GREATEST GOLFER: LOCAL STANDOUTS SHINE ON FRIDAY

YOUNGSTOWN, OH- 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.

ALL SCORES HERE ON WFMJ GREATEST SCOREBOARD

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)

 

*Story contributed by Todd Franko