Independence’s Mark Pillar prepared for his senior season of high school golf by earning a spot in a prestigious national tournament later this year.
Pillar won a regional tournament held at Mill Creek Golf Course in Boardman on July 20-21 and will compete in the 2023 Notah Begay Junior Golf National Championship in Kinder, La., in November.
“It’s super exciting,” Pillar said. “I went into the tournament thinking I had a shot to win it, but there was a lot of good competition. I was just trying to do my best and after the first day I was second, so I knew I could do it.”
Pillar carded a 68 on Day 2, two strokes behind the first-day leader.
He closed out the tournament with an impressive 66 to win the tournament by four strokes.
“The last day, I couldn’t miss,” Pillar said. “I missed six greens, but I got up and down every single time. I ended up with one bogey, and I don’t want to be mad at that. It’s hard to be mad with a 66.”
A two-time state qualifier, Pillar placed fourth as an individual at the 2022 OHSAA Division III state championships.
Since then, he focused on stepping up his game for one final run at a state championship this fall.
“In the winter, I just hit at my house and got some lessons, but over the spring and summer I had a few tournaments,” he said. “I’ve been practicing a lot.”
Winning the Notah Begay regional was a great way for Pillar to kick off his senior season in two weeks.
“There’s definitely some nerves because it’s my last season and I don’t want to mess up, but I’m excited,” he said. “I’m feeling good about my game right now.”
Pillar and the Blue Devils kick off the 2023 season on Monday, Aug. 7 at the Chagrin Valley Conference preseason tournament at Pine Hills Country Club.
