By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

Gracyn Vidovic, alumnus of the Aurora Greenmen girls golf team, who was the 2024 Suburban League Player of the Year and qualified for the OHSAA state tournament in 2023, made the most of her freshman year at Ashland University.

Vidovic qualified as an individual to the Division II National Championship.

Playing three rounds of golf representing the Eagles at Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Vidovic shot 77-76-80 for a 233 that was 17-over-par for the week, placing her in a tie for 42nd place individually.

15th KRI FOUNDATION GOLF OUTING

The 15th annual Katie Rae Iarussi Golf Outing was played at Paradise Lake Golf Club in Suffield on Saturday, with teams continuing to support the KRI Foundation that supports education, athletics and artistic expression among Rootstown youth.

Although the outing wasn’t able to finish due to a thunderstorm that came toward the end, everyone was committed to the purpose.

Ralph and Brenda Iarussi, along with family members and friends, continue to host events that remember and honor the memory of their daughter Katie.

Photos from the outing include the Iarussi family, the Cirjak team, the team of Logan Vair and Nick Yaw and the Cipriano team.

It was a fun day for all, despite the rain delay, as the Iarussi family and friends continue to raise funds to support the local schools.

2026 KENT JUNIOR GIRLS GOLF LEAGUE

The Kent Junior Girls Golf League is now open for registration as it begins its 17th season.

Signup your daughter, granddaughter or friend to participate in this opportunity to learn and develop golf skills in a fun, stress free environment.

The instructional golf league is a 10-week program designed for girls in grades three through nine. Experienced golfers, as well as entry-level golfers, benefit from this summer opportunity.

“The goal of the program is to develop and improve golf in a stress-free environment that promotes learning and most importantly, fun,” said Bryan Harvey, coach of the Kent Roosevelt varsity girls team and junior golf-league instructor, along with Casey Hogan, assistant golf league instructor and Kent Roosevelt girls golf assistant.

The league is Sunday evenings on June 14, 21, 28 and July 12 at the Fairways at Twin Lakes as well as Wednesday mornings June 10, 17, 26 and July 1 at Birdie Shack in Kent.

The girls also compete in the Portage County Kids Tournament on July 19th at Sunny Hill and enjoy a Parent-Child Scramble at the Fairways at Twin Lakes on July 26th.

For additional information, contact Harvey at Bharvey7526@gmail.com or Hogan at chogan@kentschools.net.

Program fee is $175 and includes all greens fees, course and clinic instruction, bag tag and certificate, T-shirt and Kent golf ball.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OUTING

The Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce presents their annual event on Aug. 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Windmill Lakes Golf Club in Ravenna.

Log onto the Ravenna Chamber of Commerce Facebook page for additional sponsorship information.

Registration for a team is $500 with others available including sponsors for greens, lunch, banquet and sponsor signs.

KENT STATE

After earning their 27th straight Mid-American Conference championship and qualifying for the NCAA Regional competition, the Kent State women’s golf team earned eighth place at the regional among 12 teams. The Flashes were just three spots out of advancing to the NCAA National Women’s Championship.

This was not only the 27th straight MAC title, it was also the team’s 25th consecutive appearance at the NCAA Regional — a streak that has continued under fifth-year head coach Casey VanDamme.

TAKE MOM TO GOLF

Don’t forget to Bring your Mom go Golf Night, hosted by the Ohio Girls Golf Foundation. The event was moved to May 22 with registration still open to attend the event at Fox Den Golf Course in Stow beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Girls ages 8-18 and their moms or another female mentor will have the opportunity to play in friendly competitions while learning from PGA and LPGA professionals.

Free for all participants and includes dinner after the clinic.

Log onto Ohio Girls Golf Foundation on Facebook and scan the QR code to register.

Note: Be sure and check the golf calendar for information on the Portage Sports outing, the Portage County Amateurs and the vast amount of golf scrambles and events hosted at golf courses throughout the greater Portage County area.

GOLF CALENDAR

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

PORTAGE SPORTS GOLF SCRAMBLE

The third annual Portage Sports Golf Scramble set for June 7 at Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course is sold out. For additional information email Tom Nader at tomnader@portagesports.com.

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 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)

May 30—Southeast Youth Football and Cheer Golf Outing @ Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course, Lake Milton. $400 per person, 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

Aug. 28—Ravenna Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing@ Windmill Lakes Golf Course, Ravenna.

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