SQUAK CREEK COUNTRY CLUB Special events big part of tourney week

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
VIENNA -- The Giant Eagle LPGA Classic is a spectacular event, each year bringing in the top lady professionals to compete in a 54-hole tournament at Squaw Creek Country Club.
But the Giant Eagle Classic offers much more. There are the special events that are a big part of tournament week, and they all are looked forward to by the area golf fans.
The activity begins on Monday of tournament week (July 15) and continues up to the tournament's opening round on Friday (July 19).
The opening event on Monday will be The Vindicator's Pro-Am tournament, where area golfers will team up with LPGA professionals in an 18-hole scramble format. There are divisions for men, women and mixed teams. This event has an 8 a.m. shotgun start.
Golf clinic
At 9 a.m. the Trumbull Memorial Hospital Foundation golf clinic will take place at the Squaw Creek driving range. LPGA professionals will demonstrate adaptive golf techniques to physically-challenged and senior golfers. There is no charge to participate, clubs are provided and sign-ups are in advance at the Foundation.
At 1:30 p.m. the Youngstown State University junior golf clinic will be held for the first 300 youngsters ages 4-15 who sign up. The clinic is taught by LPGA member Lisa Becka of Copeland Hills in Columbiana and other LPGA professionals. Participation is free and sign-ups are on-site only.
There also will be an LPGA qualifying tournament at 1 p.m. at the course where amateur Aree Wongluekiet will attempt to earn a spot in this year's event. Her sister Naree was awarded a sponsor's exemption to play in the tournament.
Special day
Tuesday is always a special day at the Giant Eagle tournament because that is time for the Schwebel's Long Drive Contest and the Butler Wick Corp. Shootout.
This year, the long drive competition has been expanded. There will be the amateur competition beginning at 2 p.m. Six contestants, determined by a earlier competition, will battle for $1,200 in prizes.
That will be followed by a new addition, a celebrity long drive competition where local television personalities Susan DeLeo of WFMJ-TV, Tricia Perry of WKBN-TV and Angee Shaker of WYTV each will drive two balls, and the Schwebel Baking Company will donate $3 per yard to the Mahoning Valley Sports Charities for each participant's longest drive.
Five of the six contestants for the LPGA long drive contest already have been determined. They include two-time defending tournament champions Dorothy Delasin and Michelle McGann, and also Wendy Doolan, Maria Hjorth and Annette DeLuca. They will compete for $6,000 in prize money, with $2,000 for first place. DeLuca was second a year ago with a drive of 295 yards. Jean Zedlitz won the event with a shot of 301 yards.
The highlight
The highlight of the pre-tournament week is the Butler Wick Shootout, which is set for 4 p.m. on holes No. 10 and 18.
Last year, the event was changed from LPGA professionals only to a mix of LPGA and celebrities.
There will be five teams of two LPGA pros and one celebrity, who will be announced later.
Nancy Lopez, who will be making her final appearance at this event, will be one of the LPGA stars. Others who will be competing are Delasin, McGann, Moodie, Danielle Ammaccapane, Rachel Teske and Sherri Steinhauer.
The pros will be competing for $10,000 in prize money. Last year the team of Tammie Green, Donna Andrews and celebrity Dave Sess of WKBN-TV won the event.
Also on Tuesday will be the KeyBank Pro-Am which is held at Youngstown Country Club at 1 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday is the Classic Pro-Am tournament sponsored by Cellular One. It is a two-day event with teams of one LPGA professional and four amateurs in a scramble format.
mollica@vindy.com