Boling looks for new stroke

Updated: August 5, 2011 7:10PM

Harry Boling sought out tougher competition on the golf course this summer, but the Hinsdale Central senior hasn’t been able to produce low scores.

Boling has spent much of the summer competing in the elite American Junior Golf Association, which features junior golfers from all across the country and even some international golfers who spent their summers in the United States before returning home.

The top player in this summer’s AJGA boys rankings is recent high school graduate Jordan Spieth from Dallas.

Boling, a Hinsdale resident, has traveled to Cleveland, Vermont, Minnesota and Indiana to play golf this summer.

“I was very impressed by Cleveland,” Boling said. “It does not deserve the reputation that it has attained. It’s a beautiful city.”

Boling competed in his last tournament of the summer in July and will spend the next week before tryouts begin Aug. 10 looking at colleges. He has already visited Dartmouth.

He has tried to rebuild his golf swing with teaching pro Connie DeMattia at Cantigny Golf Club in Wheaton.

“The primary thing is to swing a little more on a plane,” Boling said. “I have a tendency to come inside or underneath (the ball). It promotes a good-sized draw.”

He hopes to find his swing in time for the high school season opener.

After struggling during the summer, can Boling suddenly turn it on in the fall?

The Red Devils’ season opener is the Oak Park-River Forest Invitational Aug. 16 at Willowcrest Golf Club in Oak Brook.

“I’m very excited. I haven’t produced well in July or June, but in August I’ll be ready for the start of my season, I think,” Boling said.

The competition in the AJGA is stiff, as Boling discovered.

“The kids in the AJGA are the kids who want to go to Oklahoma State,” Boling said. “It’s a different tier.”

This summer was a contrast to last summer when Boling was one of 10 golfers named to the All-Midwest Team for the Mid-American Junior Golf Tour.

The team was named in November.

The selections included eventual Class 3A state champion Nick Robles from Crystal Lake South, Schaumburg resident Kenny Wienckowski, a member of St. Viator’s 2009 state champions, and sophomore sensation Doug Ghim of Buffalo Grove, who currently ranks second to Glenbrook North sophomore Nick Hardy in the MAJGT’s current point standings.

Boling’s average score on the MAJGT last summer was 77.89. His point total of 585 ranked fifth on the tour.

He won the MAJGT’s 54-hole Great Lakes Invitational last August and finished in the top six in four of his final events last summer.

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