PENN-OHIO GOLF LEAGUE New players break into lineup during the 1980s

(Editors note) The Penn-Ohio Golf league begins its 61st season on April 2 at Sharon Country Club. Through the years almost every top amateur golfer in the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys participated in this early spring league. Former League President Frank Bellino of Youngstown has compiled a five-part history on the league which will run each Sunday until the season opener.
Part 4
New Stars on the Horizon
(1979 to 1989)
In 1979, probably the strongest foursome in the league's history teed off in the first match at Yankee Run.
The group included: Bob Lewis, a former Ohio Amateur champion and United States Amateur runner-up, Rick Jones, a former Ohio Amateur champion; NCAA champion and Ohio Pre-Senior Champion; Jim Macom; and Dick Love.
Under tough conditions, the first match went according to the script as Jones and Lewis fired rounds of 72 (tying Rick Banish and Nick Dzurinda) with Macom shooting 76 followed by Love with 77.
In the second match, Jim Grunenwald replaced Love and promptly shot a 74 only to be edged by a single shot by Jim Macom's 73.
In the third match, everything was close but in the fourth match at Leeland, Jones lowered the boom on the competition. Shooting a four-under par 67, he swept the other three competitors in the group including Rick Banish who fired a two-under 69.
In the final match, at Candywood, Jones had a one over par 73 and lost to practically everyone in the group. In that match, Youngstown's Tim Miller had a 68 and Vic Banish shot a 69.
Warren narrow winner
The winner in 1979 by a narrow margin was Warren. In 1980, Youngstown edged Sharon for the title as Jones had the league's low average with 72.5.
In 1981, Tom Ciminelli took over as captain for the Warren unit, replacing Joe Campana and his team promptly won. Sharon won the next two years but it was during a match in 1983 that many Penn-Ohio players won't forget.
The league always had a reputation for playing under adverse conditions, but many of the players did not expect to tee it up on this cold, blustery day in April. Although the temperature never rose above 40 degrees all day, the captains decided to play.
With snow flurries in the air, the first group made the turn and decided to continue.
On the 13th hole, Jim Macom putted a ball toward the hole but it slowed down considerably because it was picking up snow as it rolled. At that point, they decided to call it quits for the day. The low nine hole round for the day was 37 and the highest was a 47.
From 1980-89, Warren won four times while Sharon and Youngstown won three each.
Key players in league
Key players for Warren were Ciminelli, Ray Sanfrey, Rick and Vic Banish, Dale Johnson, Bob Kish, Andrew Hrusovsky, Ed Antonelli, Angus McCauley, Ron DeJacimo, George Allen, Bob Beckman and Gene Bellatto.
Youngstown featured Bill and Bob Santor, Rick Jones, John and Frank Marsco, Andy Santor II, Bill Silvestri, Greg Strollo and Frank Bellino.
Sharon had Jim Macom until 1989 when he moved to New Castle, Ed Seginak, Dr. Richard Cannon, Nick Dzurinda, Mickey Alexander, Denny Dolci, Andy Klutcher, Jon Mrus, John Polando and lastly Jim Sladovic, who started with Sharon and switched to Warren in 1987.
John Zebroski made his first appearance in 1985 and would be instrumental in many of Sharon's victories over the years.
In 1986, Zebroski led the league with an average of 70.6. He captured that title many times over his career, the most impressive of which was winning it with an average of 71.6, 18 years later in 2004, leading Sharon to yet another championship.
Although New Castle did not win a title during the 1980s, they still had some great players on the team. Led by John DiMuccio, they also had Dick Love, Jim Grunenwald, Ron Phares, Wayne Messner, Bruce Keagy, John Frank, Angelo Sands, Ralph Latrenta and Jim Stilliana.
DiMuccio retires
Two important events during these years significantly affected the league. New Castle saw the retirement of John DiMuccio at the end of 1988. His great play and strong leadership would turn out to be nearly impossible to replace.
In 1985, Sharon picked up a new sponsor under the watchful eye of Don Wilson. He spearheaded a group to buy and reconstruct Leeland Golf Course, renaming it the Hickory VFW.
The Sharon team, which had been struggling with both a sponsor and home course, found both with the Hickory VFW. In 1987, Nick Dzurinda took over the team and later would become the president of the league.