By Matt Savoti, Post contributor
On a day that started out drab and dreary weather-wise, Jonathan
Ehlen's golf game began in a similar fashion.
The Ryle junior found himself in a rut, trailing Jerod Cahill by
six shots after just four holes at the Northern Kentucky Junior
Amateur Championship.
Cahill had played the first four holes at 1 under par while Ehlen
was 5 over and seemingly headed for disaster.
But as the afternoon warmed up, so did Ehlen's game.
He shot a 72 to capture his first Junior Amateur championship at
Fort Mitchell Country Club.
''I wanted to win, but I also just wanted to have fun,'' Ehlen
said. ''If I lose, I don't get down myself. I just try to do my
best.''
Ehlen's 2-over-par 72 on the 5,944-yard, rain-soaked course was
good enough for a one-shot victory over defending champion Justin
Jolly and Cahill.
Jolly was declared the runner-up over Cahill because of his
performance on the par-4, 360-yard No. 18 hole. The Campbell County
senior birdied the 18th while Cahill, a junior from St. Henry,
bogeyed the final hole.
In last year's Junior Amateur at Highland Country Club, Ehlen
lost to Jolly by a stroke and finished in a three-way tie for second
place.
Ehlen, who plays out of Triple Crown Country Club, had played at
Fort Mitchell Country Club on one other occasion, shooting a 74, but
that prior experience wasn't doing anything for his game early on.
However, a birdie at the par-5, 472-yard No. 5 hole quickly
changed Ehlen's fortunes and mindset.
''I thought from there it's going to be (better),'' Ehlen said.
''I just got to play my game.''
The 15-year-old played championship-caliber golf from then on,
relying on his short game to shoot 3 under par on the final 14 holes
including 2 under on the back nine.
''I tried to get up and down just about every time,'' Ehlen said.
''Not necessarily in the fairway but anywhere I could have a decent
angle at the green. The rough isn't really that bad out here. Now if
it was higher, then I would have really emphasized getting it into
the fairway.''
In the 17-18 age group, Jolly came back from two strokes down on
the final hole to edge playing partner Pete Voelker by a stroke.
Jolly's birdie on the 18th and Voelker's double-bogey on the hole
made for a three-shot swing, giving the defending overall champ the
title in his age group.
In the 13-14-year-old division, Greg Turcotte won in a playoff
over Clinton Kohls after both golfers shot 80s in regulation.
Ross Sharp was the only golfer in the 11-12-year-old age group to
finish under 100, carding a 92 to claim the top honor, and Jordan
Erlewine posted a first-place finish in the 10-under group with an
86.
On the girls' side, Erin O'Conner shot an impressive 83 to win,
and Meghan Schaefer finished as the runner-up, shooting a 91.
JIM OSBORN/The Post
Junior Amateur champion Jonathan Ehlen taps in a birdie
putt on the 16th hole after almost acing the hole on a fly.
N.Ky. Junior Amateur Championship
AT FORT MITCHELL COUNTRY CLUB
OVERALL WINNER
Jonathan Ehlen 72
17-18 YEAR-OLDS
Justin Jolly 73
Pete Voelker 74
Matt Brungs 78
Michael Kessling 79
Joe Hays 80
Brett Trusty 80
Brett Wilcox 82
Bryan Kreyling 84
Josh Bromley 92
15-16 YEAR-OLDS
Jonathan Ehlen 72
Jerod Cahill 73
John Helmle 75
Jake Halligan 82
Corey Gamm 82
Kyle Moore 85
Bill Warken 85
Jeff Schmitt 87
Scott Buckhout 87
Kyle Schlotman 104
Patrick Corman 141
13-14 YEAR-OLDS
Greg Turcotte 80
Clinton Kohls 80
Michael Schuh 83
Ryan Faulhuber 86
Jarrod Sharp 91
Seth Ganshirt 91
Danny Steedman 91
Jake Coldiron 93
Matt Neal 95
Brian Warken 96
Chad Hudepohl 103
Keith Buckhout 103
Max Norman 103
Josh Carl 106
11-12 YEAR-OLDS
Ross Sharp 92
Jeremy Martin 103
Joey Metsgar 103
Jason Cahill 107
Lukas Gamm 114
Cam Kochler 122
David Setter 128
Justin Niedig 136
10-UNDER
Jordan Erlewine 86
Joe Flanigan 121
GIRLS' 15-18
Erin O'Conner 83
Meghan Schaefer 91
Erica Heiny 95
Deanna Feilen 97
Lauren Relojo 109
