Get your entry in now for the kick-off to the 2009 Akron District Golf Association season!

50 teams are currently entered, and groupings and starting times are now posted for the 2009 Parke H. Thornton 2-Man Better Ball at Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Links in Akron this coming Saturday, May 2. [Read more →]

The Board of the Akron District Golf Association distributed an official news release to its members yesterday, outlining changes to its schedule and policies. That release follows:

“The ADGA Executive Board has made some major changes to the 2009 tournament schedule.  [Read more →]

In an effort to make the schedule more flexible for some of the multi-day events, and to add more one-day events to the rotation, the Akron District Golf Association has announced a series of changes with the release of its finalized 2009 tournament schedule. [Read more →]

This weekend’s 36-hole “Golfer of the Year” stroke play event has been cancelled by director Tim Davis:

“After much discussion, the ADGA Executive Board deeply regrets that the 2008 Golfer of the Year Tournament must be cancelled due to scheduling constraints.We had a tremendous year with participation and sponsorship and we regret having to end the season in this manner. [Read more →]

On a cool and drizzly day, Joe Hedrick of Barberton and Ross Beal of Uniontown each shot even-par 72 to tie for the victory in the ADGA Open stroke play event at Raintree Country Club on Sunday.

Hedrick played a steady round of 36-36, while Beal made a nice comeback on the final nine with a 2-under par 34. The pair nipped Tony Serra, Jim Cea and Chris Okeson by a shot.

The win is Beal’s second of the ADGA season, and Hedrick’s first. But Hedrick has been on a roll, as he won last week’s Turkeyfoot club championship by five shots.

Hedrick, who also won the Senior Division by two shots, would have won the event outright except for a missed tap-in from about 6 inches while trying to reach over a player’s line. (Ah, golf.)

An announcement on the date of the ADGA Golfer of the Year will be made available soon; watch NEOHgolf.com and ADGAgolf.com for details on this final ADGA event of the season.

2008 ADGA OPEN RESULTS, Sunday, September 7, 2008
Raintree Country Club, Uniontown, 6,886 yards Par 72

1. JOE HEDRICK                36-36-72        $375.00
ROSS BEAL        38-34-72        $375.00
3. TONY SERRA        38-35-73        $250.00
JIM CEA            37-36-73        $250.00
CHRIS OKESON        37-36-73        $250.00
6. RANDY SKORMAN    40-34-74        $125.00
MATT MABIE        36-38-74        $125.00
8. AL FREEMAN        35-40-75        $  90.00
9. TOM STACK          35-41-76        $  80.00
DAVE TRIER        40-36-76        $  80.00
11. MIKE ARMOUR        39-38-77
CHRIS MINEAR        38-39-77
MARK THOMAS        38-39-77
ROB LOOMIS        38-39-77
AARON CREWSE    39-38-77
MIKE HART        37-40-77
DEAN MAPLE        41-36-77
FRED MILLER        41-36-77
19. TIM DAVIS        42-36-78
RUSHI OZA        40-38-78
21. JEFF JENKINS                 40-39-79
22. TOM SEEVER        39-41-80
JERAMI KARG        40-40-80
TOM BAUGH        40-40-80
25. RICH SLIVINSKI        38-43-81
STEVE FIEST        41-40-81
TOM LI            42-39-81
29. TOM STILLER        44-39-83
KURT WILLGUES    40-43-83
MARK CICCARELLO    41-42-83
RICH LOWERY        39-44-83
33. NICKOLAS FIORE    42-44-86
34. DEMOND GLADMAN    49-45-94

SENIORS
1. JOE HEDRICK        36-36-72        $175.00
2. ROB YANKO        39-35-74        $125.00
3. TOM STACK        35-39-76
4. FRED MARTIN        39-39-76
5. JIM NISKANEN        38-41-79
6. JIM TARTER        NC

SKINS
Hole 1    TOM BAUGH     BIRDIE
Hole 18  JIM CEA        EAGLE

– Tim Davis & Allen Freeman

The team of Ray Osolin, Nick Holmes and Carl Rolla lapped the field by three shots in the ADGA’s 3-Man Scramble at Barberton Brookside GC on Saturday, posting a strong 15-under par. Complete results are posted below.

The next ADGA event will be the ADGA Open, an 18-hole individual stroke play event at Raintree GC in Uniontown on September 7. To enter visit the ADGA website or call 440-848-8364.

