Blake Furgerson of turned an eight-shot deficit after two rounds of the 2008 Northeast Ohio Amateur into a six shot victory, courtesy of a stunning 66-69 finish at Fox Meadows GC in Medina today. Complete results are posted to the NOGA website here. Plain Dealer story here.

Love ‘go for broke’ golf? Skins games across the Northeast Ohio area are in full swing. Here’s where you can get in the game:

- The Monday $100 Big Skins Game at Chippewa GC in Doylestown is turning into a must-play event; it’s pretty routine to get 22+ guys just about every week. This weekly Monday game is open to all, so simply show up prior to the 11:30 start and check in at the pro shop to get into the game. More info here. (SCHEDULE NOTE: the July 14th Monday game will be held at 11 a.m. at Rosemont CC in Fairlawn due to an outing at Chippewa!!)

- The Wednesday $100 Skins Game at Grey Hawk GC in LaGrange resumes this week (July 2), with play starting at 1:30. Another open series, this skins game will now run every Wednesday at Grey Hawk for the rest of the season. Again, no pre-registration required; simply show up, check in and play. $30 golf/cart, $100 skins game entry.

- The Greater Cleveland Skins Game gears up again this Thursday at Pleasant Hills in Chardon at 5 p.m.

- Ironwood Golf Course in Hinckley will run it’s annual July 4th $50 Big Skins Game this coming Friday starting at 10:30 a.m. Again, no pre-reg required; simply show up and play.

Know of other open/weekly skins games or events? Email me the details to spread the word…

– Allen Freeman

Anthony Yacovazzi of Hudson posted six birdies in 14 holes at Sharon Golf Club to cruise to a 4 and 2 finals win over Randy Skorman, winning the 2008 Akron District Golf Association Match Play Championship.

But it wasn’t an easy march to get to the finals for the 21-year old Yacovazzi, as he had to face down some veteran ADGA players over his final two matches.

The two semi-final matches, played at Good Park, pitted Skorman against Larry Horner, and Dave Oates against Yacovazzi.

In the first semi-final match, Skorman used some great long iron play to post two eagles and a birdie in his round, ending the ‘giant-killer’ march of Horner, who had beaten the qualifier medalist and some talented young players to reach the semis. Skorman defeated Horner going away.

In the second semi-final match, Oates jumped out to an early 2-up lead after two holes, but the steady Yacovazzi kept plugging along and tied the match after six holes. Oates had trouble driving the ball in play much of the day and it finally caught up to him on the tenth, as Yacovazzi won that hole to go 1-up. But there was no quit in Oates, as he birdied the 12th to square the match. The match remained square until Oates three-putted the 16th, which ended up as the decisive margin in Yacovazzi’s 1-up win in the semis.

The Match Play win is Yacovazzi’s first individual title in the ADGA. Complete results of all the 2008 matches can be found here.

The ADGA’s next event is the Lazor Memorial 2-Man Better Ball Match Play event. The qualifier for that event will be held at Chippewa GC in Doylestown on Saturday, July 12. Complete details and registration information can be found on the ADGA website.

– Tim Davis and Allen Freeman

Fred Miller of Aurora did a great job of keeping the ball in play on a very windy day, and grabbed his first CGA win of the season at the stroke play event at Gleneagles GC in Twinsburg on Sunday.

Coming off recent knee surgery, Miller posted a 3-over par 39-36=75 to win by one shot over Allen Freeman and Mike Kracker.

Three skins were won on the day: birdie on the par-3 6th by Fred Miller; birdie on the par-4 3rd by Mike Angie; and birdie on the par-4 18th by Allen Freeman.

Freeman’s T2 finish and skin pushed him back to the top of the season-long points list, leading Kory Oslie by 40.

The next Championship Golf Association event is an individual stroke play tournament at Punderson GC in Newbury on Sunday, July 6 at 9 a.m. To enter, visit the CGA website or call 216-556-0219.

