Champion team members included, from the left: Miah Holcknecht, Aiden Bishop, Gracie Cottrell, Bryce Ripley and Dominic Novak with their coach Jessi Mix.

By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

Olivia Sloan, fourth grade, earned the green jacket, winning the girls division. Miah Holcknecht, also in the fourth grade, took home second place.

Pirates Play Golf, the after-school program that teaches youth the game of golf throughout the winter at Southeast Elementary School, recently concluded its second session with a Mini-Masters Tournament and presentation of awards.

The young golfers proceeded through a series of skills, including putting and full swing, demonstrating their progress throughout the sessions.

Members of the varsity golf teams scored the results as they followed the youths in grades Kindergarten through fifth grade to each skill. Volunteer coaches, including high-school golf coaches Cindy Fesemyer and Mike Jenior, were instrumental in running the program and making sure the young golfers were having fun.

Almost 60 kids competed in the two sessions, with the second session including elementary students from second to fifth grade.

Wearing the green jacket for the boys was Bryce Ripley, fifth grade, who won a sudden-death drive-off over runner-up Hunter Stutzman, fourth grade. Bryce successfully hit the Mario golf sign hanging near the top of the gymnasium.

Bryce Ripley, fifth grade, won the boys division and earned the green jacket. Hunter Stutzman, fourth grade, runner-up.

Awarded the green jacket for the girls was champion Olivia Slone, fourth grade, topping Miah Holcknecht, fourth grade.

The winning team was captained by high school varsity golf team member Jessi Mix. Team members included Miah Holcknecht, Aiden Bishop, Gracie Cottrell, Bryce Ripley and Dominic Novak.

Both sessions will gather together for a field trip to Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course, the Southeast Pirates’ home course in Lake Milton to work on the skills they learned on the course and prepare for the junior programs available to the youth on Sunday afternoons and Monday mornings.