The first “big field” event of the year will take place this Saturday, May 3rd as the Akron District Golf Association kicks off its 2008 season with a 2-player Better Ball at Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Links.

48 teams are currently registered for this event! Groupings and starting times are now posted.

Last minute teams can register online at the ADGA website or can call the ADGA voicemail at 440-848-8364 and leave a message. Teams will be put on a waiting list and entered into the field if space is available.

This is what tournament golf in Northeast Ohio is all about – great golf course conditions, strong competition, a big field and a great prize pot…

–Allen Freeman

Norton Brick of Elyria has begun his post-hip-surgery comeback in style, winning the Championship Golf Association event on Sunday, April 27 on a challenging Pine Hills GC layout.

Brick posted a 1-over par 35-38=73 to edge Brian Smith by a stroke.

The greens at Pine Hills were firm and fast, and with a steady wind and some tricky pin positions, Brick’s round was a great show of patience.

Smith jumped out to a big lead with a great front-9 score of 4-under par 32, but a triple-bogey 7 on hole 14 and three other bogeys derailed his back nine for a 42.

Complete scores and skins winners can be found at ChampionshipGolf.org

The CGA will host a newly announced individual stroke play event at Spring Valley Country Club in Elyria on Sunday; sign up at the CGA website or call 216-556-0219.

– Jeff Jenkins

SCAGA played its second event of the season, a Two-Man Scramble at Zoar GC on Saturday, April 26.

The event was won by the team of Boo Blakeman and Dave Fruedeman with a score of 12-under par. Three teams tied for second place with scores of 9-under par.

There were two Big Skins worth $205 each: the team of Jeff Stormer and Mike Hercheck made birdie on #13, and Vince McDonald and Erin Kossack chipped in for eagle on #17.

The next event is a Two-Man Scramble at The Fairways of North Canton on May 10. Complete results and other information can be found at SCAGA.com.

1. Boo Blakeman - Dave Fruedeman 60 - $400.00
2. Tom McBride - Charlie Minnochio 63 - $140.00
2. Vince McDonald- Erin Kossack 63 - $140.00
2. Dave Oates- Sam Spino 63 - $140.00
5. Scott Weekley - Troy Schonover 65 - $40.00
5. Mark Thomas - Dennis Morena 65 - $40.00
7. Richie Shembechler - Dean Bricker 67
8. Dave Cutlip - Brett Walchak 68
9. Mike Patton - Bob Ferencz 70
10. Jack Marsick - Chris Wright 71
10. Tim Davis - Mike Armour 71

– Dave Oates

The birdies were flying this past Thursday, April 24 at Little Mountain Country Club with 24 players competing for the $720 pot.

Skins were won by Brian McGinty with a birdie on the 480 yard par 4 10th hole, Geoff Nicely with birdie on the 12th hole, and Steve Blackburn Jr. with a birdie on #15.

The skins were worth $184 each. Pin shot winners were Dave Jeff Ettinger on #12 and Dave Sotka hitting it 8” from the hole on #14, each worth $84 each.

The race for the “Thompson Cup” is on and last year’s Greater Cleveland Skins Game Champion Dave Sotka has made his way to the top of the leaderboard after Week 2 in 2008. Current standings below.

The Greater Cleveland Skins game moves to Pleasant Hills this Thursday (May 1) starting at 5:00pm. Green Fee rates at Pleasant Hills will be $17.50 riding and $10.50 walking. Any players that want to play in a “warm up 9 hole round” before the scheduled skins game must call the course first to make such arrangements.

2008 CLEVELAND SKINS GAME LEADERBOARD:
1) Dave Sotka $187.50
2) Brian McGinty $184.00
3) Geoff Nicely $184.00
4) Steve Blackburn Jr. $184.00
5) Garry Zehe $166.50
6) Phil Bosc $103.50
7) Paul Kish $103.50
8) Jeff Ettinger $84.00
9) John Niedzialek $63.00

– John Niedzialek

Steve Zimmerman grabs 3 out of the 9 Skins made in the opening Championship Golf Association event at Greyhawk GC in LaGrange:

Zimmerman, Steve (Hole 3; Score: 3) 
Oslie, Kory (Hole 6; Score: 3)   
Kracker, Mike (Hole 7; Score: 4)   
Zimmerman, Steve (Hole 8; Score: 3) 
Thompson, Tom (Hole 11; Score: 2)  
Wilson, Scott (Hole 12; Score: 3)  
Oslie, Kory (Hole 13; Score: 2)   
Zimmerman, Steve (Hole 15; Score: 3) 
Denk, Joe (Hole 17; Score: 2)   

The next event is an individual stroke play event this Sunday at Pine Hills. Players can sign up at ChampionshipGolf.org

– Jeff Jenkins

The Stark County Golf Association kicked off its season this weekend with a Two-man Best Ball at Glenmoor Country Club. The AA event was won by the father-son team of Richard and Richie Schembechler with a 3-under par 69.

