Birdies were made on three of the nine holes, but each of those holes was tied out.

Six holes were open with no birdies made — including the two par-five holes.

The only winners on the night were the two pin shot winners.

Steve Blackburne Jr. was the Mulligan’s pin shot winner on the 220-yard par-3 13th hole and won $60.

Bob Karshner grabbed the other pin shot on the 16th hole worth $45.

$23 was returned to each player for the skins game portion.

Mark Borlin still holds the top spot on the 2012 Leaderboard as the Greater Cleveland Skins Game heads to Week 6, which will be held at Legend Lakes Country Club in Chardon next Thursday starting at 5 pm.

2012 GREATER CLEVELAND SKINS GAME LEADERBOARD: WEEK 5

Carl “Unc” Quercioli of Munson Township, who finished fourth on last year’s Leaderboard with a four-figure winnings total, captured the only skin on the night — and with it a giant payday.

Unc’s birdie on the 158-yard par-3 5th hole was worth a whopping haul of $482!

Another senior, Geoff Nicely took home the pin shot on that same 5th hole, hitting it 5-feet away. But Nicely missed the putt, allowing “Unc” to be all smiles when he came into the clubhouse to learn of his good fortune. Nicely earned $63 for the pin shot.

(Both Nicely and “Unc” play in the “over 55″ category, where the rules permit senior players to hit from the white tees. But the advantage did not make any difference in today’s round, as all players hit from the blue tees on the par three holes each week.)

The other winner on the night was Erron Gomez, who was the only player in the 21-man field to hit the green on the par-3 205 yard 8th hole. Gomez took the Mulligan’s Pin Shot on that hole, worth $84.

Holes #1, 3, 6, 8, and 9 went without a birdie made — a pretty large number for 21 players.

The greens rolled true and the course was in excellent shape, and the Skins Game thanks Powderhorn for the great green fee rate offered.

Mark Borlin still holds the top spot on the 2012 Leaderboard, but “Unc” and the rest of the field is in hot pursuit of Borlin as we head to week 5 next Thursday at Tanglewood National G.C starting at 5 p.m.

2012 GREATER CLEVELAND SKINS GAME LEADERBOARD – WEEK 4

Three skins were won on the evening, which paid a tidy $222.33 each. And a double-dip by one player pushed him closer to the top of the 2012 Leaderboard.

Skins Game Director John Niedzialek captured the first skin of the round with a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-3 11th hole.

But Bob Karshner grabbed the pin shot on that hole, hitting it just 7-feet away for $87.

Then Dan Predovic double-dipped with a 15-foot birdie on the long par-3 15th hole while capturing the Mulligan’s pin shot for another $116 — which moved him into second place on the 2012 Leaderboard.

And Nick Anagnost hit it five feet away from a difficult pin placement on the par-four 17th hole and made the putt for the last skin of the night.

The greens were recently aerified, but the staff at Manakiki did a great job in getting them ready for play.

Birdies were tied out on all other holes except for the par-four 14th hole, which was left open. Two eagles were cancelled out on the par-five 12th hole.

Mark Borlin still holds onto the Thompson Cup lead after week number three, but the field is gaining on him.

Next week, the Greater Cleveland Skins Game moves to Powderhorn GC in Madison, starting at 5 p.m.
 

2012 GREATER CLEVELAND SKINS GAME LEADERBOARD: WEEK 3

Birdies were rare, and every birdie paid off. But even though the pot was split small among a number of different players, a past champion already is gaining on the big early-season leader.

Five skins were won on the night, worth $64.40 each.

Phil Bojc doubled-dipped with the pin shot on the 165-yard par-three 13th hole, hitting it 3-feet away and making the birdie for a skin. Bojc’s pin shot paid $42.

Nick Anagnost birdied the difficult par-4 12th hole for a skin with a 20 foot putt.

Erron Gomez made a birdie skin on the par-four 14th hole.

Past Skins Game Champion Steve Blackburn Jr. birdied the par-five 16th hole for a skin — and also took home the Mulligan’s pin shot on the 17th hole worth $56 to help him climb up the 2012 Leaderboard.

The final skin of the night went to Mike Angie after rolling in a 10-foot putt on the par-four 18th hole for a skin.

Mark Borlin was shut out on the evening but still holds a big lead on top of the Greater Cleveland Skins Game Leaderboard after last week’s giant $529 solo skin.

Next Thursday, the Greater Cleveland Skins Game moves to Manikiki GC in Willoughby Hills, with play starting at 5:15 p.m.
 

2012 GREATER CLEVELAND SKINS GAME LEADERBOARD

Mark Borlin rolls his birdie effort at the seventh hole during the first event of the 2012 season.

The Greater Cleveland Skins Game opened the 2012 season at Fowlers Mill Golf Course in Chesterland today, and while it was a beautiful, sunny April day for all 23 players, for one player in particular it was a spectacular evening.

