43
Tippecanoe’s Porter shoots par for lead
By Pete Mollica
YOUNGSTOWN
Mike Porter knows that the shaded areas on a golf course are not the areas you want to be in when playing the game.
Porter, a member of Tippecanoe Country Club, kept the ball out of the shade on Saturday afternoon while shooting an even-par 70 round to take the opening round lead in the Open Division of the Greatest Golfer of the Valley Tournament at Mill Creek Park’s North Course.
Porter holds a two-shot lead over Youngstown Country Club’s Wes Caudill, who opened with a two-over-par 72.
The second round of the 54-hole tournament will be played today at Trumbull Country Club in Warren and will use the same tee times and pairings as Saturday.
Ninety-nine golfers were entered in the tournament, which drew more than 100 spectators and is being sponsored by The Vindicator and Farmers National Bank.
There are six different divisions in the tournament and the field will be cut following today’s round. The final round for the survivors will be on Saturday at The Lake Club in Poland.
“I really kept the ball out of the shade today and I also putted very well,” Porter said. “And this place has more shade than any place I know.”
Porter who had 9-hole rounds of 34 (1-under-par) and 36 (1-over-par) finished with three birdies and three bogeys.
“The golf course was in great condition and it will be interesting to see how I do at Trumbull, where I’ve only played there a few times,” he said.
Caudill, who had rounds of 35-37, also praised the condition of the golf course.
“I hit my irons very well, but this course was playing very difficult today, but it was in great condition,” Caudill said. “The 18th hole is a tough finishing hole, playing 465 yards into the wind.
“I hit a utility club to the green and then had to make a great chip shot,” he said. “I was very happy with a par there.”
Four other golfers were another shot back at 73. They included Dick Marlowe of Tippecanoe, Thomas Kellogg of Tamer Win, Frank Sybelnik Jr., of Yankee Run and Don Fleck of Squaw Creek Country Club.
Marlowe, who also shot a 1-under-par 34 on the front side ran into a little trouble on the back.
“I was playing very well until I got to the 12th hole,” Marlowe said. “I had 90 yards into the green and hit it about 60 yards and that started a string of four straight bogeys.”
Kellogg and Sybelnik said the keys to their round was just keeping the ball in play.
The leader in the 6-12 handicap division was James Lapolla of Trumbull Country Club, who shot a 78 and was the only player in that division to shoot under 80. Jerry Ferrell Jr., of Mill Creek was second with an 80.
“I had only played Mill Creek once before today and I was very impressed with the golf course,” Lapolla said. “I had one double bogey and I lipped on three birdie putts.
“Hopefully playing at my home course tomorrow will give me an advantage, but you never know.”
There were only six players in the women’s division and Mill Creek’s Joan Ash was the class of the division shooting a 77, including a even-par 36 on the front nine.
She holds a six-stroke lead over Trumbull Country Club’s Sally Taylor, who will be playing on her home course for today’s second round.
“I made two birdies and just one bogey on the front, but I hit five greens and got up and down pretty well, but that wasn’t the case on the back,” Ash said.
In the Senior Division (60-69 years of age) Jerry Bolinger of Mill Creek took the first round lead with a 78, one shot better than Bob Leonard of Kennsington, who finished with a 79.
The Super Senior Division (70 and over), Ed Antonelli of Avalon Lakes Golf Course built a three-shot lead after an opening round of 77. Jerry Rehak of Mill Creek was second with an 80.
For the final division for handicaps of 13 or higher, the first round leader was Paul Marovich of Tam O’Shanter Golf Course in West Middlesex, Pa.
Marovich shot an 85, two shots better than Ed Kennedy and Tom Oneseti, both of The Lake Club.