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Scratch golfers take aim at ‘Greatest’
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Chris Economus, who regularly plays at Mill Creek Golf Course, has entered the Greatest Golfer of the Valley tournament, sponsored by The Vindicator and Farmers National Bank.
By JON MOFFETT
Poland
Chris Economus is sort of used to people knowing who he is.
As a family physician in Canfield, many people could pick him out in a crowd. But never before has his profile been so high — and it’s for golf.
Economus, 41, said people will stop him in public and ask him about his involvement in the “Greatest Golfer of the Valley” tournament.
“So many people have seen my name and realized that it’s me who is going to play, and that is crazy,” Economus said.
OK, so it’s not like Economus is getting the Hollywood treatment. But having golfed for most of his life, the attention is still a little weird to him. He was a standout golfer at Cardinal Mooney High, playing his junior and senior seasons. He continued his golf career at Youngstown State, though he didn’t get the notoriety there.
“I was just kind of on the team,” he said with a laugh. “But I wouldn’t say I was one of the participating members during my years there.”
He is a participant in the “Greatest” tournament that he hopes will prove the attention is warranted.
Economus is just one of many area golf veterans who have made it a point to be part of the “Greatest Golfer of the Valley” tournament hosted by The Vindicator and Farmers National Bank. The tournament will be played Sept. 11, 12 and 18 at three Valley courses. It features seven divisions, including Economus’ scratch division.
Scratch ...
It’s the division for golfers who’ve achieved the coveted status in golf — the best.
“There are a lot of good players in this area,” he said. “Being from this area and playing golf all my life, you know there are a lot of golfers out there. But I figured I’d throw my hat in the ring and give it a go.”
He’s got company.
Kyle Firm isn’t ready to declare Economus the winner just yet. In fact, he’s getting his own head measured for the crown.
“I am the best golfer in the Valley hands down,” Firm said.
A pretty bold statement for someone who wasn’t even alive when others in the scratch division graduated high school. Firm graduated from Campbell Memorial High last year.
Firm, 20, has played for half of his life. But is his decade of experience enough?
“I have a feeling that most of the people in the scratch division are going to be older guys, and they probably haven’t played in tournaments like this in 10-15 years,” Firm said. “Well, I have.”
Firm played in the 2010 Mid-Ohio Golf Association.
But his true advantage is a little bit – OK, a lot – closer to home.
“I have a green and three bunkers in my backyard,” Firm said. “That’s where I’m going to be saved, my short game.”
Tom Kellogg is taking a much more high-road approach. He’s hopeful, but not boastful.
“I have been playing pretty well this summer and plan on practicing a little more when it gets closer to the tournament,” he said. “I look forward to the competition. It should be fun.”
The Tamer Win veteran of 40 years carries a scratch handicap in two leagues.
The scratch division — and the others, too — are filling up. It seems like there are many who wish to claim the “greatest” crown.
But Economus knows it’s not going to be easy for him or anyone else.
“I don’t think you’ll be the greatest golfer until you win [the tournament],” he said. “Until then, you’re just someone trying to be the greatest ... I’m in a pretty tough division. And I think after you win that, you can say you’re the greatest golfer in the Youngstown area.”
Economus has decided to take the high road and avoid any smack talk. He said the squabbling — albeit in good fun — does nothing for your game.
“You never talk smack in golf or other sports,” he said.
“It’s always let the play take care of itself and do the talking for you. You talk trash after you do it, not before.”