The annual RDGA Junior Championships concluded Tuesday, July 19, at Wild Wood Country Club, with champions crowned in three age-based divisions for both boys and girls.
In the RDGA Boys Junior Championship (for players ages 15 to 18), 16-year-old Connor Kiel jumped out to an early lead on Monday with a score of 1-over-par 72. In Tuesday’s second round, Kiel slipped a little – finishing with a 4-over-par 75 – but was able to hold off a strong challenge from runner-up Tyler Stark, who posted the low round of the Championship, an even-par 71, on Tuesday. Kiel, whose father is Midvale CC Head Professional and past RDGA District champion Mike Kiel won the 2022 title by one shot at 5-over-par 147.
In the RDGA Girls Junior Championship (for players ages 12 to 18 competing over 36 holes), another first-time RDGA Junior champion was crowned – 13-year-old Harper Dittman. The consistent Dittman posted back-to-back rounds of 6-over-par 78 for a 156 total to stay just ahead of runner-up Ava LaBelle, who had rounds of 79 and 81 to finish 4 shots back at 160. For Dittman, a veteran of the Local U.S. Kids Golf Tours each spring and fall, this was her first RDGA Championship title of any kind.
In the RDGA Boys Sub Junior Championship (for players ages 12 to 14), one third of a family threesome of golfers entered into this year’s RDGA Junior Championships stood out among his fellow competitors. 14-year-old Barrett Paolini, whose twin sisters Reagan and Reese were also entered into this year’s Championships, posted rounds of 79 and 74 to finish at 11-over-par 153 to claim his first RDGA Championship title by 9 shots over runner-up Tyler Burcett. Paolini was also the youngest player to make the 36-hole cut at the 2022 RDGA District Championship last week at the Country Club of Rochester.
The RDGA Girls Sub Junior Championship (for players ages 12 to 18 competing over 18 holes) witnessed a veteran RDGA title winner capturing her third RDGA Championship at just 12 years of age. Emily Zigrossi – sister of four-time RDGA Girls Junior and Pee Wee champion Julia Zigrossi – posted 9-hole scores of 43-46 for an 18 hole total of 89 to finish 8 shots ahead of Destiny Jodoin. In so doing, Zigrossi accomplished something that her sister never did – win a title in both the Pee Wee and Sub Junior Divisions.
Speaking of the 10-year-old Paolini twins – Reagan and Reese Paolini finished 1st and 2nd, respectively, in the RDGA Girls Pee Wee Championship (for players ages 7 to 11). Playing 9 holes each day, Reagan posted back-to-back 44s for an 88 total. She finished 6 shots ahead of her sister Reese (who posted scores of 46-48 for a 94 total) to become part of the first brother-sister duo to win RDGA Junior titles in the same year.
In the RDGA Boys Pee Wee Championship, 10-year-old Maksym Babak took charge of the competition, posting back-to-back 9-hole scores of 37 for a 74 total. Babak outpaced his nearest competitor, Jack Durbin, by 42 shots to claim his first-ever RDGA Championship title.
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