The Valley’s best teen golfers are dialing in their games for next week’s ‘Joe’ Dickey Electric Greatest Golfer Championship, and Friday at the Olde Dutch Mill qualifier was a great shootout.
Struthers’ Chaz Ekoniak and Boardman’s Ryan Sam posted 71s to lead u17 Boys Joseph Nohra Insurance Division.
It was Ekoniak’s third round in the 70s this season, and Sam’s second.
East Liverpool’s Nathan Kelly posted a 75 to win the finals qualifier spot. Ekoniak and Sam qualified earlier this season.
More than 50 players teed off Friday — the 9th qualifier of the ‘Joe’ Dickey series. Tuesday is the final qualifier before the championship series launches Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
In u17 Girls Magnolias on the Green Division, Boardman’s Zoey Fick -Mills scored an 80 to become the 9th u17 Girls player to clinch a championship spot.
She was trailed by Ursuline’s Daniella Patrone, who shot 85, and Canfield’s Jackie Kinnick, who shot 86.
In Boys u14 Kreps Drywall Division play, it was another Fick-Mills — Carter — who shot 92 to clinch his spot in the finals.
Two other u14 players — Hubbard’s CJ Brew, 87, and Canfield’s Ray McCune, 88, led the way in the division. They clinched spots earlier this season.
In u14 Girls Ambrose Family Eye Care Division play, Southeast High’s Gracie Westover made her Greatest debut on her home course and scored a 93 to earn a finals spot. She was followed by classmate Taylor Blazek, 96, and Canfield’s Miya Cohol, 104.
‘Joe’ Dickey Greatest Golfer is a part of the Greatest Golfer championship golf series for amateurs ages 12 to 80. The Dickey series is 10 events for boys and girls in ages 15-17 and 12-14 from May to July at some of the Youngstown area’s top family-owned courses. The top performers play in the championship July 23-24 at Avalon Lakes.
Championship qualifiers to date are:
Joseph Nohra Insurance U17 Boys
Chaz Ekoniak, Struthers
Blake Hood, Alliance
Michael Porter, McDonald
Caleb Domitrovich, McDonald
Luke Eyster, Beaver Local
Bryce Van Horn, JFK
Ryan Sam, Boardman
Zack Ross, Moon Twp.
Magnolias on the Green U17 Girls
Ava Liburdi, Hickory
Alyssa Rapp, Mooney
Jayne Bernard, Mooney
Madison Murphy, Canfield
Luciana Masters, Hickory
Kaitlyn Hoover, Wilmington
McKenzie Gustas, Hickory
Jocelyn Zhao, Canfield
Kreps Drywall u14 Boys
Mick Ambrose, Canfield
Dante Turner, Mooney
Chase Zelesnak, Boardman
Ray McCune, Canfield
Alexander Eckstein, Ursuline
Michael Garwacki, South Range
CJ Brew, Hubbard
Braeden Sallee, Fitch
Ambrose Family Insurance U14 Girls
Kate Sowers
Sophia Rivera
Alyssa Zhang
Lindsey Hoover
Gianna Ross
Kendall Johnson
Setting up the Friday-Saturday ‘Joe’ Dickey Juniors Championship will be the first ever juniors long drive and par 3 shootout on Thursday hosted by Trumbull Country Club.
Competitors so far include:
July 22 Juniors Skills Championship
At Trumbull CC, 6 p.m. start
Qualifiers Thru Tamer Win:
U17 Boys
Long drive
Ryan Sam
Luke Eyster
Blake Hood
Nolan Williard
Closest to pin
Zack Ross
Rocco Turner
Blake Hood
Timmy Domer
Ryan Sam
Chaz Ekoniak
U17 Girls
Long Drive
Samantha Calderone
Ashlyn Elford
Jocelyn Zhao
Matilyn Zines
Jackie Kinnick
Zack Ross
Closest to Pin
MacKenzie Gustas
Samantha Calderone
Matilyn Zines
Joselyn Bishara
(More qualifiers to come from Tuesday’s final event)