2008 ADGA 3-M SCRAMBLE FINAL RESULTS
Barberton Brookside GC, Saturday, July 26

1  Ray Osolin / Nick Holmes / Carl Rolla   57 (-15)  $825
2  Tim Davis / Mike Burnett / Mike Mozingo   60 (-12)  $600
T3  Charlie Schrader / Jim Cea / Tom DeFrancesco   61 (-11)  $195
T3  Mike Armour / Zorin Karic / Mike Stiller   61 (-11)  $195
T5  Jeff Meighen / Tom McClary / Danny Mosholder   62 (-10)
T5  Andy Minno / Nick Marchette / Justin Grunstein   62 (-10)
7  Joe Hedrick / Rich Slivinski / Tom Stack   63 (-9)
T8  David Marshall / Jim Niskanen / Paul Trenta   65 (-7)
T8  John Johnston / Tom Markham / Scott Maloy   65 (-7)
T10  Dan Marr / Larry Horner / Russ Eckert   66 (-6)
T10  Tom Seever / Tommy Li / John Kern   66 (-6)

Skins:
No. 4 – Eagle – Davis / Burnett / Mozingo
No. 8 – Eagle – Minno / Marchette / Grunstein
No. 17 – Birdie – Armour / Karic / Stiller

– Tim Davis & Allen Freeman

The team of Vaughn Snyder and Dave Oates won the Akron District Golf Association’s 2008 Lazor Memorial Better Ball tournament today, and did so in convincing fashion.

Snyder, who on Friday won the 2008 Ohio Amateur Championship at Findlay CC, and his partner Oates, winner of last year’s Summit and Stark County Amateurs, cruised to a 6 & 5 win over the team of Jim Cea and Anthony Yacovazzi in the 36-hole final match at Rawiga CC.

Snyder and Oates played the first 18 holes of the final match in 7-under par.

But it took both teams a bit of work to make it to the finals. In Saturday morning’s quarterfinals at Chippewa GC, Larry Horner and Tim Davis gave Oates and Snyder a great run, but eventually lost to the championship pair on the final hole, 1-up.  Cea and Yacovazzi beat Randy Skorman in 19 holes; Skorman’s partner Dean Cutlip could not play, but Skorman made an admirable stand playing “1 on 2″.

In the semifinals on Saturday afternoon, Cea and Yacovazzi beat Aaron Crewse and Jeff Covert 2-up, while Oates and Snyder took down Tom Stiller and Mike Armour 2 & 1.

Complete results follow; see the Match Play Bracket here.

FINAL RESULTS, 2008 LAZOR MEMORIAL FOUR
1  Dave Oates / Vaughn Snyder  $800
2  Anthony Yacovazzi / Jim Cea  $600
T3  Aaron Crewse / Jeff Covert  $400
T3  Mike Armour / Tom Stiller  $400
T5  Tim Davis / Larry Horner  $200
T5  Matt Considine / Colin Clemente  $200
T5  Randy Skorman / Dean Cutlip  $200
T5  Chris Minear / Rich Slivinski  $200

– Tim Davis & 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

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

The Akron District Golf Association kicked off its 2008 Match Play Championship this weekend at Good Park GC in Akron, with the Qualifier and Round of 32 being contested.

Results of the qualifying round that set the match play bracket are posted below. Vaugh Snyder was medalist at 2-under par 69, and a score of 79 was required to gain a spot in the matches:

1   Dave Oates – Exempt
2   Vaughn Snyder 36-33–69
3   Randy Skorman 36-34–70
4   Brad Wright 35-35–70
5   Dean Cutlip 37-34–71
6   Jason Chadima 34-37–71
7   Josh Clay 37-35–72
8   Ryan Stefanski 39-34–73
9   Aaron Crewse 36-37–73
10   Joe Hedrick 36-37–73
11   Tom Baugh 39-35–74
12   Ryan Coll 38-36–74
13   Rick Bryson 35-40–75
14   Mark Guadagni 39-36–75
15   Chet DeLong 38-37–75
16   Mike Burnett 38-37–75
17   Chris Minear 40-36–76
18   Brian Beebe 36-40–76
19   Charlie Manocchio 37-39–76
20   Kevin Pikus 40-36–76
21   Anthony Yacovazzi 38-38–76
22   Ryan Maxwell 39-38–77
23   Mark Thomas 35-42–77
24   Tom Stack 36-41–77
25   Tim Davis 34-43–77
26   A.J. Spalding 37-41–78
27   Rob Loomis 39-39–78
28   Derek Duda 37-41–78
29   Troy Leavery 41-37–78
30   Tommy Li 40-38–78
31   Larry Horner 39-39–78
32   Kellen Erdman 41-38–79

