Posts from — July 2008

Three-time top-3 finisher Jerry Miller grabbed the first round lead of the 2008 Senior Cleveland Amateur Championship at Big Met Golf Course today, posting a smooth 2-under par 70.

Miller leads by one over Steve Bedell and Ward Watkins heading into Saturday’s final round.

The field is tight, as 17 players are within four shots of the lead, including defending champion and three-time winner Norton Brick at 74.

The first round scores are posted below, listed in reverse order so as to provide the Saturday Groupings and Starting Times:

2008 SENIOR GREATER CLEVELAND AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round Scores: Saturday, July 19, 2008 at Big Met Golf Club
Listed in Order of Final Round Pairings;  ** = ages 60 – 70, ## = ages 70+

– Mike Raby & Allen Freeman

2008 Women’s Greater Cleveland
Amateur Golf Championship

Manakiki Golf Course, Willoughby Hills
First Round Scores, Friday, July 19, 2008

Listed in Order of Groupings & Starting Times:
9:45    Bruell, Frederique    74
9:45    Stupiansky, Jillian    76
9:45    Boney, Mollie    78

9:30    Kocin, Lisa    78
9:30    Caldwell, Paige    80
9:30    King, Caroline    80

9:20    Suleiman, Amy    82
9:20    Merk, Lizzy    83
9:20    Lambert, Hannah    85

9:10    Powell, Lois    96**
9:10    Joyner, Brenda    97
9:10    Rihtar, Blaze    97
Levi, Rachel    WD

** Hole in One on #11 – Lois Powell!

Final Results: 57th Tigertown Open
Friday, July 18, 2008
The Elms Country Club, Massillon
6,722 yards, par-72; 6,167 yards Seniors

. . .

John Niedzialek and Steve Blackburn Sr. split the pot at Pleasant Hills this Thursday at the Greater Cleveland Skins Game.

Blackburn Sr. showed his son how to do it while moving up five spots on the leaderboard with his birdie skin on the 6th hole.

John Niedzialek received a “gift skin” with a par on the 8th hole! Each skin was worth $84.

Paul Kish and Cliff Lawrence split the pin shot money with $36.00 each.

Steve Blackburn Jr. still leads the Greater Cleveland Skins Game in his quest for the Thompson Cup, but was shut out for the fifth straight week.

The mid-season classic everyone has been waiting for is next! This Thursday, July 24 at Chardon Lakes GC, it’s “Double Down Night”, where all the stakes will be doubled! The cost to enter the 9-hole tournament will be $60 plus green fees ($21.00 riding and $15.00 walking). Please note that only players that have participated at least one time this season can participate in the Double Down event. The Double Down event will begin at 5:00 pm; 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.

Greater Cleveland Skins Game Leaderboard Through Week 14
1) Steve Blackburn Jr.     $1110.27
2) John Niedzialek     $874.50
3) Paul Kish     $693.46
4) Mark Foss     $563.50
5) Dave Sotka     $294.83
6) Mike Angie     $286.56
7) George Martin     $268.20
8) Brian McGinty     $264.50
9) Steve Blackburn Sr.     $242.00
10) Geoff Nicely     $236.50
11) Russ Rybka     $201.00
12) Corey Iacofano     $168.66
13) Rob Schustrich     $168.66
14) Garry Zehe     $166.50
15) Anthony Maenza     $127.00
16) Nick Anagnost     $107.33
17)  Phil Bojc     $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
26) Cliff Lawrence     $36.00

– John Niedzialek

Some tournaments coming up in the next few days, as Summer 2008 works through July:

- the Cleveland Skins Game heads to Pleasant Hills this Thursday;

- the big Tiger Town Open runs this Friday at The Elms in Massillon;

- the Women’s & Senior Cleveland Amateur go this Friday and Saturday;

- the CGA plays an individual stroke play event at Chippewa on Sunday;

- Thunder Hill GC in Madison hosts a 2-Man Cash “Black Tee” Scramble Sunday;

Check the Tournament Calendar for a complete listing of all Greater Cleveland and Akron golf events…

– Allen Freeman

On a perfect evening for golf, the Monday Chippewa Scratch League moved north to the well-conditioned Rosemont Country Club in Fairlwan for its “jumble” format and first cash/steak night of the season.

The team of Dave Oates and Sam Spino took the night’s top honor, winning by two shots over Mike Armor and Dave Trier in the 12-hole scramble / better-ball / aggregate / alternate shot format. Results and skin winners listed below.

