning her third event of the season in the U19 girls division.
The 16-year-old Sawmill member fired an 82 to edge Mikayla Lacey of the Port Colborne Country Club by two strokes.
“It (rain) started on the back nine. It started when we teed off on the 10th so it was perfectly split,” she said. “You just get a towel and coat. You have to be prepared but I kind of like it when it rains.
“I enjoyed it. It’s more fun, I guess.”
Kenney doesn’t try to put too much pressure on herself before an event.
“I just want to play well,” she said. “I don’t think too much about scores or anything.
“I just want to have fun.”
Kenney plans to play the next stop on the tour, Monday, Aug. 15 at Rolling Meadows but isn’t sure if she will be able to make the tour finale Monday, Aug. 22 at Beechwood.
U19 GIRLS
1. Casey Kenney, Sawmill Golf Course 82; 2. Mikayla Lacey, Port Colborne Country Club 84; 3. Sierra Kowalyshyn, Sawmill Golf Course 86; 4. Anisha Ghosh, Burlington Golf & Country Club 89; 5. Sophia Reid, Lookout Point Country Club 109.
U19 BOYS
1. Hudson Mielko, Players Club – Ottawa 79; T2. Nathan Freure, Sawmill Golf Course 80; T2 Morgan Daly, St. Catharines Golf & Country Club 80; 4. Anthony Sartor, Players Club – Ottawa 81; 5. Caleb Shorthouse, Twenty Valley Golf & Country Club 82. T6 Aidan Lopinski, Lookout Point Country Club 84; T6. Damien Stehling, Bridgewater Country Club 84; T6. Nicklaus Mooradian, St. Catharines Golf & Country Club 84; 9. Nate Ditto, St. Catharines Golf & Country Club 85; T10. Elliott Christopher, St. Catharines Golf & Country Club 86; T10. Ben Kelly, Sawmill Golf Course 86.
U15 BOYS
1. Andrew Burciul, Sawmill Golf Course 79; 2. Angelo Butera, Players Club – Ottawa 81; 3. Joseph Zupanic, Sawmill Golf Course 82; T4. Chase Partridge, St. Catharines Golf & Country Club 84; T4. Trent Clarke, Sawmill Golf Course 84; 6. Carter Fulkerson Players Club – Ottawa 90; 7. Matthew Gray, Sawmill Golf Course 91; 8. Carson Jubenville, Twenty Valley Golf & Country Club 99; 9. Joey Kuschei, Players Club – Hamilton 100; 10. Lucas Sartor, Players Club – Ottawa 107.
U13 BOYS
1. Brennan Turner, Peninsula Lakes Golf Club 76; 2. Jack Vitiello, Sawmill Golf Course 94; 3. Vince Belardi, Sawmill Golf Course 99; 4. Carter Thompson, Sawmill Golf Course 102.
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