Marinell wins third Jr. Masters
Cape Coral’s Chase Marinell has tested his golf game all over the map this summer.
Marinell, 17, battled tough conditions, and missed the cut, at the recent U.S. Junior Amateur in New Jersey, and the busy schedule left some doubt about whether he would play – and defend his title – in the 17th annual Nolan Henke/Patty Berg Junior Masters golf tournament at Cypress Lake Country Club.
“This is where I started out when I was learning how to play,” Marinell explained. “This course has been good to me and I’m going to keep playing as long as I can.”
Donning his traditional final round pink attire, Marinell delivered yet another dazzling performance Friday. He fired a tournament-low 68 to win his third straight title at the Henke/Berg Junior Masters.
Two years ago, Marinell cruised to victory in the 13-15 division. He returned last year and won his first title in the 16-18 division, rallying with five birdies in his last nine holes. He made one more on the first playoff hole.
In Friday’s final round, Marinell began the day two strokes behind Bishop Verot High School teammate Jack Hernandez of Fort Myers, but set the tone immediately with back-to-back birdies on his first two holes (Nos. 10-11).
He sank his fourth birdie on the front nine with about a 45-footer on No. 18, giving him the lead at the turn.
Marinell said playing in a lot of big tournaments has helped him become more comfortable under pressure.
“When (the pressure) gets bigger, I seem to play better,” he said.
Despite Marinell’s play, Hernandez, 16, remained close until a double bogey at No. 5. Marinell made birdie on that hole, resulting in a pivotal swing with four holes left.
Marinell carded rounds of 72, 71 and 68 to finish with a 5-under-par 211.
Hernandez shot a 75 Friday, which followed his second-round 69, and finished five strokes back at 216. Englewood’s Jaime Veloz took third place with a 221.
Marinell becomes the second back-to-back winner in the 16-18 division, joining Fort Myers resident and PGA player George McNeill, who won consecutive titles in 1993-94.
Catherine Cartwright (’96-97), Gennifer Mendez (2005-06) and Adam Stavich (’02-03) each won back-to-back titles, and Alexander Medinis won in both the 13-15 and 16-18 division. Marinell, though, is the first to accumulate three victories.
Marinell is entering his senior year at Bishop Verot and plans to continue his career in college at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.
Marinell said he’ll play in the Henke/Berg again next year, his final year of eligibility.
He added that this victory comes at a good time, after some mixed results during various tournaments the last few months.
“It’s been an up-and-down roller coaster,” he said. “This helps ease the pain.”