Mens’ and Womens’ Club Champions, runners-up or golf course representatives from Lake, Geauga, and Ashtabula Counties can enter the Tri-County Regional Press Tournament, to be played on Sunday, September 7th at Lost Nation Golf Course in Willoughby.

This in one of Ohio’s oldest amateur golf tournaments, started in 1928 and sponsored by the Painesville Telegraph and the late Bob Thompson. The tournament is played for the Silver Trophy, now a valuable antique that bears the names and courses of the winners and is displayed in Perry, Ohio.

If you reside in one of the Tri-counties and wish to play, contact Jim Evans at 440-354-4256.

Allen Freeman and Rob Schustrich had their pockets full when they left Fowlers Mill on Thursday, capturing the two skins on the night worth $253 each. Freeman birdied the tipped-out, back tee par-4 1st hole of 459 yards, while Schustrich birdied Pete Dye’s crazy downhill, sidehill, dogleg-right par-4 6th hole.

Phil Bojc took the pin shot on Hole 3 and John Distefano grabbed Hole 7. Each pin shot was worth $77.

Freeman moved up 12 spots on the leaderboard with his big skin to 12th place, and Schustrich climbed to eighth place.

Steve Blackburn Jr. has been quiet for the last eight weeks but still holds the lead of the Greater Cleveland Skin Game, in his quest for the Thompson Cup.

The Skins Game moves to Chardon Lakes GC this Thursday, September 4th starting at 5 pm.  Green Fees will be $21.00 riding and $15.00 walking. Players looking for a warm up 9-hole round before the scheduled skins game must call the course first to make such arrangements.

Also, players should check this Northeast Ohio Golf website for tee times for Monday’s Cleveland Shoot-Out, beginning at noon at Fowlers Mill. Groupings and Starting Times will be made on Sunday and posted to the website sometime Sunday evening.

Greater Cleveland Skins Game Leaderboard Through Week 20
1) Steve Blackburn Jr.    $1,253.77
2) Mark Foss                   $1,035.00
3) John Niedzialek          $874.50
4) Paul Kish                      $726.46
5) Mike Angie                 $438.39
6) Geoff Nicely                 $431.50
7) Nick Anagnost             $429.33
8) Rob Schustrich           $421.66
9) Ryan Stefanski           $345.00
10) Dave Sotka                  $340.33
11) Steve Blackburn Sr.   $340.00
12) Allen Freeman                 $316.00
13) George Martin            $268.20
14)  Brian McGinty            $264.50
15) Russ Rybka                 $201.00
16)  Phil Bojc                    $180.50
17)Corey Iacofano           $168.66
18) Garry Zehe                $166.50
19) Jim Lebzelter              $151.83
20)  Josh Krause              $144.83
21) John Distefano            $140.00
22) Anthony Maenza        $127.00
23) Dan Lanese                  $98.00
24) Jeff Ettinger                $84.00
25) John Zook                   $77.00
26) Clint Paxson                  $45.50
26) Tom Bond                    $45.50
28) Cliff Lawrence            $36.00
29) Ron Rositani                 $33.00
30) Matt White                   $33.00

– John Niedzialek

The teams of Dan Marr / Mike Armour and Dave Oates / Sam Spino tied for first place in the scramble format at Chippewa on Monday, posting scores of 6-under par 29.

The tie for first moves Oates and Spino even further ahead in the season-long points race, to over $500 up on the third place spot; standings updated here.

The big skins carry over until Monday, September 8th, as there is no league this coming Labor Day Monday.

Week 15 - 8/25/08: Scramble - Front Nine  
T1st - Marr - Armour     29      $  90.00 PP     $150.00 Gift Cert
T1st - Spino - Oates     29      $  90.00 PP     $150.00 GC
3rd - Chadima - Thompson     30 (SC)            $ 50.00 GC

Skins: Carry Over

Sr. Skins: $40 ea
Mcendree - Cornelious     #2
Olney - Brooker     #5
T.Stiller - Petracca     #8

–Allen Freeman

Some fun golf coming up, as September rolls around:

- The Turkeyfoot Club Championship is this Saturday and Sunday, a 36-hole individual stroke play event. Call the pro shop at 330-644-5971 for entry information.