Mark Borlin of Solon wasted no time in getting his name onto the Skins Game Leaderboard by making a birdie on the 350-yard par-four 1st hole of the Maple nine. And that seemingly innocuous birdie, which everyone in the group assumed was for a tie, paid off big.

Borlin sunk the curling 15-foot putt from off the right fringe to take home the only skin on the night — and a whopping $529! Borlin birdied the second hole as well and made par on the remainder to shoot a smooth 33.

A few of the night’s dollars were left to other players: pin shot winners were Steve Blackburn Jr., who won $92 for the Mulligan’s pin shot on the 165-yard 9th hole, and Steve Blackburn Sr. with $69 for his pin shot on the 140-yard 5th hole.

All holes were birdied on the Maple nine except for the par-four fifth hole and the par-three ninth hole.

Borlin jumps off to a big lead on his quest for his first ever Greater Cleveland Skins Game Championship and with it, the Thompson Cup.

Next week, the Greater Cleveland Skins Game travels to Aurora Country Club with a 4:45 p.m. starting time.

A number of the players competing in the first event of the 2012 Skins Game season

Dave Sotka of Chardon kicks off the 2012 Greater Cleveland Skins Game season, earning the right to hit the first shot of the year as defending champion.

For entry details on the Cleveland Skins Game series, see here; to enter the SCAGA 2-Man Skins event, see SCAGA.com

John Nedzialek

The Greater Cleveland Skins Game will begin its 22nd season on April 19th at Fowlers Mill Golf Course in Chesterland.

In customary fashion, the defending champion, Dave Sotka from Chardon, will open the season by hitting the first tee shot for the year, right at 4:30 pm.

And there are some exciting new venues once the 2012 schedule gets rolling. “Several new courses have been added to the schedule this year in an effort to allow players to compete from different regions of Northeast Ohio,” states Director John Niedzialek. “We have had some difficulties in finding openings on Thursday evenings on west side courses and we are still working on that issue. However, I am excited about the expanded courses and thank many of the owners for offering our players great competitive green fee rates to allow for excellent payouts to the players.”

New courses for 2012 are Sleepy Hollow, Manikiki, and Painesville Country Club.

Dave Sotka

Sotka is also excited about defending his championship and says, “I hope the weather cooperates a little better this year and I am looking forward to having a chance to repeat.”

Sotka won 9 skins and 5 pin shots last season to take home the Thompson Cup with a season total of $1,728. Sotka is a two-time Skins Game champion, having won in 2007 as well.

Once again, there are some bonus benefits that come with competing in the Greater Cleveland Skins Game. First, players will again be able to participate in The Greater Cleveland Shoot-Out, which will be played on Labor Day starting at 12 noon with another great payout. Last year’s champion, Dan Predovic of Berea, took home the $775 first place prize.

Also, Sean Kreft of Mulligan’s Pub in Highland Heights has once again sponsored the Greater Cleveland Skins Game by adding $500 to the Mulligan’s Pub Trophy Pot, to make the season even more interesting. An additional $1,100 was paid out last year to the top ten finishers in the Mulligan’s point standings, with Steve Blackburn Jr. winning the 2011 Mulligan’s Cup and an additional $452 on the year.

All amateurs are welcome to participate in Greater Cleveland Skins game events. No pre-registration is necessary; simply show up 15 minutes prior to the start of the weekly events to get paired up with other competitors.

The weekly entry fee is $30 plus the green fees.

Seniors age 55 or older have the advantage of hitting from the next forward tee box, to keep everyone ‘in the game’.

27 weekly events will make up the 2012 calendar, and the season will culminate at Powderhown Golf Course in Madison on October 11th, where the 2012 champion will receive the Thompson Cup.

Questions? Email us. We look forward to seeing you in 2012 at one of these events!

2012 Greater Cleveland Skins Game Schedule
April 19: Fowlers Mill 4:30 pm
April 26: Aurora Country Club (back) 4:45pm
May 3: Manikiki 5:15 pm
May 10: Powderhorn 5pm
May 17: Tanglewood National 5pm
May 24: Legend Lake Country Club 5pm
May 31: Quail Hollow Country Club (Devlin) 5pm
June 7: Legend Lake Country Club 5pm
June 14: Aurora Country Club (back) 5:30pm ($60 Double Down Event)
June 21: Fowlers Mill 5pm
June 28: Erie Shores 5pm
July 5: Sugarbush 5pm
July 12: To be announced
July 19: Sleepy Hollow (back) 5pm
July 26: Powderhorn 5pm
August 2: Tanglewood National 5pm
August 9: Aurora Country Club (Front) 5pm
August 16: To be announced
August 23: Quail Hollow Country Club (Devlin) 5pm
August 30: Fowlers Mill 5pm ($60 Double Down Event)
September 3: Greater Cleveland Shoot-Out Fowlers Mill Noon
September 6: Painesville Country Club: 5pm
September 13: Manikiki: 4:30pm
September 20: Erie Shores 4:30pm
September 27: Fowlers Mill 4:30pm
October 4: Sleepy Hollow 4:15pm
October 11: Powderhorn 4:15pm ($60 Double Down Event and Trophy Presentation)

Green Fee Rates (includes cart)
Aurora Country Club $22
Erie Shores $16.50
Fowlers Mill $20
Legend Lake Country Club $20
Manikiki $23
Painesville Country Club $20
Powderhorn $15
Quail Hollow Country Club $26
Sleepy Hollow $23
Sugar Bush $20
Tanglewood National $15

This year, those four players were (left to right) Dave Sotka, Carl “Unk” Quercioli, Dan Predovic, Mark White.

