Playoffs decide junior tour winners
Home-course win gives St. Catharines member Sukriti Harjai fourth win on Niagara tour
Playoffs were needed at the latest stop on this year’s Niagara District Junior Golf Tour before a winner could be declared in two divisions.
In each case a familiar face ended Sunday’s tournament smiling in the winners circle at St. Catharines Golf.
Luke Delgobbo of Fonthill carded his third victory of the season in the boys under-15 flight after shooting a 1-over-par 72 and finishing regulation in a three-way tie with Ben MacLean of Niagara-onthe-Lake and Nolan Piazza of Niagara Falls. Nolan was seeking his fourth tour victory this season and his second in a row.
Isaiah Ellis of Smithville defeated John Kingdon of Grimsby in a playoff after each carded a 10-overpar 82. Finishing one back of the co-leaders after 18 holes was Sammy Rootes of St. Catharines, who was seeking his third win in a row and fourth overall.
The win was Ellis’ fourth tour win of the year.
In the girls division, Sukriti Harjai of Niagara Falls put together nines of 38 and 36 for a 2-over-par 74, and a two-stroke victory over Alexis McMurray.
It was the second straight tour win and fourth of the summer for the 17-year-old St. Michael Catholic High School student who plays out of the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club.
Harjai, who finished second by two points to Willodell’s Kayla Burke for the overall tour championship in 2016, also has wins at Rockway Vineyards, in the season opener; Willodell and Sawmill this year.
A first-time winner emerged in the boys under-17 and -19 flight at the St. Catharines stop. Vincent DiCosimo of Niagara Falls shot 74 and beat Ben Simmons by one stroke.
Proceeds from the second-tolast stop on the Niagara District Junior Golf Tour, which this year is celebrating its 25th anniversary, benefitted the Kristen French Child Advocacy Centre Niagara.
Final tour stop is Monday at Beechwood, where the seasonending banquet will be held.
Following are the top five from Sunday’s St. Catharines Kids Golfing for Kids event:
Under-17, under-19 boys: 1. Vincent DiCosimo, 37-37=74; 2. Ben Simmons, 36-39=75; Jason Maloney, 37-28=75; 3. Eric Baranoski, 36-40=76; Skip Athoe, 3838=76; Rein Zeinka, 37-39=76.
Girls: 1. Sukriti Harjai, 38-36=74; 2. Alexis McMurray, 37-39=76; 3. Susan Leone, 38-39=77; 4. Megan Miron, 39-40=79; 5. Taylor Simoneau, 39-41=80.
Under-15 boys: 1. Luke Delgobbo, 35-38=73, won playoff; 2. Ben MacLean, 36-37=73; Nolan Piazza, 37-36=73; 4. Matthew Martel, 38-39=77; 5. Brayden Wark, 4137=78.
Under-13 boys: 1. Isaiah Ellis, 41-41=82, won playoff; John Kingdon, 44-38=82; 3. Sammy Rootes, 41-42=83; 4. Hudson Mielko, 4344=87; 5. Matthew Martel, 4146=87.