Final Results, 2008 CGA Gleneagles Stroke Play Event
Fred Miller   75
Mike Kracker   76
Al Freeman   76
Pat Tyrell   79
Bill Mooney   79
Mike Angie   80
Mike Mintz   80
Mark Ciccarello   80
Kyle Krumlauf   81
Jeff Jenkins   81
Bob DeJulius   82
Tony Ianazone   83
Scott Coe   85
Brian Tischler   85
Joe Denk   86
Steve Tishler   88
Bob Hanley   NC

– Allen Freeman

A bundle of skins were won at Thunder Hill in Week 11 of the Greater Cleveland Skins Game.

Mike Angie grabbed two skins with birdies on the 4th and 6th holes, and in doing so moved up eight spots on the Greater Cleveland Skins Game Leaderboard. Steve Blackburn Sr. captured a skin at number five. For the second playing in a row at Thunder Hill, Paul Kish birdied the tough 7th hole for a skin. George Martin birdied the 8th hole for the final skin of the night. Skins were worth $53.20 each.

Anthony Maenza grabbed the pin shot on #3 and George Martin had the pin shot on #9, worth $47 each.

Steve Blackburn Jr. still leads the Greater Cleveland Skins game but was shut out for the second straight week. Current Leaderboard standings below.

The Greater Cleveland Skins Game moves to Pleasant Hills this Thursday, July 3 starting at 5:30 pm. Green Fees will be $17.50 riding and $10.50 walking. Any players that want to play a “warm up 9 hole round” before the scheduled skins game must call the course first to make such arrangements.

Player are reminded that the Big $60 “Double Down” 9 Hole Skins Game is coming up Thursday, July 24 at Chardon Lakes GC. Only players that have participated at least one time in the Greater Cleveland Skins game can play that night.

Greater Cleveland Skins Game Leaderboard After Week 11
1) Steve Blackburn Jr.   $1113.07
2) Mark Foss   $563.50
3) Paul Kish   $557.80
4) John Niedzialek   $308.33
5) Dave Sotka   $294.83
6)  Brian McGinty   $264.50
7) Geoff Nicely   $236.50
8) George Martin   $229.70
9) Russ Rybka   $201.00
10) Mike Angie   $186.90
11) Corey Iacofano   $168.66
11) Rob Schustrich   $168.66
13) Garry Zehe   $166.50
14) Steve Blackburn Sr.   $162.00
15) Anthony Maenza   $127.00
16) Nick Anagnost   $107.33
17)  Phil Bosc   $103.50
18) Jeff Ettinger   $84.00
19) John Zook   $77.00
20) Al Freeman   $63.00
20) John Distefano   $63.00
22) Jim Lebzelter   $52.50
23) Dan Lanese   $45.50
24) Clff Paxson   $45.50
25) Tom Bond   $45.50

– John Niedzialek

Doug Barber posted a 2-under par 69 at Good Park GC in Akron to take the second round lead in the 2008 Northeast Ohio Amateur. See the Plain Dealer story here. Scores from the NOGA website are here. Rounds 3 and 4 will be played at Fox Meadow GC in Medina on Monday.

– Allen Freeman

Final results from the 2008 Ohio Public Links Mid-Amateur Championship, held at Chapel Hill Golf Course in Mt. Vernon OH, June 23 & 24:

– Allen Freeman

The first week of the $100 Big Skins game at Gray Hawk Golf Club in LaGrange last Wednesday was a resounding success. 17 players and a well conditioned golf course were a great start.

Unfortunately, there will be no event this Wednesday, June 25 due to a previously scheduled outing. But the game will resume next Wednesday, July 2 at 1:30 and will be held every Wednesday thereafter (it’s now booked on their schedule!).

If you are interested in playing in this open skins game, the details are here. See you at Grey Hawk…

– Allen Freeman

See the Plain Dealer story here on the first round of the 2008 Northeast Ohio Amateur Championship, played Monday at Oakwood Country Club. Scores from the NOGA website are here. Round 2 will be held at Good Park GC in Akron on Wednesday.

– Allen Freeman

Week 7 of the Chippewa Monday Night Scratch League was a rain out (actually, a lightning-out). The league picks up again this Monday with regular play.

IMPORTANT NOTE: the NEOHgolf.com email that went out was in error regarding Steak Night. Because of the rain out this past Monday, the First Cash Night/Steak Night has been rescheduled for Monday, July 14th. Mark your calendar and sorry for the email error..

– Allen Freeman