Failed to Qualify:
David Marshall 39-41–80
Tom Seever 43-37–80
Rich Slivinski 40-41–81
Anthony Vanckunas 40-41–81
Mike Mozingo 40-41–81
Dave Chapple 43-39–82
Mychal Agarenzo 42-40–82
Jim Grosso 42-41–83
Nick Stoll 37-46–83
Bill Mooney 40-45–85
Rushi Oza 46-39–85
Brad Stewart 42-45–87
Jim Cea DQ
Joe Ungvary Jr. NC
Kevin Larizza NC

Skin: $390 ea
No. 2 – Jason Chadima – Eagle
No. 14 – Vaughn Snyder – Eagle
No. 18 – Randy Skorman – Birdie

ROUND OF 32 RESULTS
The first round matches were conducted Sunday morning, and there were a couple of upsets. But perhaps the most spectacular was the wily veteran and former ADGA Director Larry Horner upending the qualifier medalist Vaughn Snyder with a 21 hole overtime win.

Current match results are here. Matches will resume next Saturday at Good Park with a 7 a.m. shotgun start.

– Allen Freeman

Ross Beal of Uniontown posted two solid scores and then an incredible round of 63 to claim a 12-shot victory in the ADGA’s 54-Hole Medal Play tournament this past weekend.

Beal opened with strong totals of 71 at Seven Hills and 72 at Brookledge, and then fired a sizzling eight-under par 63 in the final round at Portage Country Club to lap the field. In windy conditions throughout the weekend, his was a decisive victory and some great play.

Chris Minear played a great third round as well, posting a score of 3-under par 68 to go along with a pair of early round 75s to finish second alone. Complete results below.

The next event on the ADGA schedule is the Match Play, with the qualifying round to be held on Saturday, June 21 at Good Park GC in Akron. To register for that event, visit the ADGA website or call (440) 848-8364.

2008 ADGA 54-Hole Medal Play Official Results
Presented by Pacific Supply Co. and United Feedscrew
May 31 – June 2, 2008

Round One – Seven Hills Country Club
Round Two – Brookledge Golf Course
Final Round – Portage Country Club

1   Ross Beal   71-72-63–206   $500
2   Chris Minear   75-75-68–218   $450
3   Vaughn Snyder   76-74-71–221   $400
4   Dave Pulk   72-76-74–222   $350
5   Randy Skorman   73-79-71–223   $300
6   Nick Latimer   80-74-70–224   $250
7   Joe Albrecht   82-71-73–226   $200
8   Frank Toscano   80-78-71–229   $150
T9   Charlie Manocchio   75-77-79–231   $70
T9   Anthony Yacovazzi   81-73-77–231   $70
T9   Jim Cea   82-75-74–231   $70
12   Tom Seever   80-75-77–232
13   Aaron Crewse   85-75-74–234
14   Joe Hedrick   81-81-73–235
T15   A.J. Spalding   80-78-78–236
T15   Rich Slivinski   84-78-74–236
T15   Tom Baugh   83-80-73–236
18   Tim Davis   78-78-83–239
19   Mark Thomas   86-78-76–240
20   Joe Ungvary   84-79-79–242
T21   Dean Cutlip   80-77-86–243
T21   Jason Chadima   81-81-81–243
T23   John Johnston   85-79-83–247
T23   Rob Loomis   84-83-80–247
25   Roy Garza   87-80-88–255
T26   David Trier   71-79-WD
T26   Tom Stack   82-81-WD
T26   Ted Koelsch   87-77-WD
T26   Tommy Li   82-83-WD
T26   Mike Armour   82-84-WD
T26   Jim Grosso   79-87-WD

Senior Division
1   Joe Hedrick   81-81-73–235   300
2   Jim Niskanen   79-87-75–241   200
3   John Moore   96-78-81–255
4   John Kern   88-84-92–264

–Allen Freeman

On yet another blustery, cold and rainy golf day, the team of Jeff Meighen, Tom McClary, Danny Mosholder and Chuck Moore posted a solid score of 14-under par 56 to win the ADGA 4-Man Scramble at the Fairways of North Canton by one shot.

The putting was difficult with sweeping hole locations, but the golf course was in great shape. The combination of tricky greens and challenging weather kept the scores from going too low.

Two teams tied for second at 13-under par, and two eagle skins were won on the day. Complete results posted below.

