Scratch Golf Leagues

Under ominous skies, Powderhorn Golf Course in Madison yielded quite a few birdies on Thursday to the 16 player field.

But in the end it was old-timers night, as George Martin of Chardon, Geoff Nicely of Concord and Gary Zehe of Madison gave a few lessons to the youngsters by capturing all the skins.

Geoff Nicely birdied the par-4 third hole, draining a 18 footer for a skin. George Martin took the pin shot and the skin at the par-3 fifth hole with a 5-iron to 12 feet. And Gary Zehe chipped in at the tough 210 yard  par-3 eighth hole. Skins were worth $122.66 each.

Dave Sotka took the other pin shot on the 8th hole for $56.

George Martin was the big winner on the night with $178.66. Martin now moves up into 4th place (by 16 cents!) on the Greater Cleveland Skins game leaderboard with just one more week left to try to earn an exemption into this year’s Greater Cleveland Amateur Championship. The top five on the leaderboard qualify after next week’s Double Down Event at Thunderhill, where the stakes are doubled to $60 but the green fees stay low at the $15 rate which includes the cart!

Please note that this Thursdays event at Thunderhill is only open to participants that have played two or more times in this year’s Greater Cleveland Skins Game. The Game starts at ThunderHill at 5pm.

GREATER CLEVELAND SKINS GAME LEADERBOARD: WEEK 11

Mike Armour and Dan Marr double-dipped in a big way Monday in the Chippewa Scratch League: they won the better ball format on the back nine, and Marr’s eagle 2 on the par-4 15th netted them the only skin — on a carry-over day!

The eagle was good for a $1,220 skin and helped the pair take a one-shot victory on the evening, bringing them another $260 in pro pot and $200 in gift certificates. The giant haul vaults Marr and Armour to the top of the Chippewa Scratch League leaderboard for the season.

Schedule note: the first Cash / Steak Night date of the year has been set for July 20th at Chippewa.

Week 8: Back Nine Best Ball - 6-29-09 
1st - Armour - Marr     32     $260 PP     $200 GC
T2nd - Mallette - Kracker     33           $75 GC
T2nd - Markham - Skorman     33           $75 GC

Skins
Armour - Marr     #15 (Eagle 2)     $1,220

Sr. Skins
T. Stiller - Petracca     #10     $16.50
Skorman - Markham     #11 + #15     $33
Horner - Barnes     #12     $16.50
Larizza - Davis     #14     $16.50
Kline - Kline     #16     $16.50

Rob Shustrich took advantage of a rain-shortened Greater Cleveland Skins Game event at Wicked Wood this Thursday, earning the only skin of the night.

Shustrich birdied the par-3 third hole plus double-dipped with the pin shot there. He took home $150 for the skin and $35 for the pin shot, enough to move him into 5th place on the Greater Cleveland Skins Game Leaderboard.

Mark Foss grabbed the other pin shot on the 6th hole, also earning $35. Then the skies let loose with a down pour after that, and the game became a 6-hole event.

Moving into the fifth spot on the leaderboard is big for Shustrich, as there are only two more weeks before the mid-season mark, at which time the top 5 players earn exemptions into the 2009 Greater Cleveland Amateur Golf Championship at Sleepy Hollow Golf Course in Brecksville in August.

Next week the Greater Cleveland Skins Game moves to Powderhorn GC in Madison, where players can enjoy a great rate of $13 riding and $6.00 walking on a course that is typically in excellent condition. Please thank the course management for extending this great rate.

See the remaining 2009 season schedule here.

GREATER CLEVELAND SKINS GAME LEADERBOARD: WEEK 10

Tom Markham and Randy Skorman lit it up Monday in the Chippewa Scratch League, posting a 6-under par 29 to win the scramble format on the front nine.

They bested the teams of Tim Davis / Kevin Larizza and Zoran Karic / Jason Chadima by a shot.

