Olszewski pulls away

Mike Olszewski watches a tee shot Tuesday during the MCJGA Billy Vahldieck McHenry County Junior Amateur at Boone Creek in Bull Valley. He won the senior boys division by four strokes. (Travis Haughton – thaughton@nwherald.com)

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BULL VALLEY – All Mike Olszewski wanted to do Tuesday in the final round of the
MCJGA Billy Vahldieck McHenry County Junior Amateur was stay safe and keep the ball in play.

Olszewski accomplished his goal, and the results were spectacular.

The Cary resident hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation and shot a 3-under-par 68 to finish at 4-under 138 for a four-shot win against first-round leader Jake Arden in the senior boys division of the McHenry County Junior Golf Association event.

“I didn’t really do much,” Olszewski said. “I just tried to put the ball in the middle of the green and make my two-putts. Seeing red numbers on the scoreboard is always a plus.”

He said his secondary goal was to get the lead as early as possible.

“I wanted to get ahead and stay ahead and just keep my foot on the pedal,” Olszewski said.

In the junior boys division, first-round co-leader Jerry Pan of Cary shot a 69 to finish at 3-over 145 for a five-shot win against Patrick Biewald. Mickey Evans Jr., who was tied with Pan to start the day, finished six shots back.

“I didn’t come here with any big expectations, so this is a big moment,” Pan said. “Lately, I have been practicing a lot, so this is a pretty good reward for all of that hard work.”

Pan also won the 15-and-under division of the McHenry County Tennis Classic on July 11.

The senior girls division was won by Barrington’s Laura Palarz, who shot a 4-over 40 on the front nine to finish at 12-over 83 and win by five shots against Huntley’s Katlyn Anderberg.

“I was able to hit fairways real well off the tee,” Palarz said. “I was putting pretty well, too. When I would hit a green, I was able to get up and down. I didn’t feel any pressure. I just told myself to focus and play my own game.”

Marian Central’s Claire Castetter shot a 9-over 44 on the back to finish at 14-over 85 and hold off Danielle Roulo by one shot to win the junior girls division.

Things got interesting when Castetter bogeyed the 17th hole, but she parred the 18th to win. Castetter said the situation almost got to her.

“There was a lot of pressure; it was good to make it,” Castetter said. “It feels good to win. It’s the first time I had ever won an event here.”

The event is named after Vahldieck, a former MCJGA member who died last year. A scholarship program was set up in Vahldieck’s honor with former Woodstock player Jamie Hagen, who finished fourth in the senior boys division, and Crystal Lake Central co-op’s Sarah Mieth each being awarded $1,000 college scholarships at the conclusion of the tournament.