Mon Sep 06 2010
by Michael Leonard
Sports Editor
Hudson -- Three new champions were crowned at The Hudson Junior Invitational and all three young enough to return next year to defend their titles.
Hopefully, Mother Nature will cooperate if they choose to return.
Morning showers caused two rain delays during the final round June 17 at The Country Club of Hudson before an afternoon thunderstorm suspended play a third time.
At about 4:20 p.m. June 17, tournament officials informed the field the final round was canceled, as the field was not able to complete the final round before darkness. That meant only the first two rounds would be scored.
The decision meant the boys championship was shared by Bruce "Boo" Timko of Girard and Trey Sullivan of Katy, Texas. The pair tied with two-round scores of 139 on the par 72 course.
Meanwhile, the girls championship went to Jordan Lippetz of Bradenton, Fla., who shot a two-round score of 145 (71-75).
Two Twinsburg natives also participated in the tournament. Recent Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy graduate Kyle Gerycz finished 94th in the boys field with a score of 176 (85-91), while recent Walsh Jesuit graduate Katherine Kohut finished 27th in the girls field with a 184 (91-93).
Half of the boys field -- and the entire girls field -- was still on the course when play was suspended for the final time. The final trio of Timko, Sullivan and Corey Conners of Listowel, Canada only made to the fairway on hole No. 3 when play was suspended.
"We can't fool around with these kids safety," said tournament chairman Bill McCorkle. "We'd have played through the rain this afternoon, but we couldn't take any chances with lightning.
"I feel sorry for the guys who were in second and third place, because there's no telling what they could have done in the final round," McCorkle said. "It's golf, though. It happens all the time."
This year's tournament format included two full 18-hole rounds June 16 with a shotgun start, followed by a third 18-hole round June 17. It is the same format used by the NCAA for golf.
Timko, who just completed his sophomore year at Warren John F. Kennedy, had an excellent first day. He shot rounds of 69 and 70 on the pair, while notching eight birdies and one eagle during the two rounds.
"I was able to keep the ball in the fairways," Timko said. "Playing 36 holes in one day is a lot, but I just managed to concentrate. This morning, it wasn't too bad because I didn't have to come in early."
Timko said he would love to return next year to defend his title, as did Sullivan, who finished the first day with rounds of 68 and 71.
A soon-to-be senior at Seven Lakes High School in Texas, Sullivan said he hadn't kept his eye on the weather heading into the final round, but had a feeling it wouldn't be completed.
"When it was raining and I saw the water on the greens wasn't soaking in, I figured it wasn't going to be finished," Sullivan said. "I would have liked to have seen it played out, but I'll take the win."
Meanwhile, the girls title proved to be an early birthday present for Lippetz, who turned 15 on June 18. The soon-to-be sophomore at Bradenton Prep by way of Reno, Nev. won the girls title by four strokes over Courtney Hooton of Del Mar, Calif.
Lippetz said June 16 was the first time was the first time in her career she had to play 36 holes in one day, but she adapted well.
"Putting was the biggest thing for me [June 16]," Lippetz said. "I had a lot of clutch putts that went down."
Lippetz' biggest put of the tournament came during the first round on hole No. 10. She rolled in a 30-foot put for eagle to get the early lead.
Lippetz said she would have liked to seen the tournament play, noting she was at one-under par for her round in the fairway at No. 8 when play was suspended.
"I would have liked to have shown I could hold the lead," Lippetz said.
E-mail: mleonard@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3113
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