Miron leaves junior tour with flourish: Three tie in boys division
Megan Miron said goodbye to the Niagara Junior Golf Tour in impressive fashion Tuesday, carding a one over par 73 at Grand Niagara to record a six-stroke victory.
It was the fourth straight tour victory for the 18-year-old Binbrook resident. She will miss the final stop on the tour because she is off to play scholarship golf at Grand Valley State University in Michigan.
“Overall it was a really consistent day,” the reigning points champion said. “I gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities.”
Miron couldn’t help but reflect on what was her last tournament in a four-year-run on the Niagara tour. She leaves for school Thursday to go into quarantine for two weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It wasn’t emotional like crying but emotional thinking about all the fun times we had on the course and the friendships I made were so amazing, she said. “You just feel so comfortable with the group of girls that play on the tour. It is sad for it to be over.”
Before leaving, she handed over a letter to her coach and tour organizer John White, who was celebrating his birthday.
White has played a major role in Miron’s development.
“In terms of golf, he is great and I love his style of coaching. He helped me and it works for me.”
She loves White’s consistency.
“He had always been there to help, no matter what,” Miron said. “He is always caring and he goes out of his way to help if he sees that you need it. That was something that I really appreciated.”
White’s coaching has obviously helped Miron. At last week’s Ontario Women’s Amateur Golf Championship at the Dalewood Golf Club in Cobourg , she tied for 11th at nine over par (69, 80, 73 and 72).
“I was really proud of myself,” she said. “I had one day that was a little rough but overall it was a really solid tournament and I was really excited about it.”
If not for the second-round 80, she would have been in the hunt for the championship, but a lot of golfers didn’t fare well in the windy conditions on the second day.
“The wind was crazy,” she said. “It was kind of like today at Grand Niagara.”
The soon-to-be behavioural neuroscience major at Grand Valley State is looking forward to her first season of scholarship golf.
“I want to play good golf, have fun, take it all in, enjoy it and learn from the other girls on the team because there are some fifth-year girls.”
HAROLD RECORD FIRST NIAGARA WIN
Ryan Harold recorded his first-ever victory on the Niagara Junior Golf Tour Tuesday at Grand Niagara.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic tour rule that eliminated playoffs in 2020, the 17-year-old Welland resident shared the victory with Isaiah Ellis and two-time 2020 winner Matthew Martel. The three golfers topped the field with four over par 76s.
“I have always to win on this tour,” said the two handicapper at Lookout Point. “I grew up playing on this tour and it was nice to get that first win.”
The Grade 12 student at E.L. Crossley, who has only been golfing for three years, did record a pair of victories in 2019, capturing the under-19 club championship at Whistle Bear and a Maple Leaf Junior Tour event.
His previous-best finish on the Niagara tour was a sixth-place showing in a previous season. He had been struggling in 2020 before Tuesday’s round.
“I putted really well today and I kept the ball under the wind,” he said, adding he only took 24 putts for his round.
It also didn’t hurt that he works at Grand Niagara.
“I know the greens so that really helped with my putting and I kept my focus for every shot.”
The Ontario Golf Academy team member feels Tuesday’s win will be a nice confidence boost for the rest of the summer. He has one Niagara tour event left to play in and two stops on the Maple Leaf loop.
Next stop on the tour is Aug. 24 at Beechwood.
Following are the leaderboards from Tuesday’s tournament at Grand Niagara:
Under-13 boys: Andrew Burciul 89; Trent Clarke 89; Kian Oelofse 91; Joseph Zupanic 92; Chase Partridge 96; Matthew Gray 104; Lucas Sartor 108; Jackson Jones 118.
Under-15 boys: Ty Werynski 78; Michael Martel 81; Brendan Jarrett 84; John Kingdon 84; Sam Boich 86; Jaxon Christie 92; Will Burleigh 94; Cole Thompson 97; Alex Linton 97; Ben Shaver 100.
Under-17/19 boys: Isaiah Ellis 76; Ryan Harold 76; Matthew Martel 76; Andrew Scott 81; Hudson Mielko 82; Benjamin Hebert 83; Noah LeBrassuer 85; Caleb Shorthouse 85; Adam Scarlett 86; Owen Sartor 86.
Under-19 girls: Megan Miron 73; Payton Bennett 79; Sasha Baker 85; Jade Gracie 90; Mya Mackey 91; Mikayla Lacey 97; Ella Zanatta 101; Alexis Anderson 104.
