Course’s first-year program a success

Kale Creek’s Adult/Child golf league recently celebrated the completion of their first season of play.

The league began play in June and ended on Aug. 2 and the final round was followed by a picnic and awards ceremony inside the clubhouse.

Kale Creek owner, Cosimo Tassone, donated the use of the course and carts to help the league get off to a successful start.

The league was the brain storm of Jamie Brawley, who had the idea to start a beginning level league teaming parents and grandparents with the kids with the goal of introducing golf to children and adults.

“Some of this year’s diverse members included parents and children that had never been on a course before,” Brawley said. “It also included a former professional level parent who was trying to teach his son the game.”

Brawley and Tassone agreed that the most rewarding parts of the first year were all the wonderful families involved and watching everyone progress over the eight-week span.

Brawley sent out special thanks to local businesses who supported the league with donations and discounts such as Arby’s, Pizza Hut, Gionio’s, McDonald’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Tassone has nine holes open and is working to have 18 holes open for next season. The golf course in located at 10586 Cableline Road in Newton Falls.

Anyone interested in joining the Adult/Child League for next season should contact Brawley at (330) 654-5128 or over the Internet at jbrawley@embarqmail.com.

YSU connection at amateur event

Former Youngstown State golfer Ross Beal, a Uniontown native, will be competing in the United States Men’s Amateur Golf Championships on Aug. 18-24 at Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C.

It will be the second trip to the U.S. Amateur for Beal, who also qualified in 2004 at the famed Wing Foot Country Club in Mamaronek, N.Y.

Beal qualified this year by winning the U.S. Sectional Qualifier in Cleveland when he shot a 36-hole total of 137 including a 4-under-par 67 at Legend Lake Golf Course in Chardon and a 72 at Fowler’s Mill Golf Course in Chesterland.

There were 108 golfers at the sectional qualifier.

Hopefully, Beal will fare a little better than YSU women’s golfer Katie Rogner of Warren did in the U.S. Women’s Amateur last week.

Rogner, who will be a sophomore with the Penguins next season, had rounds of 81 and 85 for a 166 total and failed to make the match-play portion of the tournament.

Rogner had a great season for the Penguins as a freshman as she was named the team’s most valuable player as well as being named the Horizon League Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. She took medalist honors at the Horizon League Championships as well as the Loyola Caputo Invitational.

Young Clipper wins regional event

Eight-year-old Jared Wilson of Columbiana recently won the regional Mutual of Omaha Drive, Chip and Putt Championship held in Syracuse, N.Y.

Wilson who also was the qualifying tournament in Erie, Pa., a week ago, won an expense-paid trip to the 2008 Drive, Putt and Chip National Championships to be held later this month at the Celebration Golf Club near Orlando, Fla.

He will compete for the title against 16 other national finalists in the 7-8 year-old division. The event will be taped as a special one-hour program to premier on the Golf Channel.

Amber Bruno of Cardinal Mooney High School recently completed her summer tournament schedule with a pair of victories.

Bruno won the Junior Tournament at Valley Golf Course in Columbiana in the 9-12 grade division shooting a 3-over-par 77. She also won the Tam O’Shanter Junior Open in West Middlesex, Pa., in the 15-18 age division with a winning score of 86.