Perry’s Ben Dame and Edgewood’s Annie Johnston both won tournament titles on the Northeast Ohio Juniors Tour last week at Good Park Golf Course.
Dame, a rising senior, shot a 77 to win the high school boys’ A division.
“It was nice,” he said. “I played last year at the GoodPark tournament, and I really enjoyed the course, so it was nice to go back out there this year and actually win at this time.”
After placing third at GoodPark last summer, Dame improved his iron play and hit his driver well enough to lock down the tournament title.
“I feel like my iron play really improved since last year, so just having consistency in that,” Dame said of his round on Wednesday. “I was struggling with the driver earlier this summer, but it just kind of clicked during GoodPark, so that kind of helped because it’s a pretty narrow course. Being able to hit the driver and play was pretty helpful.”
GoodPark was the third NEO Juniors tournament Dame competed in this summer, and he’ll be back on the course on Monday for the Madison Open before taking part in the NEO Championships in July.
After earning second-team All-Chagrin Valley Conference honors last fall, Dame is riding that momentum into a strong summer season.
“It contributed a lot,” Dame said of his fall success. “Having that confidence going in, and knowing I practice a lot, and I feel good with my swing right now, hopefully, I can continue doing that.”
Perry senior Russell Ford shot a 93 to place seventh at GoodPark, and 2021 West Geauga graduate Alex Lavin won the College Men’s division with a 92.
Johnston, a senior, shot a 75 to win the girls’ division.
“It’s very exciting,” Johnston said. “It was a very hot day out, and I just had to use my mindset, stay focused, and just do what I do.”
Johnston approached the 18th hole par-five with a 70, and closed out the tournament with a par.
“Coming down to the 18th hole, I was thinking about it and was getting a little stressed out,” she said. “I was like, ‘If I make a par here, I’ll get a 75, and that’s what I did.”
Johnston, who will join Dame at the Madison Open on Monday, previously competed at Chardon Lakes and will also golf at the St. Denis Tournament on Thursday.
She’s using the summer tour to help prepare her for the final season of her high school career. Last fall, Johnston was named the CVC Lake Division MVP and was a first-team all-conference selection.
“I’m just looking to do good my senior year and finish strong,” she said. “I want to make it back to districts and hopefully get to state. Maybe we can win a district title at our school and get another CVC title.”
