LOCALS FINISH PLAY AT NYS JUNIOR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS (24 PHOTOS) (July 27, 2022)

Southern Tier Sports Report
HORSEHEADS — Corning’s Lucia Chen had a top 20 finish, as locals had a strong day during the final day of the New York State Junior Golf Championships.

Chen finished 16th in the girls’ 18u Championship, shooting a two-day total of 160 (+18). Chen shot an 82 on Wednesday after a 78 on Tuesday.

Chen’s two days included a hole-in-one on Tuesday during the opening round on the sixth hole.

Chen was one of two Corning Painted-Post golfers in the girls’ field. While Chen graduated this year, Delaney Abel is the youngest golfer in the girls’ field. The 11-year-old shot a 95 after an 89 the first day for a two-day total of 184 to finish 29th.

Abel was second among 12-and-under golfers and Chen was first among 18-year-old golfers in the field.

On the boys size Zach Locke of Horseheads finished in a tie for 44th after a strong second day. Locke shot 75 on Wednesday, after an 83 the first day, for a two-day total of 158.

Locke had three birdies during Wednesday’s round and shot a 35 on the front nine.

Locke tied for the 17th best round of the day with his 75.

Corning’s Luca Neally struggled on Tuesday with a 90, but followed that up on Wednesday with a 79 and finished tied for 66th with a two-day total of 169. Corning’s Will Davis finished 69th at 171. He had an 86 on Wednesday after an 85 on Tuesday.

Neally shot a 37 on the front nine on Wednesday, birdying back-to-back holes on the second and third holes, and also birdying 16.

Locke was 8th among all 18 year-old golfers and Neally was 13th. Davis was 23rd among 17 year-olds.

Jack Berl of Victor won the boys’ competition with a two-day total of 1-under 141. He shot a 68 on Wednesday to pace the field.

Jacob Olearczyk of Barneveld won the boys’ 14-under tournament with a two-day total of 142. He shot a 72 on Wednesday after a one-under 70 on Tuesday.

Sophia Li of New York City won the girls’ tourney with a two-day total of even-par 142-. She shot back-to-back even par rounds.
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IN TOP PHOTO: Corning’s Delaney Abel. . . PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES