43
Marlowe, Knox advance in NOGA event
By Ryan Buck
NILES
Youngstown native Dick Marlowe and playing partner Jeff Knox, of Cleveland, have qualified for the 2014 Northern Ohio Golf Association Seniors Four-Ball Match-Play Championship.
The pair combined to shoot a 1-under 71 at Tippecanoe Country Club on Monday to finish in a tie for second in the two-round stroke play event. Marlowe and Knox were even-par after a combined round of 72 last Monday at Lake Forest Country Club in Hudson.
The open event featured accomplished players from golf clubs and country clubs from all over northeastern Ohio.
The top 16 teams, seeded according to the now-completed stroke play performance, from the 176-player event advanced to the Match Play Series round, which will take place at some of the area’s venerable courses.
“We were OK (today),” said Marlowe, a longtime area golf standout and fixture at The Vindicator’s Greatest Golfer of the Valley. “I did not play very well myself. I could’ve played a little better and I think we would’ve won, but I had a tough day.”
Nonetheless, the unlikely pair advanced and weathered the course’s revered layout, precise greens and wet conditions.
“The golf course was in absolutely great shape today,” Marlowe said. “It’s match-play, single-elimination (now).
Once competitors, Marlowe and Knox are now a formidable team. Marlowe is a veteran of the individual NOGA events, but the team aspect appealed to him and Knox convinced him to come along.
“We’ve played against each other for years in Northern Ohio Golf Association events,” Marlowe said, “and we were playing in a tournament in Miami (Fla.) this winter together and one thing led to another and we’re partners in this.”
Knox’s parents grew up in Youngstown before moving to Cleveland. He returns often, especially to play at Tippecanoe, which Marlowe has called home since he was a boy.
“I saw this was (Marlowe’s) golf course, so I knew I wanted to be his partner,” said Knox, laughing. “I knew I’d have trouble here.
“I’ve played here probably 30 times over the years. I’ve played in tournaments here since college. I like the course. The greens are tricky. Today was wet and the greens weren’t nearly as fast as they usually are.”
The “four-ball” format takes the lowest score on each hole from a pair of players. In match play, the low score from competing pairs takes the hole.
NOGA is made up of 43 member clubs. The match play finals will take place Oct. 2 at Lakewood Country Club in Lakewood.