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2003 Player of the Year Announced It's always nice to see young people rewarded for their accomplishments, especially when they are truly deserving. This year's Junior Golf Association Player of the Year winner fits the description perfectly. Patricial Monroe, a senior at Portage Central High School, is the winner of the honor, and she earned it. She won all three 15-17 age group events conducted by the JGA. Monroe won at Thornapple Creek with an 89, at The Moors with a 90 and the two-day championship at Eastern Hills and Milham Park with a pair of 78s. "She's really deserving of the award," said Mitch Wilson, Monroe's coach at Portage Central. "She's worked hard and really developed her game the last several years. "Patricia's probably one of the toughest competitors I've had the pleasure of coaching. I know she's looking forward to a great senior season in both volleyball and golf." Monroe said she is currently working out to get in shape for volleyball, but her golf clubs are always near. "I always keep them in my trunk, just in case I want to play," she said. "I've been playing golf ever since I can remember. We live at The Moors and I grew up on the second hole." Monroe played mostly at No. 1 or No. 2 for the Mustangs, who finished 11th in the state tournament last spring. She said she didn't play very well at state and would like the chance to redeem herself. "I consider myself a serious player," Monroe said, "but one that likes to have fun." Monroe wasn't the only player to have a good year in the JGA ranks. Chris Nooney won the two-day championship with rounds of 73 at Eastern and 75 at Milham. Lee Keselowski was second (75-74), won at Thornapple with a 75 and shot 78 to finish eighth at The Moors. Brandon Lemons was fifthe in the two-day tourney (76-75), tied with Brock Boven for first at The Moors with a 74 and was second at Thornapple with a 77. Boven shot 75 and 77 in the two-day event and wound up sixth and was seventh at Thornapple with an 82. In the 13-14 age group, Jeff Bronkema won three of the four tournaments. He had a 75 at Pine View, 77 at Ridgeview and 69 at Hickory Ridge. Mike Colleran won at Stonehedge North with a 76, was second at Pine View (76) and runner-up to Hickory Ridge (71). Those are just a few of the good players on the junior circuit here, and that bodes well for the future of the game in this area. -reprinted with permission from John Block and the Kalamazoo Gazette
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