Take Two: Gustas, Porter repeat as u17 champs

Posted on by Todd Franko
Michael Porter was eager to be the first Boys u17 junior Greatest Golfer to win back-to-back titles. His only problem was Ryan Sam. Sam, of Boardman High School, led most of Day 2’s play in the ‘Joe’ Dickey Electric Greatest Golfer Championship at Avalon Lakes. He started the day 2 shots back of McDonald’s Porter. But he had that covered coming into the last hole. Sam found the trees on his drive and also found the rough on his approach — causing a double bogey and a tie. But Porter, too, found trouble on the last hole. In the sand from 200 yards, Porter stuck the green with a 5-iron, but with 70 feet up and down to the pin. His lag putt settled 5 feet from the hole for a par finish — and the win in the Joe Nohra Insurance Boys u17 division. “Greatest Golfer is one of my favorite tournaments. Lots of guys play in other events around Ohio. But everyone around here always plays Greatest, and it’s great to win this.” Doubling up on Greatest title wasn’t just Porter’s to do. In Girls u17, McKenzie Gustas of Hickory earned her second straight Greatest Golfer title. Gustas was a 5-shot leader after Day 1 Friday at Squaw. It’s a lead no one really challenged her on. She felt less pressure with this year’s win. “Greatest is a tourney series where, if you are getting started in tournament golf, you have to play,” Gustas said. “Your get your first wins here. It teaches you so much.” In Girls u14, Kate Sowers shot 78 to win the Ambrose Family Eye Care division. “I played really good. I only missed one green on the front 9 — which I was really glad about,’ she said. Greatest works for her because of the mix of friends and competition. In the Boys u14 Kreps Drywall division, Mick Ambrose of Canfield finished what he started. He won the first event of the 2021 season, then landed a few more wins, and won Saturday with a 74. He closed the run in great fashion — dropping a 30-foot bender for par on No. 18. Here are the complete scores for the 2-day finals of the ‘Joe’ Dickey Juniors championship. Boys u17 Joseph Nohra Insurance Michael Porter            74-70-144 Ryan Sam        76-70-146 Blake Hood     76-72-148 Dominic Kapics           76-77-153 Connor Daggett          78-78-156 Caleb Domitrovich      84-76-160 Chaz Ekoniak   81-79-160 Luke Eyster     81-81-162 Zack Ross        79-87-166 Nolan Williard 87-82-169 Nathan Kelly   83-87-170 Rocco Turner  80-90-170 Paul Litrenta   89-85-174 Bryce Van Horn           84-92-176 U17 Girls Magnolias on the Green McKenzie Gustas        82-79-161 Luciana Masters          91-81-172 Madison Murphy        89-84-173 Jayne Bernard 87-86-173 Alyssa Rapp     94-87-181 Matilyn Zines  98-92-190 Shaylee Muckleroy     93-95-188 Kaitlyn Hoover 88-95-183 Zoey Fick -Mills           103-96-199 Ava Liburdi      91-96-187 Samantha Calderone  112-99-211 Daniella Patrone         110-103-213   F U14 Girls Ambrose Family Eye Care Kate Sowers    78 Alyssa Zhang   80 Gracie Westover         88 Lindsey Hoover           90 Gianna Ross    94 Sophia Rivera  100 Miya Cohol      108 Taylor Morrone          118 U14 Boys Kreps Drywall Mick Ambrose 74 Dante Turner  78 Matthew Morrone      90 Braeden Sallee            93 Chase Zelesnak           93 CJ Brew           94 Michael Garwacki       98 Carter Fick-Mills          104