By Bill Potrecz - BP Sports Niagara
Matthew Martel earned brotherly bragging rights, edging younger sibling Michael Martel to capture the boys U19 division at a Niagara District Junior Golf Tour stop Wednesday at Grand Niagara.
The defending champion, who golfs out of Lookout Point, fired a two-under par 70 to defeat Michael by five strokes. Nathan Freure of Sawmill made a late charge to finish second with a 74.
Matthew Martel, who also won earlier on the tour this year at Rockway Vineyards, was aware Michael was in his rear view mirror.
“I had kind of heard from a buddy he (Michael) was a couple over (par) so I was happy for him,” Matthew said. “At that point, it was a four or five stroke gap so I just didn’t want to do anything stupid. I didn’t think anyone was going to be able to catch me so (it was) just play smart.”
Matthew said there is a mutual respect between himself and his brother, who is three years his junior.
“I think most of the time we’re helping each other,” he said. “If it got down the stretch of an event that was very close, it might be a little bit of a different story — there might a little bit of a rivalry — but for the most part it’s just trying to help each other.”
Matthew, a 17-year-old graduate of Notre Dame, said it isn’t uncommon for the two brothers to hit a bucket of balls together.
“I have buddies I golf with a lot but just the convenience of just going pretty well every night, just having someone there to take a swing video or something, it’s really helpful.”
Michael won the first tour stop at Brock last month.
By Bill Potrecz - July 12, 2021
Ben Julie of Sawmill shot 73 to place first in the Boys U13 division Monday at Rockway Vineyards on the Niagara District Junior Golf Tour. Photo by: BILL POTRECZ.
Matthew Martel picked up right where he left off last season.
The defending U19 boys champion carded a one-under par 71 to capture first place at the second stop on the Niagara District Junior Golf Tour at Rockway Vineyards Monday.
“It felt pretty good,” said Martel, who golfs out of Lookout Point. “The course wasn’t playing too, too long so it gave me a chance to hit a lot of irons off tees and keep it in play and then have mid irons or wedges going in.”
The 17-year-old Notre Dame graduate edged out Nathan Freure of Sawmill and Noah LeBrasseur of Players Club (Ottawa) by four strokes for the win.
“Obviously the end goal is to win but I also go there and focus on my game and try to refine anything for more events, whether it be J tour or provincial stuff,” Martel said when asked for his mindset heading into the day.
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Past and present Notre Dame administration are celebrating the announcement that an artificial turf field will be installed at the Welland high school in 2022. Pictured clockwise from the bottom left are vice-principal Kelly Majka, vice-principal Luigi Folinazzo, incoming principal Andrew Boon and retiring principal Ken Griepsma.
By Bernie Puchalski - July 5, 2021
Incoming Notre Dame principal Andrew Boon is delighted the Welland high school will join Blessed Trinity in having an artificial turf field built on school property in the spring and summer of 2022.
The Niagara District Catholic School Board recently announced it would spent $3 million to install the fields. Trustees also approved funding in annual budgets moving forward with a goal of ensuring all eight Catholic high schools in the board have turf fields in the future. As of now, only Saint Paul has a turf field.
“My sister tells me that I have luck that I don’t deserve and I feel incredibly grateful to walk in and get to be part of a process that these guys have worked so hard for for so many years. It is incredibly exciting,” Boon said. “I taught here, I went here, my kids go here and all that good stuff that goes along with it. I feel blessed.”
Retiring Notre Dame principal Ken Griepsma, also a Fighting Irish alumnus, is pleased to see the plan come to fruition.
“This is a long time coming. There was initially a plan in Niagara Catholic to do this a little more quickly but we are very, very pleased that we are having a turf field coming to Notre Dame,” he said. “It is going to a boon for our community. We have all kinds of sports played here and we have a very rich tradition.”
The school’s grass surface has been part of that tradition but it’s time to move forward.
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Today is Notre Dame Grad 2021 Recognition Day! Congratulations to Matthew Roda and Owen Gallagher, the Valedictorian and Salutatorian, and the first two graduates to be recognized today! And our hearts forever, love thee Notre Dame!!
By Bill Potrecz - June 28, 2021
Michael Martel made a winning debut in the under-19 division on the Niagara Junior Golf Tour.
The 14-year-old Lookout Point member fired a two over par 59 to finish first in the opening event on the 2021 tour at Brock Golf.
It is the 29th year for the tour, which also started last season at Brock.
Martel, the defending under-15 boys champion, edged Noah LeBrasseur of Players Club Ottawa by two strokes and Benjamin Hebert of Lookout Point by three.
“I had a GAO (Golf Association of Ontario) qualifier last Thursday (in Guelph) and I didn’t play too well so it was nice to bounce back and just have iron shots and wedge shots,” he said. “I feel like that helped and I’m more dialled in now and back on my game.
“I wasn’t really nervous. I just went in with the mindset of winning.”
Martel, who just finished his Grade 10 year at Notre Dame, is still eligible to play U15 but moved up to test himself against better competition.
“It didn’t feel any extra pressure or anything,” he said.
Martel didn’t have to face older brother Matt Martel, the defending U19 division winner who was away at a GAO event Monday.
“The only thing I’m worried about is when Matt comes back!” Michael said. “He will be back for the next tournament.”
Michael Martel adjusted his thought process playing a short course.
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