The next ADGA event is the 54-hole Individual Medal Play, starting May 31 on three courses. To enter, visit the ADGA online registration form or call 440-848-8364.

2008 ADGA Four Man Scramble sponsored by Sattler Machine
Fairways of North Canton , Saturday, May 17, 2008

1  Jeff Meighen / Tom McClary / Danny Mosholder / Chuck Moore  56  -14
$1,000
T2  Allen Freeman / Ryan Stefanski / Ty Kovach / Drew Thompson  57  -13
$700
T2  Charlie Schrader / Tom DeFrancesco / Paul Nehlsen / Mike Lutz  57  -13
$700
T4  Fred Martin / Tom Stack / Joe Hedrick / Jim Tarter  58  -12
$160
T4  Mike Burnett / Mike Mozingo / Ted Koelsch / Andy Minno  58  -12
$160
T4  Dave Barnes / Pat Wheeler / Dennis Wheeler / Steve Fricker  58  -12
$160
T4  Charlie Manocchio / Tom McBride / Bart Williams / Ross Beal  58  -12
$160
T8  Matt Considine/Colin Clemente/Michael Considine/Doug Underwood  59  -11
T8  Dan Marr / Mike Armour / David Trier / Joe Nemeth  59  -11
T10  Tom Seever / John Kern / Tommy Li / Dave Woodrum  60  -10
T10  Brad Shuff / Bill Stebelton / Kent Russell / Scott Savage  60  -10
T10  Scott Kline / Vic Kline / Chad Kline / Roger Kline  60  -10
13  Tony Cox / Dave Heffelman / Ric Haury / John Dzurik  61  -9
T14  Aaron Crewse / Jeff Gainer / Rich Lowry / Jeff Covert  62  -8
T14  Kevin Larizza / Tom Markham / Dean Cutlip / Randy Skorman  62  -8
T16  Tim Davis / Jim Cea / John Johnston / Dave Sattler  63  -7
T16  Tom Baugh / Mike Demeter / John Bader / Rob Yanko  63  -7
T16  Tom Stiller / Mike Stiller / Jeff Leonard / Tom Skidmore  63  -7
19  David Marshall / Jim Niskanen / Paul Trenta / Tom Thompson  NC  NC

Team Skins – $360 each
Eagle No. 11 Schrader / DeFrancesco / Paul Nehlsen / Mike Lutz
Eagle No. 17 Larizza / Markham / Cutlip / Skorman

–Allen Freeman

The team of Vaughn Snyder and Brad Wright lapped the field at Turkeyfoot on Saturday, winning the 2008 ADGA 2-Man Better Ball event with a sterling six-under par score of 65. Their score was a winner by three shots over three other teams.

The weather was rainy, wet, windy and cool, and many teams struggled with the conditions and the difficult pin positions. But Snyder and Wright didn’t seem to notice in cruising to victory. Complete results below.

Kudos to the staff at Turkeyfoot for the perfectly conditioned golf course, and to ADGA Director Tim Davis for working hard to attract such a large field for the event. (Equally impressive, only two “no-show” teams even though the weather was bad right from sunrise!)

The ADGA will play its second event of the season on Saturday, May 17 with their 4-Man Scramble at The Fairways of North Canton, presented by Sattler Machine. Entries close at the end of day on Wednesday, May 14, so call the ADGA voicemail at (440) 848-8364 or visit ADGA Online Registration page.

2008 Parke H. Thornton Better Ball sponsored by Foxy Golf
Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Links, Saturday, May 3, 2008

