Mark Foss made the most of his chip-in birdie at the 378-yard 12th hole at Powderhorn last week and “cleaned up” — taking home the entire $345 skins pot.

The fiery Foss was shut out after the first three weeks of the season, but now sits atop the 2008 Greater Cleveland Skins Game Leaderboard, in quest of the Thompson Cup. Updated standings are posted below.

Geoff Nicely and Jim Lebzelter each captured the pin shots worth $52.50 each.

The Skins game moves to Fowlers Mill this coming Thursday, May 15 starting at 5:00pm. Green fees at Fowlers are $22.00 riding, which includes a beverage. Any players that want to play in a “warm-up 9″ before the scheduled skins game must call the course first to make such arrangements.

2008 GREATER CLEVELAND SKINS GAME LEADERBOARD
1) Mark Foss - $345.00
2) Steve Blackburn Jr. - $303.60
3) Paul Kish - $268.60
4) Geoff Nicely - $236.50
5) Dave Sotka - $187.50
6) Brian McGinty - $184.00
7) Garry Zehe - $166.50
8) Phil Bosc - $103.50
9) Jeff Ettinger - $84.00
10) John Niedzialek - $63.00
11) Steve Blackburn Sr. - $59.80
12) Jim Lebzelter - $52.50
13) Tom Bond - $45.50

– John Niedzialek

The Blackburn family had a field day at Pleasant Hills this past Thursday, birdieing 11, 12, and 13. Steve Blackburn Jr. earned two skins (#12 and 13) worth $120, while Steve Blackburn Sr. took home $60 with his birdie on #11.

Paul Kish led the day, however, with a great chip-in birdie on #15 plus a pin shot and birdie skin on the par-3 18th hole. Kish took home $160 for his efforts.

Tom Bond captured the other pin shot on #17 for $45.50.

Steve Blackburn Jr. of Willowick is now on top of the Greater Cleveland Skins Game Leaderboard after Week 3 with a total of $303. Paul Kish moves into second place after his big week.

The Skins game moves to Powderhorn this Thursday, May 8 starting at 5:00pm. Greens Feess at Powderhorn are $13.00 riding and $6.00 walking. Any players that want to play in a “warm up 9 hole round before the scheduled skins game must call the course first to make such arrangements. Please thank the course for giving the Greater Cleveland Skins Game participants such great rates.

2008 Cleveland Skins Game Leaderboard
1) Steve Blackburn Jr. - $303.60
2) Paul Kish - $268.60
3) Dave Sotka - $187.50
4) Brian McGinty - $184.00
5) Geoff Nicely - $184.00
6) Garry Zehe - $166.50
7) Phil Bosc - $103.50
8) Jeff Ettinger - $84.00
9) John Niedzialek - $63.00
10) Steve Blackburn Sr. - $59.80

– John Niedzialek

The birdies were flying this past Thursday, April 24 at Little Mountain Country Club with 24 players competing for the $720 pot.

Skins were won by Brian McGinty with a birdie on the 480 yard par 4 10th hole, Geoff Nicely with birdie on the 12th hole, and Steve Blackburn Jr. with a birdie on #15.

The skins were worth $184 each. Pin shot winners were Dave Jeff Ettinger on #12 and Dave Sotka hitting it 8” from the hole on #14, each worth $84 each.

The race for the “Thompson Cup” is on and last year’s Greater Cleveland Skins Game Champion Dave Sotka has made his way to the top of the leaderboard after Week 2 in 2008. Current standings below.

The Greater Cleveland Skins game moves to Pleasant Hills this Thursday (May 1) starting at 5:00pm. Green Fee rates at Pleasant Hills will be $17.50 riding and $10.50 walking. Any players that want to play in a “warm up 9 hole round” before the scheduled skins game must call the course first to make such arrangements.

2008 CLEVELAND SKINS GAME LEADERBOARD:
1) Dave Sotka $187.50
2) Brian McGinty $184.00
3) Geoff Nicely $184.00
4) Steve Blackburn Jr. $184.00
5) Garry Zehe $166.50
6) Phil Bosc $103.50
7) Paul Kish $103.50
8) Jeff Ettinger $84.00
9) John Niedzialek $63.00

– John Niedzialek

The race for the “Thompson Cup” has begun with the Greater Cleveland Skins Game opening its 18th season last Thursday at Fowlers Mill Golf Course. Eighteen players participated with a $540 pot.

