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

Mike Kracker & Dr. Jeff Mallette combined for a 4-under par 32 to win the Better Ball format at the Chippewa Scratch League on Monday. The pair bested the teams of Dave Oates & Sam Spino and Dan Marr & Mike Armour by a single shot.

There were three skins won on the night (results below), nixing the potential for a big carry-over going into the big Steak/Cash Night next Monday.

Spino and Oates added slightly to their lead in the season long standings with their T2, but still a long way to go…

Week 8 - 7/7/08: Back Nine Better Ball
1st   Mallette - Kracker    32   $200.00 Gift Certs; $230.00 PP
T2   Oates - Spino    33   $75.00 GC
T2   Marr - Armour    33   $75.00 GC

Skins: $386 ea
Cornelious - Mcendree   #10 Eagle
Corrado - Minno   #11 Eagle
Durbin - Bishop   #12 Birdie

Senior Skins: $28 ea
Cornelious-Mcendree   #10+14
Corrado - Minno   #11
Skorman - Markham   #13
Chappy - Johnston   #18

– Allen Freeman

The 78th Portage County Amateur will be held on July 26th at Windmill Lakes Golf Club and July 27th at Kent State University Golf Club.

This 36 hole scratch stroke play event offers five divisions: County (all residents of Portage County), Open (all others under age 50); Senior (50 to 64); Super Senior (65 and over) and Women.

Entrants must be age 16 or over. Entry fee is $75 per person and includes greens fees, prizes, trophies and gift certificates.

The entry blank is available here, and the entry deadline is July 23rd. Questions? Email tournament director Susan Jenior.

Want a test to see if the golf ball you are currently using fits your game the best? On Wednesday, July 16 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., the Bridgestone Golf Company will have its Ball Fitting Van, technicians and launch monitor equipment available at Sleepy Hollow GC in Brecksville, so that you can compare your current ball to the golf ball products from Bridgestone. There is no charge for this ball fitting, so Sleepy Hollow pro John Fiander invites you take advantage of this FREE offer!

– Allen Freeman

Scott Heran of Strongsville birdied the final hole at Punderson for an even-par round of 72, and in the process nipped four players who posted a score of 1-over par 73.

The victory is Heran’s first this year in The Championship Golf Association, and moves him into fifth place on the season points list.

A whopping 10 skins were made on the day at Punderson; complete results below.

The CGA plays an individual stroke play event at Windmill Lakes GC in Ravenna next, on Sunday, July 13. To enter, visit the CGA website or call 216-556-0219.

2008 Championship Golf Association Results
Individual Stroke Play Event, Punderson GC, Newbury
Heran, Scott   37 - 35 = 72
Latsko, Phil   36 - 37 = 73
Miller, Fred   36 - 37 = 73
Schembechler, Richie   37 - 36 = 73
Smith, Brian   36 - 37 = 73
Ciccarello, Mark   37 - 37 = 74
Okeson, Chris   38 - 36 = 74
Freeman, Allen   39 - 38 = 77
Bartko, Paul   39 - 38 = 77
Scott, Keith   38 - 40 = 78
Jenkins, Jeff   41 - 37 = 78
Kracker, Mike   39 - 40 = 79
Mintz, Mike   39 - 41 = 80
Tyrrell, Pat   41 - 39 = 80
Guenther, John   41 - 40 = 81
Lawrence, Cliff   42 - 39 = 81
Mooney, Bill   40 - 41 = 81
Niedzialek, John   40 - 41 = 81
Angie, Mike   43 - 39 = 82
Coe, Scott   39 - 43 = 82
DeJulius, Bob   42 - 40 = 82
Wilson, Scott   45 - 38 = 83
Intorcio, Domenic   42 - 42 = 84
Congin, Gary   44 - 42 = 86
Lynch, Michael   46 - 40 = 86
Simoniello, Mike   44 - 49 = 93
Schembechler, Rich   48 - 47 = 95

SKINS:
Smith, Brian (Hole: 1  Score:  3)
Intorcio, Domenic (Hole: 5  Score:  3)
Freeman, Al (Hole: 8  Score:  3)
Latsko, Phil (Hole: 9  Score:  2)
Lawrence, Cliff (Hole: 11  Score:  3)
Angie, Mike (Hole: 12  Score:  2)
Scott, Keith (Hole: 14  Score:  2)
Kracker, Mike (Hole: 15  Score:  4)
Schembechler, Richie (Hole: 16  Score:  3)
Ciccarello, Mark (Hole: 17  Score:  3)

– Jeff Jenkins & Allen Freeman

Another full field of professional and amateur golfers will compete at The Elms Country Club in Massillon, Ohio when the 57th TIGERTOWN OPEN tees off Friday, July 18.

Known as the “Richest One-Day Pro Tournament in Ohio,” this year’s event will pay a whopping $5,000 first place prize in the Open Professional division.

Over 180 players competed in the 2007 event, with Anthony Zummo of Mayfield, Ohio winning the $5,000 first place check.

Play will be contested in Professional and Amateur divisions, with additional flights for Seniors (age 50+) for both Pros and Amateurs.

A PDF version of the 2008 Tiger Town Open entry blank is available here.

Deadline for entry is Monday, July 14.  Entry fees are:
$160.00 for Open Professional; $130.00 for Senior Professional
$ 85.00 for Amateur; $ 75.00 for Senior Amateur

A Pro-Am will also be held on Thursday, July 16 in support of the Tigertown Open. For tournament or sponsorship information, contact Antony Mastrianni at (330) 833-2668. The Elms Country Club is located at 1608 Manchester Road SW in Massillon; details online at ElmsCC.com.

– Allen Freeman

John Niedzialek of Concord cleaned house Thursday, as he birdied the lucky 13th hole for the only skin and captured a pin shot on the 17th hole at Pleasant Hills. Niedzialek took home a whopping $291.50 for nine holes of work.

George Martin had the other pin shot on the 18th hole, worth $38.50.

Birdies were scarce at Pleasant Hills, even with winter rules being played on the wet conditions. Niedzialek now moves up to secon place in the Greater Cleveland Skins Game Leaderboard, in chase of the Thompson Cup. Steve Blackburn Jr. still leads the list, but was shut out for the third straight week.

The Skins Game moves to Powderhorn GC in Madison this Thursday, July 10 starting at 5:30pm. Green fees will be $13.00 riding and $6.00 walking! Please thank the Powderhorn staff for being gracious enough for providing the Greater Cleveland Skins Game participant these great rates. Any players wishing 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 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.

Greater Cleveland Skins Game Leaderboard Through Week 12
1) Steve Blackburn Jr.    $1110.27
2) John Niedzialek    $599.83
3) Mark Foss    $563.50
4) Paul Kish    $557.80
5) Dave Sotka    $294.83
6) George Martin    $268.20
7)  Brian McGinty    $264.50
8) Geoff Nicely    $236.50
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