Greatest of ‘Greatest’ to defend his title

Greatest of ‘Greatest’ to defend his title

Mike Porter, Tippecanoe Country Club, got his application in this week, confirming that August’s 2011 Greatest Golfer of the Valley tourney will have its 2010 Greatest champ in the field.

Porter captured the inaugural open division title with a gritty finish vs. fellow Tippe golfer Dick Marlowe and Youngstown Country Club’s Josh Zarlenga.

“I believe that this year’s tournament will be bigger and better,” said Porter. “I’ve got to play really hard because a couple weeks later I’m tying the knot. Who knows if I’ll ever be [allowed] back?”

He was just kidding on that last point. He’s also taken a bunch of kidding for being the inaugural “Greatest” champ.

“I’ve taken a lot of garbage in the last year for having the title ‘The Greatest’ because my buddies know better. But we will see. I love to compete.”

It’s the competing, Porter said, that sets off the Greatest from all other golf events.

“It’s great to have a tournament to look forward to every summer that is pure golf. It is played at various courses that makes you play a wide variety of shots. Putting everything in the hole changes everything,” Porter said. “Not too many tournaments out there do that anymore.”

Jonah’s take on Yankee Run No. 1

Jonah Karzmer of the Youngstown Golf Association is the local wikigolf guy. Every Tuesday, he scrutinizes The Vindicator’s Greatest Golf Hole of the Week selection.

Last week’s selection — the second hole of the 18 holes as picked by readers — was Yankee Run’s No. 1 hole. Here’s Jonah’s take:

“I like Yankee Run’s first hole as our second hole for two reasons: One, it’s a great par 5 that offers golfers a risk reward opportunity. Two, by placing the hole early in the round, it can set the tone for a golfer’s entire round.

“You can be left with a risk/reward decision right out of the gate. And this decision really takes me to my second point mentioned above; starting on a hole that can mentally set the tone for the rest of the round. I personally find that birdie-able par 5s and really difficult par 4s are ‘mentally tricky’ golf holes.”

Jonah’s insight continues on vindy.com/golf — including a video diary.