No skins were won outright, forcing a carry-over in skins to next week. Season-long money list update here. Shane Bishop and Chris Durban still lead from their monster skin in Week 2, but Skorman and Markham have closed the gap…

Week 7: Front Nine Scramble - 6-22-09     
1st - Markham - Skorman     29     $240 PP     $200 Gift Cert
T2nd - Larizza - Davis     30           $75 GC
T2nd - Zoran - Chadima     30           $75 GC

Skins: CARRY OVER

Sr. Skins
Larizza - Davis     #3     $33
Markham - Skorman     #4 #8     $66

15 players tested Quail Hollow’s Weiskopf course on Thursday, and the wealth was spread around.

Steve Blackburn Sr. birdied the second hole to earn a skin, while Gary Zehe took a skin on the fifth. Sam Corabi’s birdie on the seventh was also good, as was Joe Tasca’s birdie at the ninth hole. Each skin was worth $75.00.

Pin shots were worth $37.50 and were won by Marinelli, Linnich, Zehe, and Sotka.

Next week the Greater Cleveland Skins Game moves to Wicked Woods Golf Club in Newbury, with play beginning at 5 p.m.

GREATER CLEVELAND SKINS GAME LEADERBOARD: WEEK 9

The team of Mike Kracker and Jeff Mallette posted a great score of 1-over par 73 to win the ‘combined score’ aggregate format Monday at the Chippewa Scratch League.

Playing the tough back nine with some tough pins where every shot counts, Kracker and Mallette won by two strokes over Dan Marr and Mike Armour.

The season-long prize total is updated here.

Week 6: Back Nine Combined Score:  6-15-09 
1st - Mallette - Kracker     73     $230 PP     $200 GC
2nd - Marr - Armour     75           $100 GC
3rd - Markham - Skorman     77           $50 GC

Skins
Price - Chadima     #10 (8)     $135
Mozingo - Burnett     #11 (7)     $135
Trier - Kohler     #14 (6)     $135
Marr - Armour     #17 (4)     $135

Sr. Skins
Kline - Kline     #10 (9)     $36
Skorman- Markham     #11 (8)     $36
Horner - Barnes     #14 (7)     $36

Ten competitors played in the rain at Thunder Hill on Thursday, and a only a few birdies were made on the challenging and long gold tee course.

Jim Lebzelter from Ashtabula found his way onto the leaderboard by sticking his approach to 1-foot on the opening par four, walking away with a skin worth $76.66. He also hit it to 8-feet on the par-3 9th hole for a pin shot worth $35.00.

Paul Kasper birdied the long 440-yard 2nd hole and captured his first skin of the year as well.

Steve Blackburn Jr. extended his lead in an attempt to capture the Thompson Cup for a second staright year by making birdie on the par-5 4th hole.

Eddie Neer also cashed again with a pin shot on the 3rd hole to retain his second place spot on the leaderboard.

The Greater Cleveland Skins Game moves to Quail Hollow Country Club Thursday, June 18th starting at 5pm. Green fees will be $25.00. Please note the dress code of collared shirts and no jeans.

2009 Greater Cleveland Skins Game Leaderboard - Week 8

Mark Thomas and Denny Morena took the big payout Monday, grabbing a first place tie in the better ball event on the front nine and taking the entire skins pot with birdies on holes four and five, and dipping their fingers into the Senior skins pot, too.

The team of Jeff Leonard and Mike Stiller tied Thomas and Morena with a 3-under par 32 — and nabbed the remaining Senior skin.

Kudos to Brad Stewart and crew for the FANTASTIC condition of the greens: smooth and firm. Updated season long standings here.

Results from Chippewa Scratch Week 5: Front Nine Better Ball 
T1 - Thomas - Morena     32     $110 PP     $150 Certs
T1 - Leonard - M. Stiller     32     $110 PP     $150 Certs
T3 - Mallette - Kracker     33      $50 Certs
T3 - Freeman - Kovach     33

Skins
Thomas - Morena     #4 & #5     $480

Sr. Skins
Leonard - M. Stiller     #2     $30
Thomas - Morena     #4 & #5     $60

The birdies were flying at Pleasant Hills on Thursday, but an eagle at the last captured the entire skins pot!

