In first
Damore, Dragons on top after win at Beechwood GC

Warren Dragon golfers competing at Beechwood Golf Club on Monday included, from left, with head coach Nate Sandberg, Conner Zaffino, Reid Olsen, Braddock Damore, Johnny Palmieri, and Brady Berdine. Photo submitted to Times Observer
FAIRVIEW — Warren is atop the Region 6 golf standings after two mega matches. After a second-place finish to open the season, the Dragons won Wednesday’s seven-team Region 6 Mega Match at Beechwood Golf Club.
Warren senior Braddock Damore — among the top-ranked Pennsylvania golfers in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) — earned medalist honors at Erie High’s home course with an 18-hole 73, leading the Dragons to a first-place team score of 318. McDowell was second at 320, Meadville third at 322, Cathedral Prep finished with 334, Hickory 341, Erie 353, and Corry 398.
“We showed we can compete for the region title and I like where we are at,” said Warren coach Nate Sandberg. “But we still have five more region matches to go, so we need to keep focusing.”
Damore’s 73 bettered McDowell’s Jack Mucha by three strokes.
“Going into this season, I felt very confident as I played well this summer in multiple tournaments, and I was very motivated to get the team practicing hard,” said Damore, who has an early goal to compete among the best golfers and teams in District 10 and the state.
“I believe there is a lot in the tank,” said Damore. “I feel the start I’m having is an average start for me. I have shot lower scores this summer and I’m looking to go lower and lower this season, but I do believe I still have a lot of work to put in because I am trying to chase perfection and I am still far from it.”
The other three scoring Dragons improved upon scores from Monday’s season-opening mega match. Senior Brady Berdine shot an 80, junior Reid Olsen carded an 82, and senior Johnny Palmieri an 83. Olsen improved eight strokes from his 90 on Monday.
Region 6 Mega Match (Beechwood Golf Club)
WARREN (318): Braddock Damore 73, Brady Berdine 80, Reid Olsen 82, Johnny Palmieri 83.
McDOWELL (320): Jack Mucha 76, Ethan Bock 79, Bryce Peterson 80, John Ferretti 80.
MEADVILLE (322): Robert Mahoney 77, Alex Burgess 79, Chris Costa 82, Philip Pandolph 84.
PREP (334): Connor Laird 78, Cooper Wierzchowski 79, Evan Calvert 87, Nik Blanchard 90.
HICKORY (341): Grady Kapusta 79, Owen Hamelly 82, Luke Ference 89, Adam Scott 91.
ERIE HIGH (353): Eli Nicklas 80, Dominic Facassi 85, Joe Salamon-Bocianowski 92, John Sinnott 96.
CORRY (398): Jacob Gantz 90, Kamdyn Moon 96, Gavin Munsee 99.
Region 6 standings: 1. Warren 13, 2. Meadville 12, T-3. McDowell 9, T-3. Cathedral Prep 9, 5. Hickory 7, 6. Erie 4, 7. Corry 2.