CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hinckley's Jessica Porvasnik finished second by one stroke in a tournament held at Duke University over Thanksgiving weekend. She lost to Christina Ocampa, from Delray Beach, Fla. Afterwards, the Floridian told Porvasnik she could not believe she was from Ohio.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hinckley's Jessica Porvasnik finished second by one stroke in a tournament held at Duke University over Thanksgiving weekend.
She lost to Christina Ocampa, from Delray Beach, Fla. Afterwards, the Floridian told Porvasnik she could not believe she was from Ohio.
"How do you practice this time of the year?" Ocampa wanted to know.
So it goes when you are an elite junior golfer from Ohio. Make no question, Porvasnik is an elite junior golfer. The sophomore at Highland had the best season of any player in the area by far in 2010 and is The Plain Dealer's Girls Golfer of the Year.
"I hit balls [into a net] and practice putting in my basement," said Porvasnik, in response to the question. "And I go to the Golf Improvement Center."
Frequently, indoor golf is about as good as it gets.
How good was Porvasnik during the season? Consider:
• She hit greens in regulation 77.5 percent of the time.
• She found the fairway with nearly 62 percent of her drives.
• She averaged 33 putts per round.
• She won eight tournaments, including the Division I sectional and district and she was the state runner-up with rounds of par 70 and 77 on the Gray Course at Ohio State.
• Her scoring average was 73.5 for 18 holes and 36.4 for nine.
Porvasnik, who helped Highland to a fourth-place finish, said she was satisfied with the way her season went but felt it could have been better. The Hornets will not have to make many lineup changes, as they lose just one senior.
"We all felt we could have done better," she said. "We're all going to work hard this off-season."
Even if it will be indoors.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: trogers@plaind.com; 216-999-5169
GOLFER OF THE YEAR
Jessica Porvasnik
Highland
Sophomore
College: Undecided.
Notable: Her runner-up finish in the Division I state tournament was the best by an area player and her scores of 70-77 made her the only sophomore in the field of 72 to finish in the top 15. She was the medalist in eight of 11 events, including the sectional and district tournaments. She hit 77.5 percent of greens in regulation and averaged 73.5 in 18-hole events.
OTHER ALL-STARS
Brynn Fitzgerald
Orange
Junior
College: Undecided.
Notable: Posted her second top-10 finish in the past three years in the Division II state tournament when she shot rounds of 73-79 at Ohio State's Gray Course to tie for third. Posted the second-lowest score by an area player in either division. Medalist in 12 of her 13 dual matches and at the Padua, Mentor, Walsh Jesuit invitationals and the Punderson sectional.
Natalie Goodson
Hudson
Senior
College: Kent State.
Notable: Her eighth-place finish in the Division I state tournament 76-78 capped a terrific senior season and sparkling four-year career. Was the player of the year in the Northeast Ohio Conference for the second year in a row and a three-time state qualifier. Posted the lowest score in the 11-year history of the Ashland Invitational at Brookside with a 1-under 70 and also shot 1 under to win the sectional at Gleneagles.
Nicki Henry
Kenston
Senior
College: Eastern Kentucky.
Notable: The only repeater on this team, and she leaves Kenston as the best player in school history. She shot 75-78 to finish third in the Division I state tournament -- her second top-10 finish -- and earn All-Ohio honors for the second year in a row. Won the Chagrin Valley Conference tournament and was medalist in the sectional tournament at Tamer Win Golf Course with a score of 75. Owns every school record, including low rounds of 36 and 67.
Ashley Yarbrough
Hathaway Brown
Sophomore
College: Undecided.
Notable: She was the Blazers' number one player all season and played that role to perfection in the Division II state tournament when she posted the team's best rounds and led it to an astonishing 23-stroke victory. She was eighth overall with scores of 77-78 on the Gray Course. She averaged 82.4 strokes during the season and was fourth in the sectional.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Paul Barlow
Hathaway Brown
Notable: Recently completed his 11th season and his team got better as the year wore on. It won the Northeast Ohio Independent School Girls Golf League title for the first time and was second in the Division II district tournament before steamrollering the field in the state tournament, tying the record for the lowest score of 658 and winning by 23 shots. It was Barlow's second state championship in eight months as he also coached the school to the state basketball championship.