The 20th Portage County Matt Mishler Junior Portage County Amateur was reduced to a one-day tournament at Raccoon Hill Golf Course after having to cancel the first day due to torrential rains that blanketed the county on Tuesday.
But the delay was worth the wait as Wednesday was a beautiful day to play golf and the juniors took advantage of the conditions.
Champions were crowned in five divisions.
It was a Morgan family takeover in the Boys and Girls 16-19 age division.
BOYS 16-19
James Morgan, on his way to play golf for Walsh University in the fall, landed at the top of the division, firing a 76 on the tight fairways of Raccoon Hill. Morgan was in a tie with Brett Epple of Streetsboro at the end of the 18-hole round but won a two-hole playoff, carding a birdie on the second hole.
Sammy Morgan, James Morgan’s sister, a junior playing for the Southeast Pirates this golf season, fired a 93, coming off the 70 she fired at Avon Oaks to take the runner-up spot in the Ohio Girls Golf Foundation tournament on Monday.
Joining Morgan and Epple in the top three was Brock Thiry of Mogadore, carding an 84 on the Par 71 fairways of Raccoon.
GIRLS 16-19
Sammy Morgan was joined by Aubrey Byler (100), a member of the Kent Roosevelt Lady Riders, as well as Southeast Pirate Jenni Mix (103). Morgan and Mix, two best friends, are looking forward to defending their Mahoning Valley Conference Championship this season.
13-15 DIVISIONS
In the 13-15 year old divisions, two Southeast Pirates continued the strong showings at the Junior Amateur. Mason Dillon won the Boys Division, carding an 84, and Emily Morrison fired an 86 to win their age groups.
The top three in the Girls 13-15 included Morrison, Mia Turner, a Kent Roosevelt golfer carding an 89, and Kent golfer Rosalina Chavez finishing 18-holes with a 106.
Runner-up in the Boys 13-15 was Austin Dietz of Tallmadge, 90, with Logan Blankenship, also a Southeast Pirate, taking third, 92.
BOYS 12 & UNDER
The youngest group of competitors, age 12 and under, found Gerren Waesch at the top of the leaderboard. Waesch, of Rootstown, fired a 54 to edge Landon Roberts of Rootstown (65) into second place.
The Matt Mishler Junior Portage County Amateur, just concluded its 20th season and is a staple on the Portage County Amateur calendar as one of four events sponsored for golfers.
Title sponsors include Portage Sports, the Fairways at Twin Lakes and Birdie Shack.
FINAL RESULTS:
20th Portage County Matt Mishler Junior Portage County Amateur
Raccoon Hill Golf Club, Kent
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
*One round due to rain-out at Sunny Hill Golf Course, Brimfield, on the first day
BOYS 16-19
James Morgan, North Benton 76 **won in playoff
Brad Epple, Streetsboro 76
Brock Thiry, Mogadore 84 **third from scorecard playoff
Sully Evans, Green 84
Chase Filomena, Copley 86
Max Simone, Mogadore 86
Trevor Flarida, Atwater 88
Nate Gaskin, Akron 89
Nathan Waesch, Rootstown 92
Anthony Pratt, Ravenna 92
Max Shannon, Mogadore 95
Mason Long, Atwater 95
Landon Wiant, Akron 96
Drew Just, Rootstown 103
Noah Hopkins, Mogadore 107
GIRLS 16-19
Samantha Morgan, North Benton 93
Aubrey Byler, Kent 100
Jenni Mix, Diamond 103
Jessi Mix, Diamond 105
Makenna Ward, Kent 106
Colbie Kruger, Kent 109
Kristen Dillon, Rootstown 123
BOYS 13-15
Mason Dillon, Rootstown 84
Austin Dietz, Tallmadge 90
Logan Blankenship, Rootstown 92
Jayden Eichler, Atwater 96
Liam Miller, Rootstown 98
Joe Miller, Ravenna 98
Sam Klem, Ravenna 98
Dillon Roberts, Tallmadge 125
GIRLS 13-15
Emily Morrison, Ravenna 86
Mia Turner, Kent 89
Rosalina Chavez, Kent 106
BOYS 12 AND UNDER
Gerren Waesch, Rootstown 54
Landon Roberts, Rootstown 65
