By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

Gracyn Vidovic of Aurora, a senior this fall for the Greenmen, has set herself apart as one of the best golfers in Portage County, advancing to the state tournament her junior year and racking up top-10 finishes in local NOPGA tournaments.

GRACYN VIDOVIC

She has spent this summer continuing to prove her skills are some of the best across Ohio.

Competing at the Ohio Junior Girls Golf Tournament at Marion Country Club July 15 and 16, Vidovic bested the 49-player field over 36 holes to emerge victorious.

Vidovic started her tournament with a 1-under-par 71 that placed her third after the first 18 holes.

Her final round of 66, 5-under-par, was by far he best round of the tournament and, etched her name in the history of the tournament as the lowest round in tournament history.

From the seventh through the eleventh holes, she fired four birdies and an eagle on her way to the 66.

NATHAN KINTER ADVANCES

Nathan Kinter of Rootstown competed in the Drive, Chip and Putt local qualifier at Mill Creek Golf Club in Boardman July 13.

NATHAN KINTER

Kinter, competing in the Boys 12-13 age division, earned the first qualifier spot in his age division and advances to the Sub-Regional qualifier.

In the same age division, Mason Dillon of Rootstown earned an alternate spot.

Youth golfers practice as part of the Kent Little Girls Golf League.

KENT LITTLE GIRLS LEAGUE

For 15 years, Kent Roosevelt’s girls coaches have sponsored an Instructional Junior Girls Golf League. The league has contributed to the success of the Kent Roosevelt Lady Riders golf team.

The league welcomes girls in grades 3rd through 9th to Twin Lakes Golf Club and Sunny Hill Golf Club each Sunday evening to develop and improve golf skills. The girls also may gather at Birdie Shack on Wednesday mornings for individualized instruction. At Twin Lakes and Sunny Hill, the girls play four, six or nine holes to prepare for competitive golf or simply have fun.

Bryan Harvey, head coach of the Lady Riders, Larry Picicco, assistant coach before he stepped down this season, and Coreena Havel, asst. girls coach, provide instruction and direction for the program.

SOUTHEAST PIRATES RUMBLE LEAGUE

Youth programs are becoming popular at local golf courses as high-school and middle-school coaches encourage young golfers to hone their skills before entering high school.

Players putt during competition at the Monday Rumble League at the Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course.

The Southeast Pirates have a Junior Golf League on Sunday evenings that includes instruction and nine holes of golf for ages 7 to 14 at Olde Dutch Mill in Lake Milton.

They follow that each week with a Rumble League on Monday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon as golfers compete in teams against each other in nine-hole matches. Golf compete in a team scramble format.

Head boys golf coach Mike Jenior, certified U.S. Kids instructor and director of golf at Olde Dutch Mill, coaches the boys and girls along with girls varsity coach Cindy Fesemyer and assistant girls coach, Joe Pinti of Windham

This is the eighth year for the Sunday League and fourth for the Monday Rumble League.

ANOTHER ACE

Brad Patterson earned an ace while playing Windmill Lakes Golf Club in Ravenna.

Patterson used his four hybrid to travel the 155 yards to the green on the eighth hole as his ball found the cup for the hole-in-one.

NOPGA TOURNAMENTS RESULTS

Local golfers continue to compete well in tournaments sponsored across northeast Ohio in the NOPGA events.

OLD AVALON GOLF CLUB, WARREN

Girls 16-19: 2. Brooklyn Millard, Aurora (73); 9. Ashlyn Leavery, Kent (78); T13. Adrianna Mineo, Kent (85); T13. Gianna Rodenhauser, Aurora (85); 16. Cassidy Singer, Kent (89); 19. Kathryn Ennemoser, Ravenna (92).

Boys 14-15: 5. Jacob Rainieri, Mogadore (75).

Boys 11-13: 1. Andrew VanDamme, Kent (76).

94^th PORTAGE COUNTY AMATEUR JULY 27-28

The 94^th Portage County Amateur is July 27 and July 28. Deadline is July 25 to compete.

Divisions include County Division (for golfers residing in Portage County), Open Division (for golfers residing outside of Portage County) and Women.

Go to the Facebook page Portage County Amateurs, register online at PCAgolf.net or stop by Windmill Lakes, Raccoon Hill or Sunny Hill golf courses to register in person for any of the Amateurs.

Look forward to seeing all golfers compete.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES

PORTAGE COUNTY AMATEURS

Register at host golf courses, online at pcagolf.net or via mail. For info call/text 330-206-9083, email golffam2@gmail.com, or log onto the Portage County Amateurs Facebook page.

JULY 27-28: 94^th Portage County Amateur, Windmill Lakes Golf Course, Ravenna and Raccoon Hill Golf Club, Kent.

AUG. 24-25: 54^th Portage County Senior Amateur, Windmill Lakes Golf Course, Ravenna and Raccoon Hill Golf Club, Kent.

TOURNAMENTS AND EVENTS

(To add an event to the calendar, text or call 330-206-9083 or email golffam2@gmail.com.)

NOPGA Junior Events (register a at northernohiopga.com)

JULY 22: Ohio Girls Golf Foundation High School Showcase, Avon Oaks Country Club, Avon. (Sponsored by NOPGA)

JULY 30-31: 41^st NOPGA Jr. Tour Championship, Club Walden, Aurora.

OUTINGS, TOURNAMENTS AND EVENTS:

JULY 26: Olive Tree Family Foundation 4^th Golf Invitational, Raintree Golf Club, Uniontown. (Four-person scramble, $125/golfer, info: Troy Luckenbaugh 330-671-0073, email olivetree@olivetreefamilyfoundation.org) Register at olivetreegolf.com. Deadline July 13.

AUG. 4: Rootstown Rover Sports Booster Outing, Sunny Hill Golf Course, Brimfield. (8:30 a.m. shotgun start).

AUG. 14 – Kent State University Rango Invitational, Windmill Lakes Golf Club, Ravenna.

AUG. 10: Southeast Athletic Boosters, Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course, Lake Milton. (Four-person scramble, $100 per person includes golf, beverages, breakfast, lunch and dinner.) Call Bruce Leifeit 330-885-1327, Brenda Thomas 330-310-1515.

AUG. 10: Camp Quality Charity Golf Outing, Paradise Lake Golf Course, Suffield. (Four-person scramble, $400 by July 4, $460 after July 4, Information at 330-968-8924 or ohio@campqualityusa.org.)

AUG. 17: Browns Backers 17^th Golf Outing, Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course, Lake Milton. (Four-person scramble, 8:30 a.m. shotgun start, $90 per person.) Registration deadline Aug. 10. Call Gary 330-207-5939 or Rodney 330-718-8176 for info. Registration form available on Lake Milton Browns Backers Facebook page.

WOMEN

JULY 22-25: 101^st Women’s Ohio State Amateur Championship, Belmont Hills Country Club, Clairsville (WOSGA.org)

JULY 22-25: 8^th Women’s Mid-Amateur, Belmont Hills Country Club, St. Clairsville. (WOSGA.org).