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Neighbors | Submitted.High school golfers from Boardman, Austintown Fitch, Canfield, Howland, Massillon Jackson, Canton GlenOak, Green, Beaver Local, Champion, Lakeview, Poland, Cardinal Mooney, Ursuline, Warren JFK and Columbiana pose for a picture before the Christine Terlesky Lake Club Girls Golf Invitational began.
The first Christine Terlesky Lake Club Girls Golf Invitational took place on Sept. 19 with a total of 15 teams competing in the event.
Division I teams included Boardman, Austintown Fitch, Canfield, Howland, Massillon Jackson, Canton GlenOak and Green. Division II teams included Beaver Local, Champion, Lakeview, Poland, Cardinal Mooney, Ursuline, Warren JFK and Columbiana.
The teams played 18 holes, with lunch donated by Chick-fil-A before the tournament started.
Awards were presented after the tournament by Lake Club owner Ed Muranksy and Dennis Miller, Director of Golf at the Lake Club. Cocca’s Pizza donated the food for the dinner at the awards ceremony. The teams played an 18-hole practice round and then attended a buffet dinner in the Lake Club banquet room. One of the speakers at the dinner was Christine Terlesky, former history teacher and girls basketball and golf coach from Boardman, who is battling ALS. The tournament is being named in her honor.
Ed Muransky, President of the Lake Club; Chris Sammartino, Vice-President; and Dennis Miller, Director of Golf provided an exciting first-class tournament.
“Ed, Chris and Dennis were very excited about this opportunity to host a local high school girls invitational,” Denise Gorski said. “Ed far exceeded any expectations I had on making this one of the premier high school outings in the state. And he really wanted to do something to help the Terlesky family out with their medical expenses. As everyone knows, Ed has a big heart and organizes first class events.”
The idea for the invitational came about after last year’s state golf tournament.
“My husband, Dan, and I went down to watch our boys team and Jacinta Pikunas and Jenna Vivo play at the State Tournament,” Gorski said. “Christine went to the practice round but after that could not attend any more of the tournament. Her family had to eventually take her home. On our way back home, Dan and I talked about how heartbreaking it was and what could we do for her and the family. Then we thought about having a high school girls’ tournament in her honor, something that would be a lasting legacy for her. Being members of the Lake Club, I set up a meeting with Ed, Chris and Dennis and it went from there.”
Muransky also allowed for sponsorship levels to help with the Terlesky family expenses and wanted 100 percent of the sponsorships raised to go only to the family and not to any of the tournament expenses. Gorski had to check with OHSAA to make sure on sponsorships so no one’s eligibility was compromised.
The Lake Club is the presenting sponsor of the entire tournament. Sponsorship levels were platinum level ($1,000), Gold level ($500), Silver ($250) and Bronze ($100). Those still interested in a sponsorship can contact Denise Gorski at the Boardman athletic office at 330-726-3423. More than $19,000 has already been raised through the sponsorship of this special tournament.
“The entire valley community was so very generous and to have close to $19,000 raised in such a short period of time is a tribute to the respect they have for the Terlesky and Moschella families and the generosity of this valley and surrounding communities,” Gorski said.
When the tournament concluded, the team from Green High School defeated the Lady Spartans by one stroke, 317-318, in Division I. Massillon Jackson was third (346), Canfield was fourth (350), Canton GlenOak was fifth (373), Fitch was sixth (433) and Howland placed seventh (470).
Spartan senior Jacinta Pikunas was the overall medalist of the entire tournament shooting an impressive score of 69. The Spartans Jenna Vivo and Britney Jonda, both juniors shot a score of 79 to tie for sixth place, overall. Sophomore Maya Stinson shot 91 and Emily Jackson shot a 109 to round out the scoring for the Spartans.
In Division II, the Poland Bulldogs won with a team score of 385 points. Columbiana was second (391), Beaver Local third (393), Lakeview fourth (404), Cardinal Mooney fifth (413), Warren JFK sixth (418), Ursuline seventh (438) and Champion finished in eighth place (497).