Mike Angie of Mayfield Heights eagled the par-5 18th hole and took home the only skin worth $345. Angie hit driver, 6 iron and then chipped in for eagle 3.

Angie’s big night moves him up to third place in the chase for the Thompson Cup. Angie is also now well positioned to gain an exemption into the Cleveland Amateur, as the top five on the year-long leaderboard at the mid-season point earn an exemption into the Championship.

Other winners on the night were Dave Sotka with the pin shot on #4 and John Niedzialek with the pin shot on #5. Pin shots paid $52.50 each.

Next week, the Greater Cleveland Skins Game travels to challenging Thunder Hill GC in Madison starting at 5p.m. The course management is providing participants with a great discount: a $15.00 green fee with cart included!

GREATER CLEVELAND SKINS GAME LEADERBOARD - WEEK 7

Four teams tied at the top with a 3-under par 33 in the scramble format Monday at the Chippewa Scratch League.

But the big cash was earned by the team of Zoran Karic and Mike Hose, as they grabbed the entire skins pot with an eagle at the par-5 10th, good for $250 each. Complete results from Week 4 results below.

Also, gift certificate payouts have been determined, so the season long points race is now posted.

Chippewa Monday Night Scratch - Week 4 Results
Back Nine - Scramble: 6-1-09

T1st - M. Stiller - Leonard     33     $57 PP     $87.50 Certs
T1st - Thomas - Morena     33     $57     $87.50
T1st - Armour - Marr     33     $57     $87.50
T1st - Deibold - Canter     33     $57     $87.50

Skins
Hose - Zoran                    Eagle     #10     $500

Sr. Skins
M. Stiller - Leonard     #11 + #17     $66
Niskanen - Cornelious     #12     $33

A field of just eight players found an opening between rain storms Thursday at Chardon Lakes to complete Week 6 of the 2009 Greater Cleveland Skins Game.

John Niedzialek of Concord, last year’s season-long runner-up, took both pin shots and won a skin on the 200-yard par-3 14th hole by draining his 10 foot putt for birdie. Niedzialek took home $148 on the night and moves up to fourth place in the chase for the Thompson Cup.

Eddie Neer continued his strong play, capturing the other skin on the par-5 17th hole. Skins were worth $92 each and pin shots paid $28 each.

Next week, the Greater Cleveland Skins Game moves to Pleasant Hills near Chardon starting at 4:30 pm where the greens are always in nice shape and the birdies should be flying.

Players are reminded that the top 5 on the leaderboard at mid-season will qualify for this year’s Greater Cleveland Amateur Championship, to be held at Sleepy Hollow Golf Course in Brecksville in August.

Also, one of Ohio’s best paying one-day events for amateurs, The Greater Cleveland Shoot-Out, again will be held on Labor Day this year. Remember, players must participate in five or more Thursday events to be eligible to enter, or be a past Champion and play in 3 or more Thursday events.

GREATER CLEVELAND SKINS GAME LEADERBOARD: WEEK 6

It was a night of the “double-dips” as 21 players competed at Quail Hollow Golf Club’s Devlin Course this Thursday in the Greater Cleveland Skins Game.

2008 Champion Steve Blackburn Jr. of Willowick moved to the top of this year’s leaderboard with a four birdie night, capturing a skin and a pin shot with a double-dip on the 155-yard par-3 fourth hole.

George Martin of Twinsburg made his 2009 Skins Game debut at Quail a worthwhile one, as he also double-dipped by picking up a skin with an eagle on the par-5 5th hole, and a pin shot on the par-3 ninth.

Finally, Joe Tasca of Concord picked up the last skin and pin shot combo on the 165-yard par-3 6th hole.

Each skin earned $157.50, while the pin shots were worth $52.50. Thus Blackburn Jr., Martin, and Tasca each took home $210 on the night.

