Andrew VanDamme, a Kent Roosevelt High School boys golfer, finished in fifth place in his age division at the 42nd NOPGA Junior Championship.
Susan Jenior/Portage Sports

By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

Local golfers demonstrated they are more than ready for the upcoming high school golf season as the Northern Ohio PGA held the 42nd NOPGA Junior Championship to conclude the season at Barrington Golf Club in Aurora.

The tournament is an invitation only event, with golfers identified and selected after playing at a superior level throughout the NOPGA season.

The best finish of Portage County golfers in each division included:

•    Girls 16-19: Adrianna Mineo of Kent
•    Boys 16-19: Jacob Rainieri of Mogadore
•    Boys 14-15: Andrew VanDamme of Kent

BOYS 14-15

Andrew VanDamme, recent champion of the Matt Mishler Portage County Junior Amateur, continued his outstanding play as he tied for fifth place at the championship tournament.

VanDamme struggled the first day, firing an 83 on Monday, but moved up three places to fifth with his stellar play on Tuesday as he fired a 4-over-par 76.

Jax Turner of Kent also moved up in the standings on the final day of the tournament, jumping two spots to ninth place. Turner shot an 82 on Monday and followed that with a 5-over-par 77 on Tuesday.

The two golfers will obviously help the Roosevelt Rough Rider team stay strong this season following the graduation of Liam Curtis, who becomes a member of the Kent State Golden Flashes varsity men’s team this fall.

GIRLS 16-19

Adrianna Mineo of Kent earned a tie for 13th place in the oldest division of girls.

Kent’s Adrianna Mineo placed 13th overall at the NOPGA Junior Championship.
Susan Jenior/Portage Sports

Mineo started her tournament on Monday firing a 78, good for fifth place, but four double-bogeys offset her solid play on the second day that included seven pars and a birdie for an 87 that found Mineo in a tie for 13th.

Gianna Rodenhauser of Aurora earned 17th place by herself in the field of 31 golfers, with consistent rounds of 85-84.

BOYS 16-19

Jacob Rainieri of Mogadore, a member of Lake Center Christian’s boys golf team, had a 77 the first day of the tournament and then returned the second day to shoot a stellar round of 73 that moved him up the leaderboard 11 spots to 10th place.

Mica Thirion of Ravenna, a member of the Twinsburg High School varsity boys team, moved up eight places on the leaderboard to finish 26th and Jackson Sarver of Aurora earned 31st place out of 55 golfers when the last ball had dropped in the cup at the tournament.

Finally, Brett Epple of Streetsboro, also a contender in the Portage County Junior Amateur, struggled his second day, carding an 86 after his seven-over-par initial round of 79 to tie for 41st place.

The Northern Ohio PGA, with executive director David Griffith, an alumnus of the Kent State men’s golf team, still has several junior events this season including a Futures Tour Preview at Tannenhauf on Wednesday.

42ND NOPGA JUNIOR TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP SCOREBOARD

(At Barrington Golf Club, Aurora)

BOYS 16-19

1. Ryan Dinan, Akron 144; 2. Dexer James, Hudson 146; 2. Jack Mast, Millersburg 146; 2. Daniel Gambone, North Canton 146; 5. Andrew Beun, Millersburg 147.

Portage County Golfers: 10. Jacob Rainieri, Mogadore 151; 26. Mica Thirion, Ravenna 159; 31. Jackson Sarver, Aurora 162; 41. Brett Epple, Streetsboro 165.

GIRLS 16-19

1. Julia Gulla, Sagamore Hills 146; 2. Calli Reed, Fairview Park 149; 3. Kayla Knaze, Fairview Park 150; 3. Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble, Brunswick 150; 5. Elena Varga, Hudson 153.

Portage County Golfers: 13. Adrianna Mineo, Kent 165; 17. Gianna Rodenhauser, Aurora 169.

BOYS 14-15

1. Trent Riedel, Medina 147; 2. Elijah Stewart, East Liverpool 148; 3. Dylan Phillips, Chesterland 150; 3. Declan West, Medina 150; 5. Andrew VanDamme, Kent 159.

Additional Portage County Golfers: 9. Jax Turner, Kent 164.