No. 10: Porter named Greatest Golfer of the Valley

Greatest Golfer: Sudden Death Playoff

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On Friday, Sept. 17, the Senior Division of the Greatest Golfer of The Valley Tournament played round three at Lake Club. After three rounds, Kurt Beler and Bob Leonard found themselves in a tie for the title of Greatest Golfer of The Valley.

For one September day, Mike Porter was the greatest man in the Mahoning Valley.

Well, in golf at least.

Porter, who plays at Tippecanoe Country Club in Canfield, overcame a four-shot deficit to earn the title of the Greatest Golfer of the Valley in the inaugural event. The tournament, cosponsored by The Vindicator and Farmers National Bank, drew more than 100 area golfers who each hoped to be crowned the best.

The tournament was broken into six divisions and played on three courses. The opening rounds were played at Mill Creek and Trumbull Country Club. The final round, reserved for the best of the best who advanced, was hosted by the Lake Club in Canfield.

Porter trailed Dick Marlowe, a fellow Tippecanoe member, and went into a sudden-death playoff after tying at the end of 18 holes. Marlowe had a solid lead, but Porter gained five shots on the final two holes to tie it.

Porter finished just one stroke ahead of Marlowe (221-222) to capture the crown. Porter said after the tournament that winning was one of the best achievements in his golfing career.

“It was just a great event and was well run,” he said. “It is something that this area needed for a long time and I can only see it getting bigger and better next year.”

Said Marlowe, “It’s competition. And we all love competition. I really had so much fun out here in this event.”