McDonald rising senior Michael Porter shot a 8-under, 64, on Tuesday at Avalon Lakes in the final qualifier of the ‘Joe’ Dickey Electric Greatest Golfer juniors season.

McDONALD — Heading into this week, McDonald rising senior Michael Porter knew he had to put in a lot of work on the golf course.

He hadn’t been playing well all summer and between a few different golf tournaments, Porter was going to be playing a lot of golf. He wanted to be ready.

“I really put in a lot of work,” Porter said. “I’ve been playing like 27 holes a day, including a range session, and I think it really helped me get to where I need to be.”

It sure did.

On Tuesday, in the final qualifier of the ‘Joe’ Dickey Electric Greatest Golfer juniors season at Avalon Lakes, Porter put together the best round of his young golf career when he fired a Greatest-record-low, 8-under, 64, to put himself in perfect position to defend his title leading into the Greatest Golfer junior championships this weekend.

“It was a great day, it was crazy,” Porter said. “I probably played the best I ever have. Everything worked. I think I missed two greens in regulation and I even missed like four putts inside of 10 feet. But, I also made a lot of putts outside of 20 feet.”

With birdies on holes 2, 4, 5, and 6, and an eagle on No. 3, which is a 490-yard par 5, Porter shot a 6-under, 30, on the front nine and followed it up with a 2-under, 34, on the back nine to finish off the day.

Porter said it was a day where everything seemed to go well, but added that he was feeling a little tight after his morning range session, so he was a little nervous going into the first two holes. A par and birdie to start his round settled him down before his eagle on No. 3 really got him going.

Then, a 25 to 30-foot birdie putt on No. 4 gave him a lot of confidence heading into the rest of the round.

Now, Porter will turn his attention to the Greatest Golfer junior championship this weekend and he’s feeling good as he prepares to defend his title.

“It’s a pretty big confidence booster,” Porter said about his round on Tuesday. “I haven’t played nearly as great as I wanted to all summer. But this round really helps. I know I can go low. A 64 might be hard to follow up but hopefully I can shoot somewhat decently.”

The junior championships on Friday and Saturday – the first round will be played at Squaw Creek on Friday and the second round will be played at Avalon Lakes on Saturday – are the conclusion of the Dickey series which was 10 events for boys and girls ages 15-17 and 12-14 from May to July at some of the Youngstown area’s top family-owned courses.

The top qualifiers will compete this weekend to take home the top spot.

Porter will compete against Chaz Ekoniak (Struthers), Blake Hood (Alliance), Caleb Domitrovich (McDonald), Luke Eyster (Beaver Local), Bryce Van Horn (JFK), Ryan Sam (Boardman), Zack Ross (Moon Twp.), Nathan Kelly (East Liverpool), Dom Kapics (Fitch), Nolan Williard (Canfield), Rocco Turner (Mooney), Connor Daggett (Canfield), Luke Rupeka (JFK), and Paul Litrenta (Neshannock) in the boys u17 Joe Nohra Insurance division.

The girls u17 Magnolias on the Green division will include Ava Liburdi (Hickory), Alyssa Rapp (Mooney), Jayne Bernard (Mooney), Madison Murphy (Canfield), Luciana Masters (Hickory), Kaitlyn Hoover (Wilmington), McKenzie Gustas (Hickory), Jocelyn Zhao (Canfield), Zoey Fick-Mills (Boardman), Jackie Kinnick (Canfield), Sam Calderone (JFK), Matilyn Zines (United Local), Daniella Patrone (Ursuline), Madalyn Rauzan (Ursuline) and Shaylee Muckleroy (West Branch).