For the third year, Centre County’s local golf professionals are competing in a six-event series once a month at different area courses using different formats and a points championship.
The second of this year’s events was held recently at the Mountain View Country Club in Boalsburg.
Belles Springs Country Club’s Judd Caruso carded a round of 72 to win at Mountain View. The win elevated him into first place in the series, while Mountain View’s Jack Brennan posted a 75 to move into third place.
Toftrees’ Cody Ceccato finished second with a round of 73 and is in fourth place for the series, while Bucknell’s Kevin Jamieson finished fourth at the event, carding an 80 in the round, and moving into third place in the championship standings. Clinton Country Club’s Sean Kaczynski, with an 81, remained in the series’ fifth-place spot.
The event also held two closest to the pin shots on No. 2, with Brennan closest, and on No. 16, with Kaczynksi closet.
The next event of the series is set for Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Sinking Valley Golf Club in Tyrone.
PGA Junior Golf League meeting at PSU courses
The PGA Junior League Golf is a fun, social and inclusive opportunity for boys and girls ages 13 and younger to learn and enjoy the game of golf. Much like other recreational league sports, participants wear numbered jerseys and play on teams with their friends.
Each team is captained by a PGA professional, who serves as the coach and is at the forefront of creating a welcoming environment for all to enjoy the game. PGA Junior League Golf utilizes a popular scramble format that creates a nurturing environment for learning and development, both on and off course.
The final match of the season is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Friday, July 15, using a shotgun start on the Penn State University White Golf Course.
Locals fair well at weekly NCPGA event
Forty-six players took on the heat July 6 at Knoebels’ Three Ponds Golf Course as William Knauth, of White Deer Complex, won for the third time in four weeks, carding the low round of the day with a 1-over-par 72 in the Division 1 Advanced group.
Knauth’s back nine surge was just enough to edge out Matthew Storeman, of Belle Springs Golf Club, by one stroke. Garrett Barilar, of Berwick Golf Club, finished third, four shots off of the pace with a 76.
Clinton Country Club’s William Adair carded an 82 for fourth, while Mountain View Country Club’s Tyler Nordblom shot a 94 and Nittany Country Club’s Daniel Zimmerman posted a 96.
The 18-hole Intermediate Division was very competitive, as well. Three players shot 81 or better, with Tyoga Country Club’s Benjamin Barnett coming out on top with a 78. Bradyn Tuttle, also of Tyoga, made a last-minute charge by carding birdies on three of the last eight holes, but it wasn’t enough, and he finished with an 81. Morgan Sohosky, of Tee-To-Green Golf Center, tied for third by matching Tuttle’s 81.
Three players from Clinton finished in the Top 10, with John Duda carding a 96, Devin Heverly shooting a 98 and Thomas MacMillen posting a 101.
In the Division II Advanced Nine-Hole group, Ben Sohosky, of Tee-To-Green, and Michael Maslanka, of Pine Hills Golf Club, came to a draw on the front nine, with a pair of 43s. Penn State Golf Club’s Maxwell Wager carded a 44 for third place.
In the Intermediate Nine-Hole Division, Cade Wirnsberger, of Bucknell, was the best in the field with a 54. Sunny Hill Golf Club’s Christian Kisner had a 57 and Wynding Brook Golf Club’s Carter Fedder shot a 58.
In the Five-Hole Division III Beginner group, Penn State’s Brady Wager shot a 22, Tee-to-Green’s Karl Unger shot a 28 and White Deer’s Landon Arriaga shot a 32. Also finishing were Chase Wirnsberger, of Bucknell, with a 33, Bren Crossgrove, of Shade Mountain Golf Club, with a 35, and Ian Owens, also of Shade Mountain, also with a 35.
Penn State Blue Course ladies hold event
The Penn State Blue Course Ladies League held its weekly event recently playing nine- and 18-hole matches.
Winning the 18-hole portion of the league event was the tandem of Linda Echard and Nancy Rodgers, with Maribel Lies and Sue Cross finishing second and Peggy Smith and Brenda Wagner placing third.
Jane Wallick and Anne Leahey won the nine-hole league event, while Bonnie Grant and Annetta Pierce finished second. Two teams tied for third in Linda Hood and Jan Leslie and Nancy Guild and Karen Wheeler.
NCPGA men play Knoebels Three Ponds Golf Club
One day after hosting the NCPGA junior tour, Knoebels Three Ponds Golf Club welcomed the men’s championship series event, as the field of 25 players in four divisions braved the 90-degree temperatures.
Dale Bievenour, of Honey Run Golf Club, had the lowest round of the day with an even-par 71. Bievenour went out at 1-over-par and evened out his score on the back nine by firing a 1-under-par 34.
Frank Richelderfer, of Lost Creek Golf Club, with an 80, was the best of the four competitors in the 50-59 age category. Richelderfer was able to solidify his victory by posting pars on the 17th and 18th holes, two of the most difficult on the course.
In the 60-69 division, William Kinley, of Williamsport Country Club, had the best score with 84. Kinley also had a strong finish with three pars to end his round.
Boyd Mertz, of Bucknell Golf Club, went 48 on the front nine and 44 on the back nine to card a 92. He was the top placer in the 80 and older division.
Toftrees Golf Club’s Jerry Lauchle was the lone local golfer participating in the weekly event and shot a 43-42, 85 in the men’s 70-79 division.
Mountain View announcers women’s results
The Mountain View Country Club Women’s League recently held its Nine-Hole League and 18-Hole League skills contests.
Nine-hole results had Kay Kustanbauter closest to the pin on No. 2, Laurie Eckenroth with the longest drive on No. 4, Suzi Owens with the longest putt made on No. 7 and Shai McGowan closest to the pin on No. 9.
For the 18-holers, net first was Louise Shope, with 35. Second place went to Bev Vender, with 37, and thrid place went to Kathy Knechtel, with 38.
Coming up aces at Mountain View
Stan Figart recorded his first hole-in-one recently on Mountain View Country Club’s 150-yard hole No. 16. Figart used a 6-iron for his first ace while playing with partners Darren Figart and Scott Stuck.
Ryder Cup pairs Nittany against Philipsburg
Hosted by the Philipsburg Elks Lodge Country Club, the 2016 Ryder Cup found Nittany Country Club competing against the host club, with the event ending in a 16-16 tie. Nittany retained the cup and will host the 2017 event.
The event featured three events each being played over nine holes in a match-play style of alternate shot, better ball of partners and individual scoring.
Nittany’s Dave Myers and William Luther were the only players to win all three of their matches.
Nittany’s championship team consisted of captain Ron Benton, Ken Bean, Chuck Colyer, Charlie Doland, Jerry Fisher, Brad Fritchman, Tim Glunt, Scott Gray, Mike Hoy, Mark Johnson, Rick Knepp, Ken Lannan, Luther, Ryan Mattern, Myers and Roy Reeve.