- The Cleveland Shoot-Out will be played on Labor Day Monday, open to all players who have competed in at least two events this season in the Greater Cleveland Skins Game. Details here.

- Even though the scratch league takes the holiday off on Monday, the Chippewa $100 Skins Game will still go on starting at 11:45, according to Mike Armour. Simply show up and play…

- The ADGA Open at Raintree Country Club in Uniontown, 18-hole individual stroke play event, is coming up on Sunday, September 7. Entry deadline is Wednesday, September 3. See the ADGA website for details.

–Allen Freeman

Tom Bohardt of Concord Township and Richard Marlowe of Youngstown each posted 1-under par 70 at Acacia Country Club on Monday to qualify for the United States Senior Amateur Championship at Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas September 20 - 25.

Complete scores from the local U.S. Senior Amateur qualifier are here.

–Allen Freeman

Dr. Jeff Mallette of North Canton posted sterling scores of 70-72 for an even par total of 142 to beat defending champion Dave Oates by a single stroke in the 2008 Chippewa Golf Club Championship in Doylestown this past weekend.

More than 100 competitors teed it up in the Chippewa Championship, by far the largest field for the event.

As always, the greens were lightning quick for the Chippewa Championship, and the hole locations were challenging but fair (except for Hole 15 on Saturday; that one was suspect). Players raved that the golf course was in immaculate condition, and even though the course played fast, a well-struck shot typically received a fair result.

Mallette and Oates ran out from the rest of the pack on the final six holes Sunday, making for a match play situation. The round turned on the 15th hole (where else?) when Oates made double-bogey. But Oates made a great par on the stretched-out 18th hole, forcing Mallette to hole a 5-footer on the last to win.

The big skins pot winners were Drew Thompson, who holed a 3-iron from 207 yards after hitting the tree off the tee on the 13th hole on Saturday; and Tom Markham, who in two days made the only birdie on the par four 5th hole.

Kudos as always to Kevin Larizza for his ability to host a championship event and a great shindig at the same time; to Brad Stewart and his staff for the condition of the golf course; and to Eric, Don, Dan, Chappy, Tim Davis, et al for keeping the tournament machine running smoothly.

