This weekend marks the beginning of club championship season in our area.
Several local clubs will kick off their championship tournaments this Saturday, with many to follow through the month of August. By mid-September all area clubs will have decided their champion golfers of the year.
Looking back at last year’s winners, there were several impressive performances but a few in particular stood out.
On the men’s side, Todd Homan captured his 13th Park Hills title in dramatic fashion.
After shooting 75 on the first day of play, Homan found himself two strokes behind fellow member Terry Byrd. Not to be denied, Homan would play a near flawless round on day two to finish with a fantastic score of 65, and a six-shot victory.
Andrew Ferguson may have been even more impressive last year at nearby Sinking Valley. Ferguson scored rounds of 73, 65, 72 and 68 to capture their championship trophy, winning by an amazing 14-strokes.
On the women’s side, a particularly notable performance was put in by Samantha Formeck at Scotch Valley.
The Northern Cambria native, a former standout golfer at Youngstown State University, scored an opening round of 75 last August. Formeck followed her solid first round score with an even better round on Sunday, scoring a stellar 66 on the final day of play to take home the women’s title, 10 shots clear of second place.
The following is a look at some of the upcoming club championships in our area:
Park Hills: Altoona’s oldest golf course, nearing its 100th anniversary, will be holding its men’s club championship this weekend with Todd Homan as defending champ. The men’s tournament is held at 36 holes of stroke play and will conclude on Sunday. The women’s championship will be held later this month with Stephanie Kirsch back to defend her title from a year ago.
Summit: This Cresson-area course will also be deciding its club champions on Sunday. On the men’s side, Collin Reese took home his first championship trophy last year after scores of 74 and 79, good enough for a one-shot victory over Paul Pentz and three ahead of Dillon Perino. The women’s trophy was won by Lauren Michina. Her two-day total of 168 was an impressive 18 shots ahead of the second-place finisher.
Sinking Valley: Sinking Valley’s championship for the men begins on Saturday and will conclude next weekend after a total of 72 holes. Last year, a young Andrew Ferguson captured his third Sinking Valley title, while Cassidy Miksich scored impressive rounds of 71 and 74 to win the women’s trophy.
Iron Masters: This Roaring Spring area course has been dominated in recent years by both Spencer Hinish and Wes Elder. Last year was Hinish’s turn in the winner’s circle, posting consistent rounds of 72, 73, 74 and 73 to edge out Elder by two strokes. Anita Jo Petrusky took home last year’s women’s title after scores of 85 and 86, three strokes clear of Gwen Paden. (Like Sinking Valley, Iron Masters will crown its champions next weekend after 72 holes for the men and 36-holes for the women).
Scotch Valley: Scotch Valley’s championship play is scheduled for next weekend, August 16-17. Sean Brannan is the defending champ for the men after scoring a two-day total of 144 last year, four shots ahead of David DeGol Jr. Samantha Formeck was the winner of the women’s title.
Other club championship notes: Last year, Tracey Smith captured his 22nd club championship at Down River Golf Club … Huntingdon Country Club’s championship will be held as a match-play tournament over Labor Day weekend. Andrew Ferguson will return to defend his title. Ed Strickler holds the club record with 25 titles … In 1940, Elinor Wible won the Mount Union club championship. It was the first of an amazing 45 club titles in row for Wible. In 1996, she would capture her 48th, and final, championship at Mount Union.
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