By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

SUMMER TOURS STARTING

Many youth golfers enjoy playing tournaments and events throughout the summer, including the Northern Ohio PGA Junior tournaments, the Portage County Junior and Kids Amateur and additional one-day and series events in Northeast Ohio.

The Under Armour has already started in northern Ohio with two events completed and Ava Miller of Rootstown is having a great start to the season.

Miller competed at Mud Run in Akron on Saturday and won the championship of the girls 15 to 18, firing 9-over-par.

Miller had already been enjoying success earning fourth at Silver Lake Country Club in Stow and runner-up at Arrowhead Golf Club in North Canton.

Sia Kohara of Hudson, Portage County Junior Amateur Champion in girls 12-and-under, winning the girls 12 to 14 age division at Silver Lake.

Bo Birchak of Lake Milton, another successful Portage County Kids and Junior Amateur competitor, earned seventh place in the boys 9 to 11 age division at Mud Run and finished ninth at Silver Lake Country Club.

Upcoming tournaments in the Under Armour Junior Tour include:

• Glenmoor Country Club May 3
• Tannenhauf Golf Course in Alliance May 10
• Alliance Country Club in Alliance on May 17

NOTE: The rosters and list of champions at some junior tournaments sometimes do not list hometowns. If your junior golfer is competing in an event or tournament, please let Portage Sports know. We want to recognize the efforts and successes of your golfers throughout the summer. Email golffam2@gmail.com or text 330-206-9083. Thank you.

Sia Kohara (Hudson)

Bo Birchak (Lake Milton)

KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES

The Kent State women’s golf team, following their 26th victory as Mid-American Conference champions, will compete at the Columbus, Ohio regional for the opportunity to advance to the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship.

The Columbus Regional May 5-7 at the Ohio State University Golf Club’s Scarlet Course. The NCAA Championship is scheduled for May 16-21 at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, CA.

Five teams and the leading individual advance to the NCAA Championship.

The men’s golf team begins their tournament action at the MAC Golf Championship at Pinnacle Golf Club in Grove City hosted by Bowling Green State University beginning today and concluding Tuesday.

The men have won 28 MAC championships and are seeking their first win since 2022. Norton High School alumnus Nolan Haynes has had a solid freshman season, earning three top-20 finishes.

57th PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Randy Dietz, alumnus of Kent Roosevelt and Kent State University and Steve Parker, alumnus of Kent State University will join Jim Troy (The Golf Dome), Jaysen Hansen (The Country Club) and Mark Sierak (formerly head professional at Aurora’s Barrington Golf Club and current owner of Optimus Golf) to compete at the 57th PGA Professional Championship beginning today and concluding on April 30 at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Luci, Fl.

The five golfers earned the right to compete in the championship at the NOPGA Professional Championship in Canfield at Tippecanoe Country Club last season.

More than 300 professional golfers compete in the tournament that concludes on Tuesday.

PRO-PRO SCRAMBLE

Cory Kumpf and Matthew Nimsuwan, both of Brookside Country Club, competed in the Pro-Pro Scramble at Shady Hollow in Massillon, winning the event and, for Kumpf, making it two-in-a-row at the Northern Ohio PGA sponsored events.

Kumpf and Nimsuwan combined for an 11-under score, besting the team of Mike Stone and Johnny Widdmer of Belmong Country Club by two strokes.

Next up, the Holden Pro-Pro Shootout at Chippewa Golf Course on Monday in Doylestown.

Pros to watch include Cory Kumpf, looking for his third consecutive win with Blake Sattler of Brookside Country Club; former Kent State University golfer Ned Weaver competing with Mitch Camp, formerly of Aurora’s Club Walden and a PGA Life Member; and Kent State University alumnus Rob Moss teaming up with fellow golf professional at Pepper Pike Golf Club, Sean McGuire.

SHARE YOUR SUCCESS

Information for the column including tournaments, leagues and adult and junior golfers successes may be shared at golffam2@gmail.com or text 330-206-9083. We look forward to sharing the accomplishments of all golfers throughout the Spring and Summer.

GOLF CALENDAR

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

GOLF SCRAMBLES

May 24: Twin Lakes Spring Two-Player Scramble, Fairways at Twin Lakes, Kent. Registration $110 per player. Call 330-573-7888 or email Brian Harvey at twinlakesbharvey@gmail.com.

June 7: 8^th Annual Rootstown Endzone Club Golf Outing, Sunny Hill Golf Course, Brimfield. Registration $400 per team by May 30. Email rootstownendzoneclub@gmail.com or call 330-221-4293 for information.

June 29: Portage Sports Four-Person Scramble, Sunny Hill Golf Course, Brimfield. Registration $300 per team by June 20. Email tomnader@portagesports.com for information.

PORTAGE COUNTY AMATEURS

July 26-27: 95^th PORTAGE COUNTY AMATEURS: Windmill Lakes Golf Club July 26, Raccoon Hill July 27. County, Open and Women Divisions.

Aug. 30-31: 55^th SENIOR AMATEUR: Raccoon Hill Aug. 30, Windmill Lakes Aug. 31. Age divisions: 50-59, 60-69, 70-plus men and women.

July 22-23: 19^th MATT MISHLER JUNIOR PORTAGE COUNTY AMATEUR: Sunny Hill Golf Course July 22, Windmill Lakes Golf Course July 23. Age divisions 16-19, 13-15, 12 and under.

July 20: 11^TH PORTAGE COUNTY KIDS AM: July 20 at Sunny Hill Golf Course in Brimfield. Golfers entering ninth grade and younger.

For additional information on the Amateurs please feel free to email golffam2@gmail.com or text 330-206-9083. Registration is available at pcagolf.net, at all host golf courses or via mail.

NORTHERN OHIO PGA

May 9: Mother-Daughter Night, Hosted by NOPGA and Ohio Girls Golf Foundation, Fox Den Golf Course, Stow. Begins 5:30. Girls 8 to 18.

May 28-29: 40^th Ohio Senior Open at Firestone Country Club’s Fazio Course.

June 2: Kenny Novak Pro-Junior-3 Am at Club Walden in Aurora.

June 30-July 2: 104^th Ohio Open at Firestone Country Club.

July 14-15: 36-hole Junior Series Championship at Windmill Lakes.

July 21: Ohio Girls Golf Foundation Showcase at Avon Oaks.

July 28-29: 42^nd NOPGA Junior Tour Championship at Barrington Golf Club.

Log onto www.thenorthernohiopga.com for registration and additional information

DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT LOCAL REGISTRATION: July 1: Windmill Golf Center, 1511 E. Aurora Road, Macedonia; July 12: Mill Creek Golf Club, W. Golf Drive, Boardman.

July 27: Medina Country Club, 5588 Wedgewood Road, Medina. Log on to thenorthernohiopga.com for registration and additional information.