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Mahoning Valley golf clubs crown champs
By Ryan Buck
The dog days of summer are here and that means it’s time for many of the area’s finest golfers to vie for their club championships.
Rugged competition and course familiarity make it a difficult task to unseat reigning winners. The honor of earning the title of Club Champion, however, is a distinguished one and highly coveted.
“I feel being the club champion of a private country club, it’s probably the biggest tournament of the year, it’s the biggest honor,” Tippecanoe Country Club head professional Michael Spiech said.
“It means you’re the best player at the club. It’s three rounds of golf and there’s no handicap.”
Five of the Mahoning Valley’s finest courses hold weekend tournaments to crown their annual winners. The picturesque venues provide perhaps hundreds of competitors, challenging layouts to members and course quality worthy of hosting The Vindicator’s Greatest Golfer of the Valley competition.
Nestled along Lake Evans, The Lake Club has grown to more than 600 members in the four years since its purchase of Fonderlac Country Club.
Last week’s members competition saw reigning champion and Vindicator golf contributor Jonah Karzmer, of Poland, take home his fourth consecutive overall club championship. Karzmer is a former Youngstown State golfer and golf professional.
Pam Holisky, also of Poland, captured her third straight victory in the event in the ladies’ division.
Salem’s Toni Notaro, after five runner-up finishes, earned her first title at The Salem Golf Club’s 2012 tournament. On the men’s side, Jim Sanor continued his reign as club champion. The Lisbon native has won four years in a row.
Thirty minutes north, Youngstown Country Club held its yearly competition last weekend. Boardman’s Tim Morrow, another YSU golf alumnus, picked up the win in his first appearance. Tiki Fifick, of Sarasota, Fla., was crowned ladies’ champion.
Tippecanoe Country Club is hosting their late summer tournament this weekend. Lori Bowden finds her name on the plaques adorning the halls of the Canfield property for the fourth time after her victory Thursday. Scott Porter, six-time champion, is back to defend his overall men’s title this weekend.
Warren’s Trumbull Country Club will also host its club championship today and Sunday. Niles’ Jack Pico is hoping to repeat in the men’s overall event, while perennial contenders Sally Taylor and Kathleen Lathem, both of Warren, are poised to reach the top of the leaderboard once again.