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By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Sunday, Jun 15, 2008
For Mogadore's Nathan Tarter, the disappointment of 2007 has been followed by the exhilaration of 2008.
Yes, the 30th annual Hudson Junior Invitational will proceed with him, rather than without him.
Tarter, 17, is one of 96 boys and 28 girls entered in the tradition-laden tournament, which will be Wednesday through Friday at the Country Club of Hudson.
His application was approved this year after being rejected last year, despite the fact he had placed second individually in the 2006 Division III state high school tournament.
''I tried to get in last year, but I wasn't invited,'' said Tarter, a senior-to-be at Mogadore High School. ''This year, I guess I played well enough to earn an invitation. It's exciting to be in it. All I can do now is go out there and play the best I can.''
Let it be known that Tarter was not upset about not being invited in 2007. It's not that he doesn't have confidence in his own ability. Rather, he understands the tournament draws skilled and ranked players from all over the country.
''It's the biggest and best junior golf tournament in this area. It's the best competition around, and I know they toughen the course up,'' Tarter said. ''It's a chance to test myself, a real challenge. It's a chance to show me where I am at.''
Tarter has tested himself repeatedly in high school — and with much success. As a sophomore in 2006, he led the Wildcats to the Division III state tournament, where his second-place finish helped the team to a tie for fifth. In the 2007 state tournament, he took fifth as an individual to help Mogadore place fourth as a team.
Those two high individual finishes meant he was named first team All-Ohio both years. He also was named the 2007 Beacon Journal boys golfer of the year.
Of course, those accomplishments can't help him this week in a field of golfers with similar credentials.
''My goal is to win, but that is everybody's goal,'' he said. ''But I know what the competition is. I think I would be satisfied with anything in the top 10.''
Tarter never has played the Country Club of Hudson course, so his game plan generally will be the same as it is in every tournament.
''I have to play my own game. I can't worry about what anybody else is doing. I have to focus on myself,'' he said. ''I have to keep the ball in front of me, let the game come to me and don't force anything.''
The Hudson Junior is part of an important summer schedule for Tarter, because he has no firm college offers yet.
He got off to a strong start earlier this month at Youngstown Country Club by finishing third in an Ohio Amateur qualifier. That put him into the tournament finals July 14-19 at Findlay Country Club.
On Wednesday, he won a stop in the Spitale Junior Series at Sable Creek Golf Course in Hartville. He also plans to play in the 71st annual Good Park Junior on July 9-11.
He said he is hopeful his body of work as a high school and junior golfer will result in college offers soon.
''Right now, I am unsure where I am going and where I will be able to go,'' Tarter said. ''If I can do well this summer and get noticed, maybe something will open up. I would like to know where I am going by the fall [high school] season.''
The Hudson Junior is a 54-hole tournament, with rounds that start at 6:40 a.m. each day. Admission is free.
Ekey qualifies
Kathleen Ekey, a Sharon Center resident and former Walsh Jesuit High School standout, has qualified for the 2008 U.S. Women's Open.
Ekey, 21, who just completed her junior season at the University of Alabama, tied for third place Monday at a sectional qualifier at Skokie Country Club in Glencoe, Ill. She shot a 6-over 150 to claim one of the 84 qualifying spots available nationwide.
The finals of the United States Golf Association event will be June 26-29 at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minn. Most of the field will be made up of LPGA Tour players.
Ekey transferred to Alabama from Furman (S.C.) University for her junior and senior seasons. In May, she tied for 20th place in the NCAA Division I Championships to become an honorable-mention All-American.
She was a three-time Beacon Journal girls golfer of the year (2002-04) for the Warriors. Ekey was state medalist in 2004 and was on two state-championship teams (2002 and 2004).
Wackerly wins in NOPGA
Former Canton resident Paul Wackerly tied for first place in the Northern Ohio PGA's stroke-play series Monday at Westbrook Country Club in Mansfield.
Wackerly, now of Columbiana, and Chuck Radabaugh of Stone Oak Country Club in suburban Toledo, shot 3-under 69s to win $1,050 each.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
For Mogadore's Nathan Tarter, the disappointment of 2007 has been followed by the exhilaration of 2008.
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