Miksich
On a personal level, my favorite golf tournament of the year has always been the club championship.
It’s a tournament open to every club member, one that gives you a chance to measure your golfing skills against the best players at your particular club.
It’s an event where you can’t hide, you don’t have a partner, and it’s all up to you.
Though my golf game has long since seen its better days, I still find it exhilarating to compete and put my game to the test, to see just how good or bad it stacks up.
Club championships can be grueling and nerve-wracking, but to the hardcore golf competitor they can be as fun and exciting as Christmas morning.
Some of our area’s first club championships were decided just last weekend.
At Park Hills, Todd Homan continued his dominant run by capturing a record 14th club title. Homan scored rounds of 75 and 74 to finish four strokes ahead of Joe Petta. Five shots back were Jesse Auker and Chuck Meyers, who tied for third.
At Sinking Valley, Cassidy Miksich defended her title by posting impressive rounds of 78 and 71 for a winning total of 149.
Cresson’s Summit Country Club also crowned its club champions last weekend.
On the women’s side, Lauren Michina took home the title after scores of 84 and 92. In the men’s competition, Quintin Dziabo posted a two-day total of 151 but needed extra holes to capture the title. Playing alongside Brett Smith and Hunter Duriez, Dziabo eventually scored a birdie on the third hole of sudden-death to take home the trophy.
On an interesting side note, Dziabo’s win came exactly 40 years (to the day) after his dad Joe won the same tournament at Summit Country Club.
Midway point
Two local clubs finished the first two rounds of their men’s championships last weekend.
At Sinking Valley, Artie Fink Jr. (74-68) holds a two-shot lead over Dan Solomon (72-72), while Nick Helsley (79-69) is six strokes behind.
Iron Masters’ Wes Elder (68-70) is six strokes ahead of Griffin Snowberger (71-73), and Spencer Hinish (74-71) trails by seven going into this weekend’s final 36 holes at Ore Hill.
Central Counties
The Central Counties Golf Association held its annual Junior Championship at Nittany Country Club last week. This tournament attracts many of the area’s best junior golfers, and two local Hollidaysburg golfers took home top honors.
In the girls competition, Crosby Denis posted the winning 18-hole total with an impressive score of 2-under par. In the boys 9-hole division, Bennett Denis captured first-place with a total of 4-over par.
Pennsylvania Open
Scotch Valley’s Anthony DeGol posted one of the best area finishes in the Pennsylvania Open in recent memory.
While just qualifying for this event is an impressive feat, DeGol opened with a terrific score of 68 on Monday at Llanerch Country Club, located near Philadelphia.
DeGol was one of just 47 golfers who made the cut after Tuesday’s second round and finished with a three-day total of 216, in a tie for 29th place.
5 years ago
During the second week of August in 1960, PGA star George Bayer played an exhibition match at Park Hills Country Club.
The four-time PGA Tour winner, a former football star at the University of Washington, wowed local fans with several drives that measured over 300 yards.
Playing alongside Bayer were Scott Stultz, Jim Mayes and Park Hills head pro Jim Mullen.
Ken Love covers local golf for the Mirror. He can be reached at GLTR777@atlanticbb.net.
