MIAMISBURG, OH (April 21, 2024) – Ross Dietz of Botkins, OH & Lorna Zhang of Plain City, OH claim the 2024 Miami Valley Junior Championship crowns in their respective divisions after 36-holes at Pipestone Golf Club this April.
Ross Dietz captured the overall championship title in addition to the Boys 16-19 Division. Dietz saw success on day one posting a score of three-over-par 75 to sit one stroke off the lead of Jack Hutcheson. Closely behind Dietz and Hutcheson were Noah Andry and Mitchell Sargent. Sargent and Andry finished play on day one tied for third after rounds of five-over-par 77.
Day two saw the wind lessen and conditions primed for scoring. Plenty of players took advantage of this change. Ross Dietz kept his foot on the gas going the full round without making a bogey. Dietz carded four birdies en route to a bogey free, four-under-par 68. Noah Andry played steady on day two to claim the silver medal and Mitchell Sargent rounded out the top-3 for the boys 16-19 division.
Lorna Zhang captured the overall championship title in addition to the Girls 16-19 Division. Zhang closed play on day one alone in second place, trailing Eva Becceril by four strokes. Becceril used three birdies to card a score of one-over-par 73, the lowest score on day one for both boys and girls. Ellie Ryu sat in third place after an opening round six-over-par 78.
Lorna Zhang came out steady on day two, making par on her first five holes before a birdie on hole 6 jump started her round. A back-nine total of one-under-par 35 propelled Zhang to the top spot after an even-par 72 on the closing round. Eva Becceril finished her day off strong but fell just one stroke short of Zhang to claim the silver medal. Ellie Ryu battled hard all day long to post her second consecutive round of six-over-par 78 to round out the podium.
Brody Hayes captured the top spot in the Boys 13-15 Division. Hayes made three birdies during the opening round to finish the day in the top spot with a two-over-par 74, tied for the best round of the day out of all of the boys. Four strokes behind Hayes was Elijah Stewart. Stewart played a steady round all day to finish at six-over-par 78. One stroke behind Stewart was Lucas Massa. Massa picked up his first win of the year at last weekends Lancaster Jr. Open and rode the momentum from that win to get him within striking distance heading into Sunday’s final round.
Brody Hayes came out firing in Sunday’s final round making three birdies on his first nine holes to turn at three-under-par 33. Hayes would go on to finish his round with an even-par-72 and an eleven stroke win. Elijah Stewart and Lucas Massa stayed neck and neck all day long with Stewart just edging out Massa for second place by two strokes. Massa would finish in third place, claiming his second medal of the season in as many starts.
Isabella Anderson captured the Girls 13-15 Division title. Anderson ended day one with a three stroke lead over Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble. Adella Pawlowski, Mallory Quickel, Taylor Stringfield, and Olivia Donovan were all within 8 strokes of Anderson’s lead heading into the final round.
Day two saw nine of the eleven competitors in the girls 13-15 division improve on their scores from round 1! Isabella Anderson would grow her lead to eight strokes thanks to a final round three-over-par 75 to earn a gold medal. Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble improved by four strokes on day two to earn a silver medal. Mallory Quickel and Adella Pawlowski ended up in a tie for third place on the weekend.
In addition to earning SOPGA Jr. Tour Player of the Year points, the top 20 juniors in each overall division also earned points towards the new Ohio Junior Series creating a pathway to Team Ohio. Team Ohio is a new collaborative effort run by the Amateur and Professional golf associations in Ohio. The Greater Cincinnati Golf Association, Northern Ohio Golf Association, Northern Ohio PGA, Ohio Golf Association, Miami Valley Golf Association and Southern Ohio PGA have come together to establish a pathway for junior golfers from Ohio to work their way towards the U.S. National Team without having to leave the state. Click here to learn more.
Click here for all Miami Valley Junior Championship scores.