Carmel’s Nick Dentino has done pretty well for himself, his school and his city over the past months.
Fresh off individual and team medals at the IHSAA boys state golf meet, the Greyhounds junior-to-be won a significant tournament this past week. Dentino dominated the American Junior Golf Association’s Coca-Cola Junior Championship, which took place earlier this week at Boyne Highlands Resort in Harbor Springs, Mich.
Dentino finished the 54-hole tournament with a score of 209, seven-under par. He got progressively better as the event went on, shooting a one-under 71 in his first round (with five birdies), a two-under 70 in his second round (again with five birdies) and wrapped up play with a four-under 68 in his third round, draining six birdies – a total of 16 for the week.
Dentino’s performance turned heads, and was praised by his high school coach Chard Reid.
“Nick took his game to the next level this season through hard work during the off season and by becoming a more reflective and teachable young man,” said Reid. “He has honestly seemed to get mentally tougher every week, and as a result, he has finished well in big tournaments like the state finals, the state amateur, and now at the AJGA event at Boyne Highlands.
“He is one of the most confident young men that I have ever coached, and he always believes his next shot is going to be great,” said Reid.
Dentino was part of a large Carmel contingent at the Coca-Cola Juniors, including three other boys who all finished in the top 20. Senior Curtis Robertson placed fifth after shooting a 221; that result included a one-under 71 for his first round. Robertson made six birdies in that round and 11 over all three rounds.
Another Greyhounds senior, Nick Frey, tied for sixth with a 222. Frey helped himself out with a three-under 69 for his second round, and totaled seven birdies for the event.
Cole Harris, soon to be a Carmel junior, tied for 16th with a 227. Harris had four birdies for his tournament.
Nels Surtani, a Noblesville resident who will be a sophomore at Park Tudor, tied for eighth place with a 223. Surtani also shot a 69 during his second round, with 11 birdies for the week.
On the girls side, Carmel senior to be Haylin Harris finished third with a 221. Harris had six birdies for her tournament as one of only two Indiana girls at the event. The other was Plainfield’s Kayla Benge, who placed 20th with a 241.
Carmel’s Nick Dentino won the Coca-Cola Junior Championship, which took place this week in Harbor Springs, Mich. (Richie Hall/File photo)