Greatest Golfer to kick off at historic Stambaugh

5th year to feature more courses, events

Staff report

It’s a new year for Mahoning Valley’s golfers to take aim at becoming the Greatest Golfer of the Valley, and the new season comes with new events.

The 5th annual Greatest Golfer of the Valley presented by Farmers National Bank, Superior Beverage and Covelli Enterprises kicks off with a special outing that pays homage to the sport’s rich local history.

On May 10, legendary Valley golfers Rick Jones, Harry Toscano and George Bellino will take part in The Greatest Traditional at Stambaugh inaugural outing. The two-person scramble event will feature various divisions for adults, juniors, male and female pairings.

“It’s an honor for us to be hosting,” said Dave Boos, Stambaugh course professional. “Stambaugh Golf Course opened in 1923 and has a great history of many great golfers growing up and playing golf here.”

Festivities will include best throw-back attire, a hickory stick par 3 challenge and giveaways to the 2014 Greatest Golfer tourney.

“This area is a huge golf area and [Stambaugh] being one of the oldest courses — obviously a municipal golf course — it actually gave more people over the years access to affordable golf,” Boos said. “Which is always important because without this place, there’s a lot of people who would’ve never been able to play the game.”

Greatest Golfer is a competitive golf event that began in 2010 and now includes competition for adults, junior and scramble teams. It’s played all summer at 14 courses and benefits 25 charities.

In 2013, Greatest champs in the adult division included: John Hazy, Jonah Karzmer, Sean Tisone, Patty Brant, Toni Notaro, Joe Castor, Robert Leonard and Dominic Vechiarelli.

The junior winners were Christina Cooper, Ken Keller, Billy Colbert and Jenna Vivo.

In the scramble event, Mark Ferrara, John Doughton Jr., John Doughton III and Greg Powell took first place in gross score and Toni Notaro, Tom Korner, Larry McCall and Jill Harmon won the event with their cumulative handicap applied.

New this year for Greatest includes:

A Greatest Driver of the Valley competition with more than 50 drivers competing for the title of Greatest (longest) driver.

A revamped junior division with a points system advancing golfers to the championship that will be at Avalon Lakes.

Additional PGA Tour Pro appearances when pro Jason Kokrak returns home Aug. 18 for the Greatest Scramble Championship.

All information, rules, and online registration can be found on vindy.com/golf.

Register now for the Stambaugh event. Register after May 10 for the juniors and adult play.

The first of the 24 qualifier scrambles will be May 17 with the following events:

Rolfe Golf Scramble for Relay for Life at Tamer Win.

Take Swing for Autism at Pleasant View.

Hubbard Touchdown Club at Pine Lakes.

All questions on Greatest Golfer should be directed to vindygreatest@vindy.com.