LANCASTER MENNONITE SENIOR SHOOTS 2-UNDER PAR, CLAIMS CROWN AT MEADIA HEIGHTS

Old pal Harold Zeigler was back on his familiar golf beat Thursday, covering the Lanco Junior Amateur championship at Meadia Heights, where Lancaster Mennonite rising senior David Denlinger won it all. Here’s Zig’s story from Friday’s New Era:

Knock on the door hard enough, and sooner or later you’ll break it down.

David Denlinger believes that old saying, and he put it to action Thursday.

The 17-year-old Lancaster Mennonite senior shot a 2-under-par 69 at Meadia Heights to win the 36th annual Lancaster Junior Amateur golf championship.

The win came after he had finished second in his last two local junior tournaments, both within the last eight days.

It seemed like it was only a matter of time until he’d break through.

Thursday, it finally happened.

“It feels good to finally win,’’ Denlinger said. “I thought I might have won at the Host. I thought I might have won at Tanglewood. “It’s just nice to finally win.’’

On July 9, Denlinger shot a 2-under 69 in a Lancaster County Junior Golf Tour event at the Host. It was only good for second, however, behind Andrew Arnold’s torrid 67.

On Monday, Denlinger shot 2-over-par 74 in another LCJGT event at Tanglewood. That got him into a playoff, but he lost to Casey Osborne after going par-par-bogey in a sudden-death playoff.

But the 69 he shot at Meadia on Thursday was three shots in front of the nearest challenger.

Manheim Township senior Austin Wolf finished second with a 72.

Last weekend, Denlinger teamed with fellow Lancaster Mennonite senior Matthew Burkhart to tie for fourth in the Lancaster County Better Ball Championship.

Denlinger said in Friday’s first round he shot 67 on his own ball at Crossgates.

“I’m probably hitting the ball just about as good as I ever have,’’ he said. “And I got the putter working a little bit early on. This was probably one of my better putting rounds. My speed was really good.’’

Denlinger’s round included five birdies and three bogeys. He hit just eight fairways but 14 greens in regulation. He needed just 30 putts and didn’t three-putt.

It could have been better. He almost holed a 20-foot chip for eagle on the par-5 11th hole, tapping in for birdie. And he missed a 30-foot putt for birdie on the par-4 12th hole.

Still, he was 4-under-par through 16 holes, enough to endure bogeys on the last two holes.

“I think I just played a little too tentative coming in,’’ Denlinger said. “I was pretty sure I had the lead. Other than the last two (holes), it was one of my best rounds of the summer.’’

There were 58 boys in the championship field, and none could have appreciated the victory more so than Denlinger.

His dad, Deryl, is a two-time Lancaster Amateur champion who idolizes the local county championship events. And David grew up watching his dad’s respect for the local tournaments.

Still, he said he treated the Lanco Juniors “pretty much like a junior tour event.’’

He might not have been aware that the past champions include the co-head pro at Augusta National, home of the Masters (John “J.J.’’ Weaver), three others who are now professionals (Shawn Hall, Zach Amole and Joe Staffieri), and current NCAA Division 1 players Gregg Hostetter, Brandon Detweiler and Zak Drescher.

Maybe more impressive is who never won the Lanco Juniors — Jim Furyk.

“It feels good because I haven’t really won anything in the county,’’ Denlinger said. “It’s good to finally come through. This doesn’t really matter much for college, but (it did) for confidence reasons.’’

CHIP SHOTS: For winning, Denlinger got a $175 pro shop gift certificate and a wrist watch. … Manheim Township sophomore Alex Palmer had a hole-in-one on No. 2, which played to 157 yards. He hit 8 iron for his first ace. “Perfect, best shot I hit all day, obviously,’’ said Palmer, who finished with a 78. “It was flushed, right on the pin.’’ … Ephrata sophomore Lauren Smith shot 86 to win the girls’ division, although there were only four competitors in the field.