Top handball players coming to area

SHARON, Pa. — Three top professional players will be in the field when the Don Godfrey Handball Shootout Tournament is played at the Buhl Community Recreation Center.

The Sharon Handball Club will sponsor the event that takes place Friday and Saturday.

Participating and conducting a clinic will be David Chapman, ranked eleventh in the world; David Fink, who’s ranked eighth in the world; and Allan Garner, who is ranked fifth in the world.

Chapman is on the comeback trail after a four-year absence from the pro circuit.

Chapman has 12 national pro doubles titles and is an eight-time USHA four-wall singles champion.

He also won four collegiate handball titles (1994-98).

Fink is from Pittsburgh and Garner comes from San Antonio.

“All it takes is a little cash and some phone calls,” said tournament chairman Norm Wilson about attracting the prestigious field. “Getting the players isn’t difficult. It’s more difficult raising the cash.”

Wilson said he raised the necessary funds through contributions and donations.

“We have a good community of handball players in Sharon and in the Youngstown area,” Wilson said.

The three featured players will put on a three-match round robin exhibition Saturday with their games at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

There are about 60 handball players registered to compete in the tournament.

Fink is the defending champion of the tournament but three other former champions are schedule to play.

Chris Sammarone of Youngstown; Jeff Cahron of Sharon, Pa.; and Kirk Rys of Chicago are all former champions of the tournament who are registered to appear this time.

But, it’s not all former champs and world-ranked players competing.

“We have a big ‘C Division’ with a lot of good young players,” Wilson said.

One top young player scheduled to appear is Pittsburgh’s Michael George, 16.

The event begins Friday at 5 p.m. and action starts on Saturday at 8 a.m.

The Buhl Rec. Center is located at 28 N. Pine Avenue and formerly was known as the FH Buhl Club.

For information about the tournament, call Wilson at (724) 910-5600.