Junior tour wraps up
Sukriti Harjai wins girls division title for second time in three years
This year Sukriti Harjai finished atop the leaderboard that counted the most.
While she shot a 4-for-par 76, finishing one stroke behind Taylor Simoneau, in the final stop of the Niagara District Junior Golf Tour, the strong second-place finish Monday at Beechwood was more than enough to give the 17-year-old from Niagara Falls the overall tour championship.
Harjai, who carded three victories on this year’s tour, finished nine points ahead of Simoneau, 276267; in the final standings in the girls division.
Emily Ward, who edged Harjai by four points for the 2016 tour title, finished third in standings, with 225 points; followed by Susan Leone, 208; Payton Bennett, 153; Emily White; 145; and Sasha Baker.
It was the second junior tour title for the Grade 12 student at Saint Michael Catholic High School and the first since 2015.
Harjai is eligible to return for one more year, while Simoneau, a fourtime winner on this year’s tour; has played out her eligibility and is going to Lake Superior State University on a golf scholarship.
Jack Allan defeated Andrew Noble in a playoff in the boys under-17/ under-19 flight after they finished regulation tied with 75.
Blake McGowan beat Ben MacLean by two strokes to win the Beechwood tour stop in the boys under-15 division, while Isaiah Ellis finished the day eight shots better than Michael Martel among boys 13 and younger.
Overall champions were crowned in four divisions Monday at Beechwood, where the tour wrapped last night with a season-ending banquet.
Ellis, with 293 points; and Sammy Rootes, 276; finished 1-2 in the boys under-13 flight.
Andrew Sartor, 181 points; Martel, 170.5; John Kingdon, 169.5; Hudson Mielko, 141.5; Elliott Christopher, 138; joined them in the ranks of upand-coming golfers on a tour that this year is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
One of largest flights in terms of competitors was the boys under-15 division with 18 golfers in all taking part.
Luke Delgobbo topped the final standings with 259 points. Nolan Piazza, 248 points; MacLean, 211.5; Matthew Martel, 168; Braydn Wark, 163; Blake McGowan, 142.5; Andrew Scott, 142.5; Owen Sarter, 132.5; and Adam Caligiuri, Cameron Kiemele, tied with 131.5; rounding out the top 10.
Piazza entered the season was the defending bantam division champion, while MacLean was overall under-13 champion last year before moving up.