By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

Two of the best in Portage County demonstrated on Thursday that they deserve to be in the conversation as the best golfers in the area.

TAYLOR BLAZEK

Southeast senior girls golfer Taylor Blazek and junior boys golfer James Morgan walked onto the fairways at Good Park Golf Couse in Akron on Thursday having already qualified for the championship flights.

Then they rose to the top of the leaderboard as the first 18-hole round concluded.

The two golfers, reigning Players of the Year in the Portage Trail Conference, distanced themselves from the competition as they prepare for the second 18-hole round of the 36-hole tournament on Friday.

Morgan seemed to have little trouble with the close, tough fairways of the course known as The Park among Akronites.

Firing a solid 72, Morgan has an six-stroke lead over his nearest competitors, Jordan Miller of Waynedale and Tommy Kinder of Revere, both carding 78s.

Blazek, owned first place after the qualifying round on Wednesday, but those scores are wiped clean for the start of the 36-hole tournament on Thursday, only used to place golfers in flights.

JAMES MORGAN

Blazek liked her place at the top, carding a 77 on Thursday to remain in first place as the tournament started, five strokes ahead of Caitrin Coyle of St. Vincent-St. Mary.

Southeast and Kent golfers continued to do well in the tournament that has long been a staple on the golf calendar for juniors.

In the Champion Flight for the girls, Southeast freshman Samantha Morgan fired a 90. Rounding out the Pirates’ girls golfers, in the first flight, Aubrie Varga fired an 88 to earn the top spot followed by Adriana Sloan (93), Jennifer Mix (97) and Jessica Mix (98).

Jackson Turner of Kent carded an 83 in the first flight to tie for eighth place going into Friday.

All golfers compete over 18 holes at Good Park on Friday for the 36-hole tournament, with trophies awarded at the end of the event.