1 Vaughn Snyder / Brad Wright 65 -6 $700
T2 Tom Seever / John Kern 68 -3 $500
T2 Chris Minear / Rich Slivinski 68 -3 $500
T2 Mark Thomas / Joe Nemeth 68 -3 $500
T5 Mike Burnett / Mike Mozingo 69 -2 $250
T5 Jim Cea / Dave Pulk 69 -2 $250
T5 Charlie Schrader / Tom DeFrancisco 69 -2 $250
T8 Tim Davis / Dan Marr 70 -1 $130
T8 Allen Freeman / Ryan Stefanski 70 -1 $130
T8 Mark Juve / Riley Rindo 70 -1 $130
T8 Charlie Manocchio / Tom McBride 70 -1 $130
T8 Michael Considine / Matt Considine 70 -1  $130
T13 Tommy Li / Mike Stiller 71 Even $100
T13 Dave Oates / Sam Spino 71 Even $100
T13 Nick Lambos / Jeff Mallette 71 Even
T16 Tom Stiller / Dave Petracca 72 +1 $100
T16 Joe Swiatkowski / Chris Reuscher 72 +1
T16 Tom Markham / Alan Mellan 72 +1
T16 Steve Kimson / Curt Wilguess 72 +1
T20 Stephen Marshall / Steven Kalail 73 +2
T20 Jeff Meighen / Tom McClary 73 +2
T20 Jeff Leonard / Mike Riley 73 +2
T20 Pat Feeney / Gary Kaser 73 +2
T20 Russell Rybka / Mike Balzano 73 +2
T20 Dave Cutlip / Brett Walchalk 73 +2
T26 Fred Martin / Tom Stack 74 +3
T26 Joe Hedrick / Jim Tarter 74 +3
T26 Dave Chapple / Mike Saxon 74 +3
T26 Scott Kline / Chad Kline 74 +3
T26 Dan Bickett / Les Bickett 74 +3
T31 Dean Cutlip / Randy Skorman 75 +4
T31 John Johnston / Don Gallegly 75 +4
T31 Steve Fricker / Rich Lowry 75 +4
T31 David Trier / Jim Grosso 75 +4
T31 Mike Armour / T.J. Price 75 +4
T31 Rick Bryson / Jim Herchek 75 +4
T31 Rick Merrow / Bill Stemple 75 +4
38 Dennis Kyle / Ted Koelsch 76 +5
39 Joel Recht / Steve Wilson 77 +6
T40 David Marshall / Jim Niskanen 78 +7
T40 Aaron Crewse / Jeff Gainer 78 +7
T42 Brett Sarver / Scott Coates 79 +8
T42 Dave Woodrum / Ron Sonodecker 79 +8
T42 Frank Livak / Derek Duda 79 +8
45 Jay Carpenter / Warren Lynum 81 +10
T46 John Zelenka / Joe Dazey 82 +11
T46 Kevin Larizza / Brad Stewart 82 +11
48 Andy Minno / Nick Marchette 83 +12
T49 Tony Cox / Dave Heffelman WD WD
T49 Vic Kline / Roger Kline NC NC

SKINS – $490 each
Eagle No. 5 Pat Feeney / Gary Kaser
Birdie No. 8 Fred Martin / Tom Stack

–Allen Freeman

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

I apologize if this post ’scoops’ Tim Davis, especially if the dates aren’t yet official. But the new Akron District Golf Association website is partially active now, and most interesting is the 2008 ADGA Tournament Schedule that’s posted there. From top to bottom, the schedule looks fantastic:

Parke H. Thornton Two Man Better Ball – May 3  Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Links

Four Man Scramble – May 17  Fairways of North Canton

54-Hole Medal Play, Round 1 – May 31  Seven Hills CC
54-Hole Medal Play, Round 2 (Cut to 32) - June 1  Brookledge Golf Course
54-Hole Medal Play, Final Round - June 2  Portage CC

Match Play Qualifier - June 21  Good Park Golf Course
Match Play Rd. of 32 and Rd. of 16 -June 22  Good Park Golf Course
Match Play Quarterfinals and Semifinals - June 28  Good Park Golf Course
Match Play Final (36 Holes) - June 29  Sharon Golf Club

Lazor Memorial Qualifier – July 12  Chippewa Golf Club
Lazor Memorial Rd. of 16 and Quarterfinals - July 13  Chippewa Golf Club
Lazor Memorial Semifinals - July 19  Chippewa Golf Club
Lazor Finals (36 Holes) - July 20  Rawiga CC

Three Man Scramble – July 26  Barberton Brookside CC

ADGA Open - Sept 7  Raintree CC

Golfer of the Year, Round 1 – Sept 28  Rosemont CC
Golfer of the Year, Final Round – Sept 29  Rosemont CC

Congratulations on a job well done, Tim!

–Allen Freeman

Tim Davis, director of the Akron District Golf Association, has some big improvements coming after his inaugural year at the helm.

Plans for 2008 include a newly revised and upgraded website launching late February [adgagolf.com], some new ways to register for the events (website and voicemail), and an entry deadline for each registration.

The new schedule — soon to be released – includes a couple of visits to private clubs, some tweaks to the Match Play, Lazor 2-Man and Golfer of the Year formats, and the creation of a 3-Man scramble tournament.

Tim runs great events; always has. If he implements these administrative changes well and then gets the web site to where it needs to be for pre- and post-event information, the ADGA clearly will be headed back in the right direction…

–Allen Freeman