The next event is a Two-man Scramble at Zoar on Saturday. For more information, please visit SCAGA.com.

– Dave Oates

The race for the “Thompson Cup” has begun with the Greater Cleveland Skins Game opening its 18th season last Thursday at Fowlers Mill Golf Course. Eighteen players participated with a $540 pot.

Garry Zehe of Madison wasted no time vaulting to the lead by capturing a skin and pin shot for a total of $166.50 for the day. Garry birdied the 190 yard 3rd hole at Fowlers Mill for the double-dip.

A total of 4 skins were out, each worth $103.50: Phil Bosc with a birdie on #1; Zehe with birdie on #3; Greater Cleveland Skins Game Champion Dave Sotka with a birdie on #8; and Paul Kish with a birdie on # 9.

John Niedzialek also made his way onto the leaderboard with a pin shot winner on # 7 worth $63.

The Skins game moves to Little Mountain CC this Thursday, April 24 starting at 5:30pm. The course has been gracious enough to give Greater Cleveland Skins Game participants a special $20 green fee which includes the cart. Any players that want to play in a “warm up 9 hole round” before the scheduled skins game must call the course first to make such arrangements.

2008 CLEVELAND SKINS LEADERBOARD
Garry Zehe - $166.50
Phil Bosc - $103.50
Paul Kish - $103.50
Dave Sotka - $103.50
Jon Niedzialek - $63.00

– John Niedzialek

The 2008 Cleveland Skins Game series begins this Thursday at Fowlers Mill GC in Chesterland. Details on the league, its events and entry fees can be found using the Greater Cleveland Skins Game link in the left column, under Scratch Golf Leagues.

Players looking for a “warm up nine” should show up at the golf course around 2:30, so as to finish in time for the 5 p.m. start of the league. Make certain you mention that you are playing in the skins game when you check in, so that you get the discount 18 hole rate as a league player.

The weather is supposed to be great (sunny and 68 degrees!) so a large field is expected. Get out to Fowlers Mill Thursday; it will be a great way to kick off the season…

–Allen Freeman

The 2008 Championship Golf Association season kicks off this Sunday, April 20th with a $20 Big Skins Game at the challenging Greyhawk GC in LaGrange.

The season continues with a number of great events at the best public golf courses in Northeast Ohio. The 2008 CGA Schedule:

Sunday April 20 - Greyhawk GC, LaGrange - $20 Big Skins
Sunday April 27 - Pine Hills GC, Hinkley - Stroke Play
Saturday May 10 - Turkeyfoot GC, Akron - 2 Man Scramble
Sunday May 18 - Eagle Creek GC, Norwalk - Stroke Play
Sunday May 25 - Fowlers Mill GC, Chesterland - Stroke Play
Sunday  June 1 - Ironwood GC, Hinckley - Stroke Play
Sunday June 8 - Sugarbush GC, Garrettsville - Stroke Play
Sunday June 22 - The Quarry, East Canton - Modified Stableford
Sunday June 29 - Gleneagles GC, Twinsburg - Stroke Play
Sunday July 6 - Punderson GC, Newbury - Stroke Play
Sunday July 13 - Windmill Lakes GC, Ravenna - Stroke Play
Sunday July 20 - Chippewa GC, Doylestown - Stroke Play
Sunday Sept 14th - Fairways of N Canton - $40 Big Skins Blowout
Sunday October 5 - Little Mountain GC, Concord - Stroke Play

Entry fees are $25 for the event pot and $10 for skins, plus greens fees and cart fees. A yearly membership or 1-day non-member fee is required. 

Players can register for any of the CGA events online here or can call the CGA Hotline at 216-556-0219. 

–Allen Freeman

The season-opening Stark County Amateur Golf Association 2-Man Better scheduled for this Saturday has been postponed and rescheduled due to the poor weather forecast for the weekend.

The event will still be held at Glenmoor Country Club, but the date has been moved to Sunday, April 20th.

Players interested in competing in that event should visit the SCAGA website for complete entry information.

–Allen Freeman