Garry Zehe of Madison wasted no time vaulting to the lead by capturing a skin and pin shot for a total of $166.50 for the day. Garry birdied the 190 yard 3rd hole at Fowlers Mill for the double-dip.

A total of 4 skins were out, each worth $103.50: Phil Bosc with a birdie on #1; Zehe with birdie on #3; Greater Cleveland Skins Game Champion Dave Sotka with a birdie on #8; and Paul Kish with a birdie on # 9.

John Niedzialek also made his way onto the leaderboard with a pin shot winner on # 7 worth $63.

The Skins game moves to Little Mountain CC this Thursday, April 24 starting at 5:30pm. The course has been gracious enough to give Greater Cleveland Skins Game participants a special $20 green fee which includes the cart. Any players that want to play in a “warm up 9 hole round” before the scheduled skins game must call the course first to make such arrangements.

2008 CLEVELAND SKINS LEADERBOARD
Garry Zehe - $166.50
Phil Bosc - $103.50
Paul Kish - $103.50
Dave Sotka - $103.50
Jon Niedzialek - $63.00

– John Niedzialek

The 2008 Cleveland Skins Game series begins this Thursday at Fowlers Mill GC in Chesterland. Details on the league, its events and entry fees can be found using the Greater Cleveland Skins Game link in the left column, under Scratch Golf Leagues.

Players looking for a “warm up nine” should show up at the golf course around 2:30, so as to finish in time for the 5 p.m. start of the league. Make certain you mention that you are playing in the skins game when you check in, so that you get the discount 18 hole rate as a league player.

The weather is supposed to be great (sunny and 68 degrees!) so a large field is expected. Get out to Fowlers Mill Thursday; it will be a great way to kick off the season…

–Allen Freeman

The Greater Cleveland Skins Game will open up its 18th season on Thursday, April 17 at Fowlers Mill Golf Course, and all amateur players are welcome to participate in this 9-hole weekly skins game conducted at six different area courses throughout the season. Cost is $30 for the skins game entry plus the (reduced) green fees. 

The season culminates with a “Shoot-Out” on Labor Day leading up to the weekly season finale in October, and the leading skins money winner being crowned ‘Greater Cleveland Skins Game Champion’ and taking home the Thompson Cup.

“This is a great value for the player,” states John Niedzialek, Greater Cleveland Skins Game Director. “Many of the host courses are reducing their green fees, which allows for a better net payout to the players.”

“The intent of the Greater Cleveland Skins Game, our season-ending Shoot-Out tournament, and our associated golf scrambles is to provide an opportunity for amateur players to get a little ‘pay back’ for all the work they put into their games and all the money they spend on golf in the area,” says Niedzialek. “Many players are tired of getting harpooned with high-priced charity events, outrageous green fees, high administrative-fee amateur events, and low- or no-dollar prize payouts. There is a place for some of those events, but we wanted to offer something significantly different.”

This year, the following courses will host the Skins game nights: Pleasant Hills, Little Mountain, Fowlers Mill, Thunderhill, Powderhorn, and Chardon Lakes. A sampling of the green fee rates includes Thunderhill at $15 and Powderhorn at $13 (and yes, that includes the cart!). Little Mountain has been added to the schedule this year on April 24 and is offering skins game participants a special rate of $20 that evening.

“Thanks to all the host course owners of the Greater Cleveland Skins Game, as many of the better players in the area participate and will no doubt spread the word on the excellent treatment and super conditions these courses offer to players of all handicap levels,” states Niedzialek.

Thunder Hill Golf Club in Madison is a favorite among many of the players. Todd Bishop, one of the new owners at Thunder Hill, wants everyone to know that the course is improving. He commented, “Thunder Hill Golf Club is excited about being a host for the 2008 Greater Cleveland Skins Game.  The crew at Thunder Hill has been busy in the off season with an aggressive tree pruning program and a deep tine aerification program to help ensure the golf course is in top condition for 2008.”

Last year, Dave Sotka of Chardon won the Thompson Cup. Dave remarked, “The skins game was well organized and I really enjoyed playing the courses we had on the schedule. I am looking forward to another good season of golf and defending the Cup.”

The 2007 Greater Cleveland Shoot-Out Champion was Steve Blackburn of Willowick. Steve is also a regular player in the Skins Game and says, “With all the snow we have had, I am ready to play some golf, especially in the Greater Cleveland Skins Game.  It’s a great opportunity to play with some good players and also meet new ones from all the different courses we play.”
 
