By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

Junior golfers who participated in Pirates Play Golf at Southeast Local Schools this winter, are making their way to Olde Dutch Mill to complete their final sessions and discover what is available to continue to improve their golf skills this summer.

This year, Pirates Play Golf celebrated it’s 10th season with two sessions of youth golfers from 3rd Grade through 8th Grade, learning to chip, putt, drive, short irons and etiquette.

The original brainstorm of Cindy Fesemyer, varsity girls golf coach for the Pirates’ girls golf team and retired physical education teacher, the program has continued with the help of Mike Jenior, varsity boys golf coach, assistant coaches and volunteers.

The program grew this season to include two sessions of junior golfers honing their skills or picking up a golf club for the first time.

The growth of the program is evident and has culminated in the Southeast varsity golf boys and girls teams both winning MVAC Championships this season while the girls defended their title for a second championship.

James Morgan, a senior this season for Southeast is a three-time Player of the Year across two conferences (PTC and MVAC) and recently signed his letter of intent to continue his education and golf at Walsh University with another familiar Portage County outstanding golfer, Corey Gasaway of Mogadore, the assistant coach for the Cavaliers.

Also participating in the program through the years was Jessie Mix, a senior this season who signed her letter of intent to compete at West Liberty University in West Liberty, WV.

The program continues to teach the skills to junior golfers for them to be competitive in junior tournaments and high school golf or simply enjoy the game as they continue to play into adulthood.

KRI FOUNDATION

The Katherine Rae Iarussi Foundation is again sponsoring the annual Golf Outing at Paradise Lake Golf Course on May 14 beginning at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start.

There are a few opening left for the four-person scramble that includes 18 holes of golf, cart, lunch, skins, beverages, dinner, prizes, 50/50 and basket raffle as well as a live auction.

Registration is $540 per team and a spot can be reserved by calling Ralph Iarussi at 330-289-8130. Deadline is May 9.

This is the 15^th annual event that raises funds in honor of Katie Iarussi supports the foundation that invests in the youth of Rootstown and encourages the youth to pursue their dreams through education, athletics and artistic expression.

JUNIOR LEAGUE AND RUMBLE BEGINS

Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course in Lake Milton is calling all junior golfe

rs to compete this summer in the Junior League Rumble and/or the Junior Golf League.

The Junior League Rumble is a fun and competitive league with golfers playing nine holes matches every week in a team scramble format.

The league is run by US Kids instructors on Monday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon, beings June 15 and continues through July 27.

Registration is $225 and covers golf, team uniforms and lunch every week. Uniforms include team shirts and hats.

Teams announced June 12. To register call Olde Dutch Mill at 330-654-4100 or email Mike Jenior at MJENIOR91586@gmail.com

The separate Junior Golf League begins June 14 and run through July 26, every Sunday at 4 p.m.

On-course instruction is provided by certified U.S. Kids Instructors and Olde Dutch Mill golf professional Mike Jenior.

Juniors will enjoy fun drills and competitions that will hone the junior golfer’s skills and knowledge with prizes given out every week.

Golfers play nine holes each week and are paired in their age divisions with an end of the season banquet and prize raffle on July 26.

Parents are encouraged to be spectators or caddy each week and spend time with their junior golfer.

Fee is $175. Register by calling 330-654-4100.

BRING YOUR MOM TO GOLF

The Ohio Girls Golf Foundation in conjunction with the Northern Ohio PGA are hosting the third annual Bring Your Mom To Golf at Fox Den Golf Course in Stow on May 8.

Girls ages 8 to 18 and their mothers or another female mentor, will have a chance to play in friendly competitions while learning from PGA and LPGA professionals.

The event is free for all participants and includes dinner after.

To register log onto Ohio Girls Golf Founcation on Facebook and follow the google form or scan the barcode.

THE AMATEURS

Excitement continues to grow for the Portage County Amateurs as registration for the initial tournaments, focusing on youth golfers, continues to grow.

The success of the Kids Amateur and the Junior Amateur in recent years has seen some of the best golfers from the greater Portage County Area competing for recognition.

Please go to pcagolf.net for registration and information.

GOLF CALENDAR

To be added to this calendar please text 330-206-9083 or email golffam2@gmail.com

PORTAGE SPORTS GOLF SCRAMBLE

To register for the third annual Portage Sports Golf Scramble set for June 7 at Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course email Tom Nader at tomnader@portagesports.com. Registration is $$400 per team and limited to 32 four-person teams.

