Another week of junior golf action left us impressed with some of the fine young players we have in our borough.
The Jody?s Classic was as interesting as any adult golf tournament we?ve witnessed in some time. The boys and girls who tuned up with the North Central Kiwanis Junior earlier this month took it a step further with improved scoring as well as some fine shotmaking in rather uncomfortable weather.
Even Jody Haggerty, who has been promoting the event for years, was impressed.
?Did you ever see such good swings on all four of the semifinalists in the senior boys? division?? he asked.
Haggerty was referring to Jesse Clemente, Jack D?Anna, Paul Blanchard and Brent Fredericksen, who grinded out the final holes of very tight matches.
There?s no doubt that today?s juniors hit the ball much longer than their predecessors, despite modern golf courses being irrigated and not rock-hard as they were decades ago allowing an extra 50 yards of roll. Sure, modern clubs and golf balls contribute to added distance, but today?s young players are exposed to better teaching and more competition.
Congratulations to Jack D?Anna, Tom Brasco and Taylor O?Halloran on winning their divisions of the Jody Classic. ?
?PARENTS ASSIST? ?
We must tip our hat to the parents of the junior golfers. They are the ones running the taxi service, filling out entry forms, making sure the young men and women are dressed properly and encouraging them when needed.
There?s a big difference in parent participation in golf and other sports. Baseball, football, soccer and basketball parents watch all of the action and sometimes expressing (in some cases, over-express) their opinions of the action.
However, golf parents only see their kids tee off the first and 10th holes, return on the ninth and 18th. In the meantime, moms and dads are left with hours of wondering how it?s going out there and how to fill the time between.
Sue Stuto of Bulls Head has been a ?golf mom? for many years and has as many golf miles on her car as Pan Am. She began when her oldest son, Joseph, 26 and now a Penn State Medical School graduate, got the golf bug. Then it was Alan, 23 and also in med school, who made all of the junior events in that age bracket and kept mom busy behind the wheel.
Steven is 21 and currently playing the No. 1 spot on St. Francis College golf team so you know that he was raised on a golf course.
?All of the boys did quite well in tournament competition and I always enjoyed being there,? Sue said.
?My husband Joe and I played regularly when we were first married, but as the family grew, our game was cut to an occasional outing.?
She?s not finished yet because 13-year-old twins Mark and Stephanie are teeing it up in junior contests.
?I?ve been all over to courses and golf ranges for MGA, PGA events ? even to Myrtle Beach,? Sue Stuto said. ?If it?s a really long day I?ll look for a place to kill time shopping or something, but I have no regrets.? ?
MORE PARENT TALES? ?
One of the strongest young female players to come along in years is Taylor O?Halloran. Her dad, Tim, is the person behind the wheel.
?I really enjoy it,? said Tim, who has a full-time business in West Brighton. ?Have made trips to many courses I never heard of in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Long Island.
?I like being there and we often make it a ?family day out? by taking the family (including wife Cindy, daughter Madison and son William). On some occasions we make it an overnight stay. I often feel the pressure just watching Taylor compete, but I love being there and I think all of these kids are great sports.?
That Taylor recently turned 18 and now drives her own car may present a dilemma for dad, but we?re sure he?ll find a way to be in that gallery when she tees it up. ?
COMING EVENTS? ?
The junior boys and girls will now take to the practice rounds and turn the courses over to the adults for the SIWGA Classic at South Shore on July 19 and the Staten Island Men?s Amateur qualifying rounds at the same course on July 20 and 21. Junior golf will resume with the Bob Lowney Junior at RCCC on July 23. ?
OUTINGS? ?
-- The Susan E. Wagner High School Football Program annual golf outing is at LaTourette this Thursday with a shotgun start at 7 a.m. and followed by a buffet luncheon at the Staaten. Call Coach Incontro at 718-983-5190 for additional information.
-- The Notre Dame Club will stage its annual golf outing on Aug. 5 at Silver Lake with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. The format will be ?Captain and Crew? and the post golf outing luncheon will follow at the Staaten. Golf and reception is $135; Golf only is $75 and reception only is $60. Call Bob Newman (917-566-1755) or Bill Magnuski (718-964-3380) before July 26 for reservations.
-- St. John?s University Alumni will hold its 34th annual Staten Island golf outing at Richmond County CC on Aug. 12 honoring Joseph Borrino (?90 CBA), Hon. Daniel M. Donovan Jr. (?78 NDC) and Daniel D. Rubino, Esq. (?79 NDC), (?82L). The day will begin with registration and breakfast at 9:30 a.m. Tee time for the modified scramble event will be 11:15 a.m. and then settle in with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. Dinner, auction and raffle will take place at 6:30 p.m. To register and pay online visit www.stjohns.edu/sigolf. ?
Source: http://www.silive.com/golf/index.ssf/2013/07/golf_coloumn_junior_golf_--_a.html
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