By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

The 2025 Matt Mishler Junior Portage County Amateur featured many of the golfers everyone is now seeing featured in their high-school matches and other tournaments.

SOUTHEAST’S JESSI MIX

The 19^th annual event competed at Sunny Hill Golf Course in Brimfield and Windmill Lakes Golf Club in Ravenna.

Champions in each age division included: James Morgan, a senior on the Southeast boys varsity golf team (boys 16-19), Jessi Mix, a senior on the Southeast girls varsity golf team (girls 16-10), Andrew VanDamme, an eighth grade golfer at Kent schools (boys 13-15), Sammy Morgan, a sophomore on Southeast girls varsity golf team (girls 13-15), an Alden Pratt of Rocky River (boys 12 and under).

Age groups were very competitive throughout the two-day tournament as golfers from Rootstown, Waterloo, Mogadore, Southeast, Hudson, Kent and Ravenna competed against each other.

It was truly a reunion for many of these golfers, who had competed previously in the Portage Trail Conference before local play was broke up at the prep level, with schools now playing in five different conferences.

Several coaches came out to watch the golfers play as the tournament concluded one-day prior to the start of the OHSAA golf season.

KENT’S ANDREW VANDAMME

It is such a fun tournament, but also competitive for juniors. The 16-19 age division numbers worked out that either a foursome or two twosomes needed to compete on the final day.

James Morgan, Tyler Pendergagst of Mogadore, Bryce Cannon of Ravenna and Jude Thiry of Mogadore offered to play in the championship pairing as the foursome.

“We all know each other,” said Morgan, the ultimate champion. “We want to play together. We’ll keep up.”

And they did, talking and competing together as they had fun and enjoyed the outstanding competition.

Thanks to Sunny Hill Golf Course in Brimfield and Windmill Lakes Golf Club in Ravenna for welcoming the junior golfers to their course and creating an outstanding place for the golfers to compete, and parents and coaches to enjoy watching.

SHARE YOUR SUCCESS

Information for the column including tournaments, leagues and adult and junior golfers successes may be shared at golffam2@gmail.com or text 330-206-9083. We look forward to sharing the accomplishments of all golfers throughout the Spring and Summer.

GOLF CALENDAR

Note: To be added to this calendar, email golffam2@gmail.com or text 330-206-9083.

Aug. 30-31: 55^th SENIOR AMATEUR: Raccoon Hill Aug. 30, Windmill Lakes Aug. 31. Age divisions: 50-59, 60-69, 70-plus men and women.

SEPT. 6: Randolph Volunteer Fire Department Golf Scramble: Paradise Lake Golf Club, Suffield.

Oct. 4: CHUBBS PETERSON MEMORIAL SCRAMBLE: Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course, Lake Milton. (Happy Gilmore inspired) four-person scramble. $100 per person includes lunch, dinner drink tickets, tee gift and skins. 330-654-4100

Oct. 19: CROSS COUNTRY SCRAMBLE: Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course, Lake Milton. Four-person scramble, nine created holes across the 18-holes of Olde Dutch. $200 per team includes golf, cart, two drink tickets, skins, food and prizes. 330-654-4100

Nov. 1: GREENS KEEPER’S REVENGE: Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course, Lake Milton. Four-person scramble, $300 per team includes golf, cart, two drink tickets, skins, food and prizes. 330-654-4100

PORTAGE COUNTY SENIOR AMATEUR

Aug. 30-31: Raccoon Hill Golf Club, Kent and Windmill Lakes Golf Club, Ravenna. Divisions: Ages 50-59, 60-69, 70-plus. Register via Venmo or Paypal at PCAGolf.net, register at host courses including Sunny Hill Golf Club, host of the Kids Am and Junior Am; obtain registration form on webpage or Amateurs Facebook page and mail to: 2739 Tallmadge Road, Ravenna, OH 44266. Registration fee $90 by Aug. 8, $100 by Aug. 27^.