Marinell, Dougherty defend Henke/Berg
In the 16-year history of the Nolan Henke/Patty Berg Junior Masters Golf Tournament, only George McNeill has won back-to-back titles in the boys’ 16-18 division.
McNeill, who won in the first two years of the tournament in 1993-94, has since gone on to a career on the PGA Tour.
Cape Coral’s Chase Marinell, 17, has a chance this week to equal McNeill’s accomplishment. He will defend the title he won last year in the boys’ 16-18 division when the tournament begins Wednesday morning at Cypress Lake Country Club in Fort Myers.
Marinell is one of 55 players competing in the three-day, 54-hole event divided into three divisions – boys’ 13-15, boys’ 16-18 and a girls’ divisions.
There are 25 players in the boys’ 16-18, including Grant Burgess and Tyler Doyle from Cape Coral.
“This is the first time in the 10 years I’ve been doing this that the 16-18 division has outnumbered the 13-15 division,” tournament director Robin Albright said. “It’s a competitive field.”
Marinell, who is entering his senior year at Bishop Verot High School, actually has won titles the past two years.
In 2007, he fired an opening-round 69 and cruised to victory in the boys’ 13-15 division. He moved up to the 16-18 division last year and buried a 30-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to edge Alex McMahon of Naples.
Marinell sank five birdies over his final nine holes to force the playoff.
Cape Coral’s Miko Dougherty, 17, returns to defend her title in the girls’ division.
She also won in dramatic fashion last year, erasing a four-stroke deficit over the final four holes to edge Stephanie Carlozzi of Naples by one stroke.
Gina Falvey and Kaitlin Schafe of Cape Coral are among the players contesting for the girls’ division title.
The boys’ 13-15 division figures to be wide open. Jake Sherwin, Dylan Hinkle, Kyle Schulte, Anthony Myers and Daichi Dougherty of Cape Coral are among the participants.
Players begin teeing off at 7:50 a.m. Wednesday. Round two is Thursday and the final round on Friday.
Wednesday’s First-Round Pairings
Girls
9 a.m. (front No. 3) – Mallory Viera (Howey in the Hills), Miko Dougherty (Cape Coral), Kristen Koonce (Naples).
9:10 a.m. (front No. 3) – Gina Falvey (Cape Coral), Marcy Koonce (Naples), Georgia Price (Fort Myers).
9:10 a.m. (back No. 3) – Naina Sharma (Fort Myers), Katie McLaughlin (Naples), Kaitie Cross (Alva).
9:20 a.m. (back No. 3) – Emily Yi (North Fort Myers), Kaitlin Schafe (Cape Coral).
Boys 13-15
7:50 a.m. (front No. 2) – Jake Sherwin (Cape Coral), Malcolm Oliver (Rotunda), Samuel Murphy (Fort Myers).
8 a.m. (front No. 2) – Dylan Hinkle (Cape Coral), Jonathan Lowrey (Fort Myers), Garrett Lee (Fort Myers).
8:10 a.m. (front No. 2) – Ryder Albright (Fort Myers), Kyle Schulte (Cape Coral), Eric Briggs (Fort Myers).
8:20 a.m. (front No. 2) – Robert Butler (Estero), Nicklaus Carley (Fort Myers), Daniel Jones (Fort Myers).
8:30 a.m. (front No. 2) – Sean Mazzola (Estero), Harrison McClimans (Clearwater), Ryan Denish (Fort Myers).
8:40 a.m. (front No. 2) – Anthony Myers (Cape Coral), Kyle Baker (Fort Myers).
8:50 a.m. (front No. 2) – Daichi Dougherty (Cape Coral), Brandon Meyer (Lehigh).
Boys 16-18
7:50 a.m. (back No. 1) – Phillip Boljanovich (Naples), Airik Medinis (Fort Myers), Justin Summerville (Fort Myers).
8 a.m. (back No. 1) – Mike Andre (Fort Myers), Grant Burgess (Cape Coral), Ben McMahon (Fort Myers).
8:10 a.m. (back No. 1) – Chase Marinell (Cape Coral), Jack Hernandez (Fort Myers), Matt Taylor (Naples).
8:20 a.m. (back No. 1) – Tyler White (Palm Harbor), Alex Felice (Fort Myers), William Kuhn (Fort Myers).
8:30 a.m. (back No. 1) – Austin Lee (Fort Myers), Tyler Doyle (Cape Coral), Travis Wise (Fort Myers).
8:40 a.m. (back No. 1) – Ethan Hanson (Fort Myers), Reeves Dignam (Fort Myers), Joe Mazzola (Estero).
8:50 a.m. (back No. 1) – Garrett Melida (Alva), Wyler Gins (Fort Myers), Fabian Hostettler (Fort Myers).
9 a.m. (back No. 1) – Garrett Farmer (Estero), Matt Burtch (Fort Myers), Dylan Hanson (Fort Myers).