By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

The summer golf season is off to a successful start for junior golfers. Look at almost any leaderboard across the many tournaments, and golfers from Portage County or attending Portage County area schools.

FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS

People who hear that the son or daughter of a professional athlete is excelling in the sport often think, “Well, of course.”

Ben Curtis (left) and his son Liam after Liam won the Ohio Junior Championship.

It’s not that easy.

The same dedication, years of practice and honing skills and the desire to play well are the most important factor in excelling in sport.

Having someone by your side that understands success and shares in those exciting moments is a plus.

Ben Curtis is a source of pride for Portage County.

The champion of the 2003 British Open, after a successful collegiate career at Kent State University with coach Herb Page, the family has become ingrained in Portage County as Ben has his own teaching academy and he and his wife, Candace, manage the Ben and Candace Curtis Family Foundation continue their mission to help children overcome disadvantages  “to become the best champions of their own lives.”

Their son, Liam, is a recent graduate of Kent Roosevelt High School, where Ben was the golf coach and Liam has signed his Letter of Intent to follow in his father’s footsteps and play for Kent State University.

Liam competed in the Ohio Golf Association’s Ohio Junior Championship at Ashland Golf Club and earned the victory by four strokes.

All three of his rounds were under par: 68-70-71.

Liam’s accomplishment adds him to a prestigious list of champions at the Ohio Junior Championship that includes his father, who won the event two times and was inducted into the Ohio Golf Association’s Hall of Fame in 2018.

104^th OHIO OPEN

The 104^th playing of the Ohio Open will be hosted by the Northern Ohio PGA on the three courses of Firestone Country Club in Akron June 30-July 2.

It is the first time in six years that the event returns to the prestigious golf club in Akron.

The Ohio Open is sponsored by Roy and Kathy Kommel’s Pyramid Treating, which is located in Rootstown.

The Northern Ohio PGA was proud to discuss plans for the Ohio Open in Firestone’s Champions Room as past winners of the Ohio Open were also on hand including Mitch Camp, retired head golf professional at Club Walden in Aurora and currently a teaching professional at Windmill Golf Center; and Rob Moss, former stand-out at Kent State University and head professional at Pepper Pike.

This season’s Ohio Open will welcome 288 golfers for the first and second round before the cut is made for the final championship pairings.

David Griffith, executive director of the NOPGA and Kent State golf alumnus, welcomed everyone and pointed out several programs the organization operates as well as golf championships and tournaments.

Many junior golfers enjoy success on the numerous junior tours sponsored by the Northern Ohio PGA including the Futures Tour, the Junior Tour, the 36-hole series, collegiate series, PGA Junior League and Drive, Chip and Putt qualifiers.

The Ohio Open is one of the most prestigious events on the schedule that includes the Ohio Senior Open, also contested at Firestone Country Club, and the Toledo Open.

The focus of the NOPGA continues to be growing the game as the section Foundation  will provide more than 125 sets of golf clubs in the Clubs for Kids program offering full sets of clubs to high school teams and junior golfers in need.

Additional programs include: PGA Hope, providing six to eight weeks of free golf instruction from NOPGA golf professionals trained in adaptive golf veterans may continue to participate in Operation: Play Days; scholarships for junior golfers; junior tour financial assistance and community grants.

Events throughout the season support the NOPGA’s mission.

The Ohio Open is sponsored by Roy and Kathy Kommel’s Pyramid Treating located in Rootstown.

JUNIOR TOURNAMENTS

NORTHEAST FUTURES TOUR @ Olde Dutch Mill, Lake Milton.

Boys Junior 9 hole champion: Bo Birchak, Lake Milton 41.

NOPGA JUNIOR @ Mill Creek, Boardman.

18-Hole Collegiate Series Women: 13. Izzy Wood, Kent 88; 16. Morgan Bauza, Kent 96.

Boys 16-19: 8. Jackson Sarver, Aurora 76; 11. Brett Epple, Streetsboro 79.

Boys 14-15: Champion: Nicholas Pollak, Aurora 69.

Girls 16-19: 11. Adrianna Mineo, Kent 92; 13. Gianna Rodenhauser, Aurora 96; 16. Brooke Beatty, Kent 103.

9-Hole Futures Boys 8-9: 2. Asher Mathes, Streetsboro 76.

9-Hole Futures Boys 10-11: 6. Nathan Devlin, Mogadore 4d9.

9-Hole Futures Boys 12-16: 4. Mason Dillon, Rootstown 42; 5. Nathan Kinter, Rootstown 46.

9-Hole Futures Girls 12-16: 2. Emily Morrison, Ravenna 42; 3, Ayreanna Rippey, Mogadore 44; 5. Makenna Ward Kent 47.

9-Hole Futures Girls 8-11: 3. Brielle Rowles, Streetsboro 45.

NOPGA JUNIOR TOUR @ Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Course, Akron.

Boys 16-19: 4. Jacob Rainieri, Mogadore 74; 7. Mica Thiron, Ravenna 76.

Boys 14-15: 4. Nicholas Pollak, Aurora 76; 8. Andrew VanDamme, Kent 82.

Girls 11-15: 7. Bennett DeLuca, Aurora 90.

Girls 16-19: 4. Gianna Rodenhauser, Aurora 82.

9-Hole Futures Boys 12-16: 5. Mason Dillon, Rootstown 47.

9-Hole Futures Girls 12-16: 2. Emily Morrison, Ravenna 47; 6. Leah Williams, Ravenna 66.

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

Aug. 11: Ben Curtis Golf Classic, Barrington Golf Club, Aurora. (Includes a golf clinic with Ben Curtis). Email nicole@bencurtisfoundation.org to reserve a spot.

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 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

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.