Thanks to Quail Hollow Head Pro Olle Karlstrom and member Nick Cerri for hosting the Greater Cleveland Skins Game players at Quail Hollow.

Also, a schedule update was announced today, as the beautiful Madison Country Club has been added to the the Greater Cleveland Skins Game schedule for July 23, with a $25.00 greens fee rate.

Next Thursday, May 28th, the Skins game moves to Chardon Lakes Golf Course starting at 5 p.m. All amateur players are welcome.

2009 GREATER CLEVELAND SKINS GAME STANDINGS - WEEK 5

The team of Ryan Stefanski and Jason Chadima grabbed the top spot in Monday’s Chippewa Scratch League play, posting a 3-under par “combined score” (an aggregate of both player’s scores for each hole), good for a one-shot victory.

Because of the format, a number of skins were won (listed below). Gift certificate amounts are still “to be determined” below, as the final number of teams is still to be counted, coming soon.

Monday Night Scratch Week 3 Results
Front Nine Combined Score: 5-18-09    
1st - Chadima - Stefanski     67     $260 PP;  Gift Certs TBD
T2nd - Cea - Pulk     68
T2nd - Freeman - Kovach     68

Skins - $120 ea.
Larizza - Davis     #1   (Score 6)
Heleaney - Burkheimer     #3   (Score 7)
M. Stiller - Leonard     #5  (Score 7)
Cea - Pulk     #8   (Score 7)   &   #9   (Score 6)

Sr. Skins  - $20 ea.
Larizza - Davis     #1
Morena - Thomas     #2 & #3
M. Stiller - Leonard     #5
Cea - Pulk     #8 & #9

Eddie Neer of Lyndhurst jumped straight to the top of the Greater Cleveland Skins Game leaderboard with a birdie at the difficult par-4 15th hole at Fowlers Mill on Thursday. Neer’s birdie was the only skin of the night and sent him home with $299 in his pocket.

Birdies were scarce under the beautiful blue skies at Fowlers Mill, as only 3 holes were birdied by the 13 man field. Neer carved in a 7 iron through the trees from the right rough on the 15th hole, leaving himself only a 4-footer for birdie.

Pin shot winners were Russ Rybka on the 13th hole and Steve Blackburn Jr. on the 17th hole. Pin shot winners took home $45.50 each.

Neer’s season total of $323.50 after week four puts him in the driver’s seat to gain his first trip to the Greater Cleveland Amateur Championship at Sleepy Hollow in Brecksville in August, as the top 5 players at midseason qualify for that event.

The Greater Cleveland Skins game moves to Quail Hollow Country Club on Thursday, May 21 starting at 5pm. All amateur players are welcome to participate in the weekly skins game event with an entry fee of $30. A special green fee rate of $25 with cart has been extended to Greater Cleveland Skins Game players at Quail. Please note that a dress code will be enforced, with no jeans permitted and collared shirts required.

2009 GREATER CLEVELAND SKINS GAME STANDINGS - WEEK 4

Sure, Allen Freeman/Ty Kovach and Randy Skorman/Tom Markham tied for first place in the 2-M better ball format on the back nine at the Chippewa Monday Scratch League. Each team posted a 2-under par score of 34, a good result on a chilly, breezy evening.

But the big, big story of the week was the eagle on the par-5 10th that earned the team of Chris Durban and Shane Bishop a whopping $1,280 carry-over skin! A great way for them to start the season!

Gift certificate amounts and the 2009 season-long points list will be updated as soon as the total number of teams paid for the season is finalized. (So teams that haven’t paid should do so asap!)

Week 2 - Back Nine Best Ball - 5-11-09
T1st - Freeman - Kovach   34   $150 PP  TBD Gift Certs
T1st - Skorman - Markham   34    $150 PP
T3rd - Larizza - Davis  35
T3rd - Thomas - Morena  35

Skins
Durbin - Bishop   Eagle #10  $1,280

Sr. Skins
Markham - Skorman #13 $130