HUDSON: Any successful athlete will tell you a proper mindset is necessary to go along with physical ability.
Jessica Porvasnik, 16, tries her best to stay focused on the golf course.
Porvasnik, who will be a senior at Highland, continues to “play the course and not the competitors” and as a result is still atop the leaderboard of the 33rd annual Hudson Junior Invitational girls golf tournament.
Porvasnik shot a 3-over-par 75 Wednesday and coupled with a 74 on Tuesday leads the tournament at the Country Club of Hudson with a 149.
“I had three birdies [on Nos. 4, 9 and 15],” Porvasnik said. “It wasn’t too bad of a round. I still didn’t hit my driver very well. I am hoping to fix that by [today]. I played solid again, but I took a double-bogey on No. 17.”
Porvasnik, a Hinckley resident, has a 3-stroke lead over Cincinnati’s Fai Khamborn (78-74–152) as the field of 50 girls concludes the three-day tournament.
Ryan Troyer of Dover leads the 34th annual Hudson Junior Invitational boys golf tournament, which consists of 94 players, with a 1-under-par 143. Troyer shot a 73 Wednesday after posting a 70 Tuesday.
Rocky River’s Matthew Gerard (74-70) and Dublin’s Brady Bohl (70-74) are tied for second at 144 with Seth Sweet (71-73) of Madison, Maine.
The girls are playing from the gold tees, and the course is 2,957 yards. The boys are playing from the blue tees, and the course is 3,452 yards.
Walsh Jesuit junior Chase Johnson, 16, carded a 76 Wednesday and combined with his 73 Tuesday, he is tied for seventh in the boys standings at 5-over-par 149.
“I honestly felt like I played better than my score showed,” Johnson said. “I hit 13 out of 18 greens. I just couldn’t make a putt [Wednesday]. I missed nine straight birdie putts on the back nine and 10 in a row overall counting No. 9. If I can get some of those putts to fall, I might be able to come back and win.”
Johnson, a Barberton resident, is tied with Dayton’s Alec Tahy and Jake McNulty of Port Perry, Ontario.
Stow junior Ian Holt carded a 70 Wednesday after posting an 82 Tuesday. He is the only local player in a seven-way tie for 17th with a 152.
Porvasnik said she hit 12 out of 18 greens in regulation Wednesday. She carded rounds of 69, 73 and 76 last year to win the Hudson Junior Invitational title with a 2-over-par 218.
Jackson sophomore Landrie Grace (77-79) is tied for sixth at 156 with Avon Lake’s Nikolette Schroeder (78-78).
Kent State University Director of Athletics Joel Nielsen and his wife, Sharon, watched their daughters Kasey, Kelly and Kory compete. Kasey and Kelly are 15-year-old twins, and Kory is a 13-year-old.
Nielsen said he is leaving today to travel to Omaha, Neb., to watch KSU’s baseball team in the College World Series.
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com.