2008 Chippewa Golf Club Championship, Final Results
August 23-24, 2008, Doylestown, Ohio:
Mallette, Jeff, 70-72 = 142
Oates, David, 71-72 = 143
Trier, David, 75-73 = 148
Okeson, Chris, 74-76 = 150
Marr, Dan, 74-76 = 150
Spino, Sam, 72-79 = 151
Hedrick, Joe, 74-77 = 151
Stefanski, Ryan, 73-78 = 151
Hahn, John, 77-74 = 151
Kracker, Mike, 76-76 = 152
Horner, Larry, 76-78 = 154
McBride, Tom, 77-78 = 155
Jadgchew, Jon, 82-73 = 155
Freeman, Allen, 80-76 = 156
Stiller, Tom, 80-76 = 156
Miller, Fred, 82-74 = 156
Niskanen, Jim, 78-78 = 156
Yazovazzi, Anthony, 79-78 = 157
Jenkins, Jeff, 76-82 = 158
Albright, Carl  , 78-80 = 158
Li, Tommy, 79-79 = 158
Phipps, Darren, 80-78 = 158
Heran, Scott, 80-78 = 158
Koprevic, Kenny, 73-86 = 159
Grubb, Jordan, 77-82 = 159
Grabowski, J.J., 75-85 = 160
Garza, Roy, 76-84 = 160
Thomas, Mark, 78-82 = 160
Guenther, John, 81-80 = 161
Cea, Jim, 79-83 = 162
Stack, Tom, 79-83 = 162
Dorman, Mark, 85-77 = 162
Thompson, Tom, 84-78 = 162
Stewart, Brad, 82-81 = 163
Schultz, Carl, 83-80 = 163
Smith, Rick, 82-81 = 163
Slivinski, Rich, 81-83 = 164
Stiller, Mike, 81-83 = 164
Markham, Tom, 86-79 = 165
Agarento, Mike, 81-84 = 165
Canter, Dave, 85-82 = 167
Richards, Bill, 81-87 = 168
Dean, Jeff, 90-78 = 168
Culver, Kevin, 85-85 = 170
Stonkus, Jim, 79-91 = 170
Woodrum, Woody, 82-88 = 170
Marshall, David, 83-87 = 170
Saxon, Mike  , 86-84 = 170
Fisher, Blake, 88-82 = 170
Czetli, Aaron, 84-88 = 172
Hanzel, Tim, 84-88 = 172
Brooker, Jerry  , 87-86 = 173
Schwindeman, Matt, 88-85 = 173
Tombs, Pat, 91-82 = 173
Szwast, Terry, 87-87 = 174
Lewis, Alan, 87-87 = 174
Wenger, Jeff, 84-91 = 175
Thompson, Drew, 83-92 = 175
Bartko, Paul, 88-87 = 175
Seever, Tom, 90-85 = 175
McCoy, Ron, 82-94 = 176
Myers, Kris, 84-92 = 176
Heleaney, Chris, 87-89 = 176
Mooney, Bill, 82-95 = 177
Loomis, Rob, 84-93 = 177
Trudell, Chris, 86-91 = 177
Hamilton, Mike, 88-89 = 177
Feeney, Pat, 85-93 = 178
Gainer, Mitch, 88-90 = 178
Rybka, Russel, 81-98 = 179
Larizza, Kevin, 85-95 = 180
Morlan, Christian, 88-92 = 180
Cornelius, Bob, 92-89 = 181
Jackson, Phil, 89-92 = 181
Williams, Mark, 93-88 = 181
Carpenter, Jay, 93-89 = 182
Glauss, Gary, 92-91 = 183
Biachi, Fred , 83-101 = 184
Petit, Jeff , 98-92 = 190
Yaich, Mike, 83-108 = 191
Hale, Robert, 86-107 = 193
Kerns, Mike, 97-96 = 193
Lahl, Jim, 98-96 = 194
Coats, Bill, 93-102 = 195
Moennich, Sean, 99-96 = 195
Sullvan, John, 93-104 = 197
Hinton, George , 99-102 = 201
Rowe, Jim, 102-104 = 206
Farnsworth, Phil, 109-109 = 218
Guernsey, Bruce, 112-112 = 224
Grosso, Jim, NS
Harbert, Brant, 97-NC = NC
Johnson, Mark, 88-NC = NC
Leonard, Jeff, 84-NS = NS
Armour, Mike , 80-NC = NC
Kimson, Steve, NS
Alexander, Ben, 106-NC = NC
Houmard, Bill, 88-NC = NC
Peterson, Kurt, 84-NS = NS
Rehm, Tom, 99-NC = NC
Karic, Zoran, 90-NC = NC
Chapple, Dave, WD
Willgues, Kurt, 78-NC = NC
Lynch, Mike, 88-NC = NC
Price, Shane, 81-NS = NS
Davis, Tim, 80-NC = NC
Calabria, JIm, 79-NC = NC
Van Nostran, Doug, 87-NC = NC
Barnett, Chris, 73-NC = NC
Flossie, Joe, 80-NC = NC

–Allen Freeman & Dave Chapple

Ryan Stefanski had some good fortune on Thursday. After nearly hitting his tee shot into the water crossing the fairway on the relatively short par-5 12th hole at Thunder Hill GC, Stefanski got up-and-down from the left fringe to make birdie. That birdie turned out to be the only skin on the day, and he grabbed the entire pot of $345.

Mike Angie took the pin shot on #11, and Dan Lanese took #16. Each pin shot was worth $52.50.

Angie’s pin shot moves him up to the fifth position on the season-long leaderboard, still led by Steve Blackburn Jr.

Next week, the Greater Cleveland Skins Game moves to Fowlers Mill GC on Thursday, August 28 beginning at 5 p.m. This is the final week for players to reach the two events required to be eligible for the  Cleveland Shoot-Out on Labor Day Monday. Show up Thursday and submit an entry to John or the pro shop for Labor Day!