Oates and Spino significantly padded their position in the season-long points race with the win; updated totals here.

As always, kudos to league CEO Kevin Larizza and his talented staff for the great meal, the well-conditioned golf course and a skillfully managed event.

Week 9 – 7/14/08: Jumble Cash/Steak Night, Rosemont CC 
1st   Spino – Oates 56  $430.00 
2nd   Armour – Trier 58  $100.00 
3rd   Mallette – Kracker 59 (SC)  $ 50.00 

Skins: $290 ea
Niskanen – Thompson #7  $290.00 
Weaver – Weaver #10  $290.00 

Sr. Skins: $30 ea
Niskanen – Thompson #1 & #7 
Weaver – Weaver #2 & #10 
Markham – Skorman #8 
Kline – Kline #17

– Allen Freeman

The Lazor Memorial Fourball Match Play is down to the final eight teams, after a weekend of qualifying and early round matches at Chippewa GC in Doylestown.

Teams playing in a 2-man better ball format qualified last Saturday to determine bracket placement; qualifying results are here. The Lazor bracket is here (although not yet updated).

The remaining teams will play as follows this Saturday, July 19 at Chippewa:

- Chris Minear / Rich Slivinski  vs.  Aaron Crewse / J. Covert (9:52 am)

- Dean Cutlip / Randy Skorman  vs.  Jim Cea / A. Yacovazzi (10:00 am)

- M. Considine / C. Clemente  vs.  Tom Stiller / Mike Armour (10:07 am)

- Dave Oates / Vaughn Snyder  vs.  Tim Davis / Larry Horner (10:15 am)

After the winner of each quarterfinal match is determined, the semifinal matches will be played that afternoon, matching the top two and bottom two brackets as listed above. The 36-hole final match will be held Sunday morning at Rawiga CC.

– Allen Freeman

Chris Okeson of Novelty posted a 1-over par 71 at a water-logged Windmill Lakes Golf Course on Sunday to win the Championship Golf Association stroke play event there. Okeson won by three shots over Brian Smith of Amherst.

A heavy early morning rain and a starting time delay reduced the field to the truest of die-hards. Scores and skins below.

With his second place finish and a pair of skins, Smith moves to the top of the season-long CGA points list.

The CGA moves to Chippewa GC in Doylestown next Sunday, July 20 for another individual stroke play event. To enter, visit the CGA website or call 216-556-0219.

2008 CGA Results, Windmill Lakes Stroke Play Event
Okeson, Chris    34 – 37 = 71
Smith, Brian    37 – 37 = 74
Jenkins, Jeff    37 – 40 = 77
Thomas, Mark    39 – 38 = 77
Oslie, Kory    41 – 38 = 79
Angie, Mike    42 – 38 = 80
Tyrrell, Pat    39 – 42 = 81
Coe, Scott    41 – 42 = 83
Mooney, Bill    41 – 42 = 83
Selzer, Adam    40 – 43 = 83
Ciccarello, Mark    40 – 44 = 84
Intorcio, Domenic    43 – 41 = 84
Simoniello, Mike    44 – 44 = 88
Krumlauf, Kyle    53 – 48 = 101

SKINS:
Smith, Brian (Hole: 3  Score:  3)
Angie, Mike (Hole: 4  Score:  4)
Okeson, Chris (Hole: 6  Score:  3)
Tyrrell, Pat (Hole: 11  Score:  3)
Smith, Brian (Hole: 17  Score:  3)
Angie, Mike (Hole: 18  Score:  3)

– Allen Freeman

The challenging Thunder Hill Golf Club in Madison will host a “Black Tee” 2-player cash scramble on Sunday, July 20 beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Cost is $80 per player ($50 per man entry for Thunder Hill members). Also offered is a $10 optional pin shot game.  The resulting payout will be made 100% in cash, based on 25 teams: 1st place is $700, 2nd is $450, 3rd is $200, 4th is $100, 5th is $50 and the skins pot $1,000.

To sign up, call the Thunder Hill pro shop at 440-298-3474 or visit ThunderHillGolf.com

– Allen Freeman

Paul Kish of Painesville Township hit the shot of the year Thursday when his tee shot on the par-4 second hole at Powderhorn was nearly holed out, leaving him a 5 inch tap-in for eagle and a skin worth $99.66.

John Niedzialek stayed hot, making a birdie on the par-3 eighth hole and capturing both pin shots, taking home $190.66 for the night.