A bonus for regular Skins Game players is they are eligible to play in the Greater Cleveland Shoot-Out Tournament. The Shoot Out tournament, started by course owner Ed Tresger at Fairway Pines, offers one of the best one-day payouts for amateur players anywhere in Ohio. This year’s Shoot-Out tournament will be held at Fowlers Mill Golf Course on Labor Day Monday, with a huge money-added skins pot and a reduced green fee of $28 for 18 holes (cart included!).

The Greater Cleveland Skins Game also will get some extra exposure this year. Participants can log onto the Northeast Ohio Golf website at NEOHgolf.com (or go directly to the Skins Game pages on that site through the URL ClevelandSkins.com) to see weekly results and leaderboard updates. Players also can check out all the other tournament opportunities being played here in Northeast Ohio at NEOHgolf.com.

Players do not need to pre-register for the Skins Game events; simply show up at that week’s course 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start, and pairings will be made then. Question? Skins Game Director John Niedzialek can be contacted at golf@clevelandskins.com or 440-639-8524.

The full schedule is posted below.

– Allen Freeman and John Niedzialek

(All dates are Thursdays unless noted)
April 17:  Fowlers Mill 5pm
April 24:  Little Mountain 4:30pm
May 1:  Pleasant Hills 5pm
May 8:  Powderhorn 5pm
May 15:  Fowlers Mill 5pm
May 22:  Thunder Hill 5pm
May 29:  Chardon Lakes 5pm
June 5:  Powderhorn 5pm
June 12:  Fowlers Mill 5pm
June 19:  Pleasant Hills 5:30pm
June 26:  Thunder Hill 5pm
July 3:  Pleasant Hills 5:30pm
July 10:  Powderhorn 5pm
July 17:  Pleasant Hills 5:30pm
July 24:  Chardon Lakes 5pm
July 31:  Thunder Hill 5:30pm
August 7:  Pleasant Hills 5:30pm
August 14:  Powderhorn 5pm
August 21:  Thunder Hill 5pm
August 28:  Fowlers Mill 5pm
September 1:  Labor Day Monday “Shoot-Out”, 18 Holes at Noon
September 4:  Chardon Lakes 5pm
September 11:  TBA
September 18:  Fowlers Mill 5pm
September 25:  Powderhorn 5pm
October 2:  Fowlers Mill 4:30pm
October 9:  Thunder Hill 4:15pm
October 16:  Pleasant Hills 4:15pm
October 23:  Pleasant Hills 4:15pm

2007 SKINS GAME GREEN FEE RATES:
Powderhorn:  $13.00 Riding, $6.00 Walking
Thunder Hill:  $15.00 Riding
Pleasant Hills:  $17.50 Riding, $10.50 Walking
Fowlers Mill:  $22.00 Riding (includes 1 beverage)
Chardon Lakes:  $21.00 Riding, $15.00 Walking
Little Mountain:  $20.00 Riding

– John Niedzialek

Dave Sotka of Chardon captured the 2007 Greater Cleveland Skins Championship at Pleasant Hills Golf Course. Sotka won $992 with 13 skins for the year, and took the “Thompson Cup”. This was Sotka’s first Greater Cleveland Skins championship.
 
Sotka, a member at Pleasant Hills stated, “I hit a lot more quality shots this year and capitalized when I needed to.” Sotka also finished tied for fourth in this years’s Greater Cleveland Amateur held at Sleepy Hollow in Brecksville.
 
Rounding out the top 5 for the season were Scott Neill, also of Pleasant Hills; Steve Blackburn, the 2006 Greater Cleveland Skins Champion from Willowick; John Niedzialek, former Greater Cleveland and Canton Amateur Champion from Concord; and Mark Foss, former Lake County Open Amateur Champion.
 
Players from Northeast Ohio competed at four area courses during the year culminating in the season ending event at Pleasant Hills. In 2007, Powderhorn, Pleasant Hills, Fowlers Mill, and Thunderhill hosted the Greater Cleveland Skins Game on Thursdays throughout the summer.

Players interested in competing in next year’s competition starting in April should email John Niedzialek, Tournament Director at jn1920@yahoo.com for details.

2007 Greater Cleveland Skins Game Season-Long Final Results

–Allen Freeman