Greater Cleveland Skins Game Leaderboard Through Week 19
1) Steve Blackburn Jr.    $1,253.77
2) Mark Foss                   $1,035.00
3) John Niedzialek          $874.50
4) Paul Kish                      $726.46
5) Mike Angie                 $438.39
6) Geoff Nicely                 $431.50
7) Nick Anagnost             $429.33
8) Ryan Stefanski           $345.00
9) Dave Sotka                  $340.33
10) Steve Blackburn Sr.   $340.00
11) George Martin            $268.20
12)  Brian McGinty            $264.50
13) Russ Rybka                 $201.00
14)Corey Iacofano           $168.66
14) Rob Schustrich           $168.66
16) Garry Zehe                $166.50
17) Jim Lebzelter              $151.83
18)  Josh Krause              $144.83
19) Anthony Maenza        $127.00
20)  Phil Bojc                    $103.50
21) Dan Lanese                  $98.00
22) Jeff Ettinger                $84.00
23) John Zook                   $77.00
24) Al Freeman                 $63.00
24) John Distefano            $63.00
26) Clint Paxson                  $45.50
27) Tom Bond                    $45.50
28) Cliff Lawrence            $36.00
29) Ron Rositani                 $33.00
30) Matt White                   $33.00

– Allen Freeman

The Greater Cleveland Shoot-Out, an 18-hole stroke play event run in association with the Greater Cleveland Skins Game, will be held once again on Labor Day Monday at Fowlers Mill GC (entry blank here).

But the field is liminted: if you want to play in the Shoot-Out on Labor Day, you must play in at least two events of the Greater Cleveland Skins Game during the season. And you only have a two weeks left to do so!

The Greater Cleveland Skins Game moves to Thunder Hill GC in Madison this Thursday, August 21 starting at 5 p.m. The following Thursday, the Skins Game travels to Fowlers Mill. So even if you have not yet played this season, you can play this Thursday, play next Thursday, and then play for the big money on Labor Day.

Entry deadline for the Shoot-Out is Saturday, August 30 at 5 p.m., and payment must be included — NO EXCEPTIONS! See the entry blank for complete details.

– Allen Freeman & John Niedzialek

The Cleveland Metroparks hosts a series of scratch amateur golf tournaments every fall at four of its golf courses, always featuring a series of team formats. Below are the Fall Tour 2008 events, with entry deadlines and links to each tournament’s entry blank:

2-Player Scramble, Big Met GC, Fairview Park
Saturday, September 6
Entry Deadline: Sunday, August 31; Entry blank here

2-Player Scramble / Better Ball, Shawnee Hills GC, Bedford Heights
Saturday, September 20
Entry Deadline: Sunday, September 14; Entry blank here

Barbour Cup 27-Hole Jumble, Sleepy Hollow GC, Brecksville
Saturday, October 11
Entry Deadline: Sunday, October 5; Entry blank here

3-Player Scramble, Manakiki GC, Willoughby Hills
Saturday, October 18
Entry Deadline: Sunday, October 12; Entry blank here

The entry fees for each event are very affordable, and players compete for gift certificates for pro shop merchandise as a part of that entry.

–Allen Freeman

Some great golf to play this week and weekend:

Greater Cleveland Skins Game: The Greater Cleveland Skins Game moves to Thunder Hill GC in Madison this Thursday, August 21 starting at 5 p.m. That’s important because of The Greater Cleveland Shoot-Out: a limited-field amateur stroke play tournaments with a guaranteed first place prize of $750. The Shoot-Out will be held once again on Labor Day Monday at Fowlers Mill GC (entry blank here). But if you want to play on Labor Day, you must play in at least two events of the Greater Cleveland Skins Game during the season — and you only have a two weeks left to do so!

Chippewa Golf Club Championship: Over 60 players are already registered for this weekend’s big 36-hole individual stroke play championship at Chippewa. There will be a skins game, pari-mutuels, and more. The golf course is in FANTASTIC condition (the greens — phenomenal!), and the staff promises to find “challenging” pin locations that aren’t “scramble crazy.” More details on Chippewa’s web site. Deadline for entry is this Wednesday evening, so call the Chippewa pro shop now at 330-658-6126 to enter.

Thunder Hill Black Tee 2-Man Cash Scramble: Thunder Hill’s previously-scheduled scramble on July 20th was washed out in a heavy rainstorm. So the event has been rescheduled for this coming Sunday. Entry fee is $80/player, with a chance for the team to win $700 based on 25 teams. To enter, call the pro shop at 440-298-3474.

As always, check the NEOHgolf.com Tournament Calendar for all of the upcoming area golf events!

–Allen Freeman