Mike Angie made birdie on the sixth hole to capture another skin worth $99.66.

Steve Blackburn Jr. still leads the Greater Cleveland Skins leaderboard in quest of the Thompson Cup. Angie moves up five places, while Kish moves into the third position and Niedzialek is making a run at the current leader, but is still in second place.

The Skins game moves to Pleasant Hills this Thursday, July 17 starting at 5:30pm. Green Fees will be $17.50 riding and $10.50 walking. Any players that wants to play a “warm up 9 hole round” before the scheduled skins game must call the course first to make such arrangements.

Players are reminded that the Big $60 “Double Down” 9 Hole Skin Game will be coming up Thursday July 24, and only players that have participated at least one time in the Greater Cleveland Skins game can play that night. This Thursday’s event at Pleasant Hills will be the last opportunity to qualify for the Double Down event on July 24.

Greater Cleveland Skins Game Leaderboard Through Week 13
1) Steve Blackburn Jr.   $1110.27
2) John Niedzialek   $790.50
3) Paul Kish   $657.46
4) Mark Foss   $563.50
5) Dave Sotka   $294.83
6) Mike Angie   $286.56
7) George Martin   $268.20
8)  Brian McGinty   $264.50
9) Geoff Nicely   $236.50
10) Russ Rybka   $201.00
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 Bojc   $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

Entry blanks are now available for all three upcoming “Cleveland Ams”: The Senior Cleveland Amateur; the Women’s Cleveland Amateur; and The Greater Cleveland Amateur Golf Championship.

The Senior and Women’s events will both be held on July 18-19 at different sites. The Senior Cleveland Am (entry blank here) will be played at Big Met, while the Women’s Cleveland Am (entry blank here) will be contested at Manakiki. Competition details are on listed on the entry blank forms.

The 54-hole main event, The Greater Cleveland Amateur Golf Championship, will be played August 8-10 at Manakiki Golf Course in Willoughby Hills (entry blank here).

Players who are not “exempt” into the tournament can qualify for entry through one of the four Course Championships being held at each of the Cleveland MetroParks golf courses on July 26th and 27th. The top 15 finishers plus ties at each Course Championship earns his or her way to the Championship at Manakiki.

There are a number of exemption methods for tournament players to gain entry into the Championship proper without playing in a qualifier:

1) All past GCAC Champions, and the top ten finishers from the 2007 Championship. All past Senior Champions, and the top five finishers from the 2008 Senior Championship.

2) Event winners during the 2008 calendar year from the Northern Ohio Golf Association, the Akron District Golf Association, and the Championship Golf Association.

3) 2008 Northern Ohio Golf Association club/course champions. (2007 champion eligible if the 2008 champion has not been determined by July 21, 2008)

4) The 2007 and 2008 winners and runners-up of the Northeast Ohio Amateur and the Summit County Amateur.

5) Players ranked in the Top 10 as of July 15th, from the Player of the Year points list of the Northern Ohio Golf Association, the Championship Golf Association, and the Akron District Golf Association, who are not otherwise exempt.

Questions? Contact Mike Raby at 440-333-0305 or email him. Otherwise, get your entry blank in soon…

–Allen Freeman

Some great golf events are coming up this week:

- the ADGA will hold its 2-player better ball match play event, The Lazor Memorial, at Chippewa Golf Club in Doylestown over the next two weekends. The qualifier is this Saturday, July 12 to determine the 32 teams that play. Matches begin Sunday morning and afternoon, then again the following Saturday, July 18 for morning/afternoon play. Finally, on Sunday, July 19, the remaining two teams will play a 36-hole match at Rawiga CC to determine the champion. 26 teams are already entered; get your team into the mix today at the ADGA website or by calling 440-848-8364.

- Want to play an individual event instead? The Championship Golf Association will hold a stroke play tournament at Windmill Lakes GC in Ravenna on Sunday at 9 a.m. To enter, visit the CGA website or call 216-556-0219.

Plus…

- The Greater Cleveland Skins Game is at Powderhorn GC this Thursday;

- The $100 Big Skins Game at Grey Hawk rolls on this Wednesday;

- SCHEDULING NOTE: on Monday, July 14, the $100 Big Skins Game normally held at Chippewa travels to Rosemont CC in Fairlawn, beginning at 11 a.m. due to an outing at Chippewa;

- The Monday Scratch League at Chippewa has it’s first “Cash/Steak Night” of the season.

– Allen Freeman