This past week, several local junior golfers really proved themselves on a big stage with strong performances in the AJGA’s Northwestern Mutual Financial Network – Blumberg Group Junior Classic.

The tournament was held at Richter Park Golf Course in Danbury, Conn., and both Brewster’s Mike Miller and Mahopac’s Marisa Kamelgarn each finished in second place in their respective boys and girls divisions.

Miller nearly caught winner David Zhang of South Glastonbury (Conn.) with a sparkling 3-under 33 on the back nine (he shot 69 for the round), highlighted by ramming in a 40-foot birdie putt on the final hole. Zhang responded with a par, however, to win the event by a stroke with a 5-under total of 211.

As you can see by the scores, the quality of play was outstanding. That shouldn’t be a surprise though since AJGA events attract the best in junior golf and this tournament was no different with the field being peppered by golfers from all over the country and beyond.

Rye’s Mark Mumford finished third at even par and Cortlandt Manor’s Jon Renza, who had a stretch of five straight birdies in his final round of 70, finished tied for 8th.

I was so impressed by the beauty of the public course that I enlisted fellow Journal News team member Eric Lebowitz to make a run up there with me on Monday to play. Unfortunately, we ended up waiting around in the clubhouse for over an hour while watching a torrential downpour outside that was supposedly “just passing through.”

We did get a chance to check out all of the articles on the tournament, though, including the story I wrote for Saturday’s paper. The Danbury NewsTimes did a terrific job covering the event and since Brewster is in there coverage zone, the wall essentially became an ode to Miller.

The rain may have stopped us once, but we will get back out to this beautiful track again. I’ll let you know if its worth the drive and the $85, but after seeing most of the course, I’m pretty sure it will be.