When none of those top-four competitors earned a earned a skin or a pinshot at Powderhorn, Dave Sotka of Chardon walked away with the 2011 Greater Cleveland Skins Game Championship, and with it his second Thompson Cup.

Sotka finished with 9 skins and 5 pinshots on the year, good for a season total of $1728.22. This was Sotka’s second Skins Game Championship; his last Thompson Cup win came in 2007. Sotka bettered his 2007 season total by $750.

After receiving the Thompson Cup, Sotka remarked, “The reality is that this is a skins game and I was real fortunate to have birdies and eagles hold up on the right holes. With that being said, it was a strong field this year and I am happy I could come out on top.”

For that final event night of the season (a ‘Double-Down’ night with double the normal entry fee stakes), 17 players participated and three skins were won worth $260.00 each.

Steve Blackburn Jr. earned a fantastic eagle skin by hitting a 3-wood from 240 yards out to 2-feet on the par five 16th hole. Brian Perkins made birdie on the long par four 10th hole, and Mark Foss scored a birdie on the par-3 14th hole.

Pin shot winner were Mike Angie on the 14th hole worth $108, and Paul Kish on the 17th hole earning the Mulligan’s pin shot worth $136.

Once the final event’s earnings were added to the total, there was only one fairly significant change in the 2011 Leaderboard standings.

Dan Predovic of Berea finished in second place on the season with $1,318.34 and earned unofficial “Rookie of the Year” honors. Predovic also won the individual stroke play “Greater Cleveland Shootout” event on Labor Day Monday, earning $750 for that victory. Predovic had the lead throughout much of the season, but Sotka made a great run at the end.

With his eagle skin on the final night, Blackburn Jr. vault into third place on the final leaderboard standings with $1136.21 for the year.

Carl “Unk” Quercioli was the leading senior player and had an outstanding year, finishing in fourth place.

Mark White finished in fifth, while Mike Angie was the 2011 pinshot leader and finished sixth overall.

The Greater Cleveland Skins game paid out over $13,000 in pins and skins in 2011.

Director John Niedzialek thanked all the players for a great year. “We had a record turn-out and many of the courses gave our players reduced rates and we certainly want to promote those courses in the future. Congratulations to Dave Sotka. It is a long season with many of the top players in Northeast Ohio participating. Give the man his due.”

“A special thanks goes out to Sean Kreft, owner of Mulligan’s Pub and Grill in Highland Heights, who has donated $1,000 to the Greater Cleveland Skins Game over the last two years. It is great to see courses and sponsors supporting amateur players in Northeast Ohio. I invite all amateur players to participate in 2012.”

Steve Blackburn Jr. earned the top spot in the Mulligan’s Pub Season Championship and took home an extra $452 on the year. An extra $1,100 was paid out on Thursday to the top ten finishers in the Mulligan’s season-long point standing.

FINAL RESULTS: 2011 GREATER CLEVELAND SKINS GAME

On a beautifully warm and sunny evening, one player continued his hot-streak while another padded his season-long lead.

Dave Sotka, who currently holds the top spot on leaderboard for the 2011 season, wasted no time adding to his lead by making a birdie skin on the par-4 1st hole. Sotka extends his lead to $410 heading into next week’s final event of the season, to determine the 2011 Champion and the winner of the Thompson Cup.

Sam Corabi continued his red-hot streak of end-of-the-season skin-winning by draining a side-winding 40-footer for a birdie on the tough 178-yard par-3 5th hole.

And the last skin of the evening went to Joey DiDonato with an improbable chip-in birdie on the long par-4 8th hole.

Skins paid $115 each.

The Mulligan’s pin shot went to John Niedzialek on the 5th hole worth $60, and Steve Blackburn Jr. hit it to 3 feet on the 133 yard par three 7th hole to grab the pin shot worth $45.

Next week is the final “Double Down” night with the Thompson Cup presentation immediately following. Play will start at 4 pm at Powderhorn Golf Course in Madison. With the stakes being doubled, Sotka is not assured of the title yet!!

(Players are reminded that they must have played in six or more events to play in the season ending double down event at Powderhorn.)

2011 GREATER CLEVELAND SKINS GAME LEADERBOARD: WEEK 25