PORTAGE COUNTY AMATEURS

To register, visit PCAGolf.net for online registration and information, register in-person at host courses, or mail registration to Portage County Amateur, 2739 Tallmadge Road, Ravenna, OH 44266. To receive an email registration form or for questions call or text 330-206-9083 or email golffam2@gmail.com

JULY 25-26—96^th PORTAGE COUNTY AMATEUR. July 25 – Windmill Lakes Golf Club, Ravenna; July 26 – Raccoon Hill Golf Club, Kent. Divisions: County, Open, Women. 18-holes each day. Registration $100 by July 10; late registration $120 by July 23.

AUGUST 29-30—56^TH PORTAGE COUNTY SENIOR AMATEUR. Aug. 29 – Raccoon Hill Golf Club, Kent; Aug. 30 – Windmill Lakes Golf Club, Ravenna. Age Divisions: 50-59, 60-69, 70-plus, Women. 18-holes each day. Registration $100 by Aug. 14, Late registration $120 by Aug. 26.

JULY 21-22—20^TH MATT MISHLER PORTAGE COUNTY JUNIOR AMATEUR. July 21 – Sunny Hill Golf Course, Brimfield; July 22 – Raccoon Hill Golf Course, Ravenna. Age Divisions for Boys and Girls: 16-19, 13-15 play 18-holes each day; Boys and Girls 12 and under play nine holes each day. Registration ages 13-19 $60, 12 and under $45. Deadline July 18. Each golfer receives a $10 gift certificate.

JULY 19—12^TH PORTAGE COUNTY KIDS AMATEUR. July 19 – Sunny Hill Golf Course, Brimfield (middle nine). Four separate age divisions for boys and girls: Grades 8-9, 6-7 (play nine holes) – $20; Grades 4-5 (play six holes) $20; Grades 3 and under (plays four holes) $15. Deadline July 16.

LOCAL OUTINGS AND SCRAMBLES

MAY

May 2—Spring Scramble, Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course, Lake Milton. (two-person scramble, 9 a.m. shotgun start, $75 per person.)

May 15—PARTA 21^ST Annual Golf Outing @ Sunny Hill Golf Course, Brimfield. (four person scramble)

May 16—KRI Foundation Golf Outing @ Paradise Lake Golf Course, Suffield. (four person scramble)

JUNE

June 7—Portage Sports Annual Golf Outing @ Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course, Lake Milton.

June 20—Rootstown Endzone Club Golf Outing @ Sunny Hill Golf Outing, Brimfield.

JULY

July 25-26—Christmas in July Night Golf @ Fairways at Twin Lakes. $240 per foursome.

AUGUST

Aug. 10—Ben Curtis Golf Classic @ Congress Lake Golf Club, Hartville

JUNIOR GOLF

JULY

July 20—Ohio Girls Golf Foundation Showcase, Avon Oaks Country Club, Avon.

NORTHERN OHIO PGA (register at thenorthernohiopga.com)

June 30 – July 2—104^th Pyramid Treating Ohio Open, Firestone Country Club, Akron.

May 28-May 29—40^th Ohio Senior Open, Firestone Country Club, Akron.

NOPGA JUNIOR GOLF (register at thenorthernohiopga.com – registration now open)

NORTHERN OHIO PGA JUNIOR TOURS…

The NOPGA has several tours for juniors including the Next Level Tour (36 hole events), Performance Tour (18-hole events) and Futures Tour (9 holes).

The Futures Tour are unique nine-hole events giving junior golfers a chance to experience tournament golf in a fun environment.

Members receive a gift and a personalized caddie bib.

SCHEDULE

May 23-24—Next Level at Tannenhauf Golf Club, Alliance.

May 26—Performance Tour, Lake Forest Country Club, Hudson.

May 30-31—Next Level, Mill Creek Golf Club, Boardman

June 2—Performance Tour, Ellsworth Meadows, Hudson

June 2—Futures Tour, Ellsworth Meadows, Hudson

June 8-9—Next Level at Alliance Country Club, Alliance

June 19—Futures Tour, Mill Creek Golf Club, Boardman

June 22-23—Junior PGA Section Championship, Glenmoor Country Club, Canton

June 24—Futures Tour, Tannenhauf Golf Club, Alliance

July 6—Performance Tour, Silver Lake Country Club, Stow

July 7—Performance Tour, Tanglewood Golf Club, Chagrin Falls

July 9-10—Next Level @ Fox Den, Stow

July 14-15—Next Level @ Windmill Lakes Golf Club, Ravenna.

July 23—Futures Tour, Mud Run Golf Course, Akron.

July 27-28—43^rd NOPGA Jr. Tour Championship, Oberlin Country Club, Oberlin