By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

The Northern Ohio PGA’s goal is to grow the game of golf and give great opportunities for golfers of all ages to compete.

DAVID GRIFFITH

The calendar is full of NOPGA tournaments for youth and adults however, the NOPGA is preparing for one of the most prestigious events on their calendar, the Ohio Open.

The 103rd Ohio Open Championship tees of July 1-3 at Westfield Country Club in Westfield Center.

David Griffith, executive director of the NOPGA and Kent State alumnus, offered that the tournament welcomes about 288 professionals and amateur residing in Ohio. The event is sponsored by Pyramid Treating in Rootstown as the title sponsor.

Reigning champions include Michael Balcar of Toledo. Balcar is the current assistant pro at Brandywine Country Club and a former Cleveland State University standout golfer. He shot rounds of 66-65-65 to earn his first Open title.

The Westfield Country Club is the host course for the 103rd Ohio Open.

Reigning Amateur champion of the Open is Cade Breitenstine of Green and Kent State. He shot 64-64-69.

The Ohio Open has been a staple on the golf calendar for over a century and includes past champions Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson, Denny Shute and Tom Weiskopf.

Online registration for the Ohio Open is available on the Northern Ohio PGA website.

THIS WEEK

Two events on the calendar this week feature opportunities for both junior golfers and adults.

• The Olde Dutch Mill annual junior tournament tees off on Friday at the golf course in Lake Milton. Call Olde Dutch to register at 330-654-4100.

• The first Portage Sports Scramble Golf Tournament tees off at Sunny Hill Golf Course on Saturday. To register, contact Tom Nader at tomnader@portagesports.com. The winning team receives a $500 cash prize.

NOPGA JUNIOR SERIES GOLF SCOREBOARD

JUNE 21 — at TANNENHAUF GOLF CLUB, Alliance (18-holes)

Boys 16-19 — 12. Mica Thirion, Ravenna 81; 23. Tyler Pendergast, Mogadore 84; 18. Deacon Smith, Kent 92.

Boys 14-15 — 8. Jacob Rainieri, Mogadore 81.

GIRLS 16-19 — 8. Izzi Wood, Kent 83; 17. Gianna Rodenhauser, Aurora 93.

JUNE 19 — at SHAWNEE HILLS GOLF CLUB, Bedford (18-holes)

Boys 16-19 — 14. Mica Thirion, Ravenna 80.

NOPGA FUTURES TOUR SCOREBOARD

June 21 – TANNENHAUF GOLF CLUB, Alliance (9 holes)

Boys 10-11 — 4. Mason Dillon, Rootstown 43; 9. Nathan Devlin, Mogadore 49.

Boys 12-16 — 2. Nathan Kinter, Rootstown 41.

Girls 12-16 — 2. Makenna Ward, Kent 48.

JUNE 19 – SHAWNEE HILLS GOLF CLUB, Bedford (9 holes)

Girls 12-16 — 4. Makenna Ward, Kent 47.

Girls 8-11 — 2. Ayreana Rippey, Mogadore 41.

JUNE 18 – LEGENDS OF MASSILLON, Massillon (9-holes)

Boys 10-11 — 1. Mason Dillon, Rootstown 35.

Girls 12-16 — 2. Makenna Ward, Kent 51.

Girls 8-11 — 1. Ayreana Rippey, Mogadore 40.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES

PORTAGE SPORTS

June 29 — Portage Sports Four-Person Scramble, Sunny Hill Golf Course, Brimfield. ($300 per team, email tomnader@portagesports.com to register a team or for sponsorship opportunities). Winning team awarded $500.

PORTAGE COUNTY AMATEURS

Register at host golf courses, online at pcagolf.net or via mail. For info call/text 330-206-9083, email golffam2@gmail.com, or log onto the Portage County Amateurs Facebook page.

JULY 21 — 10^th Portage County Kids Amateur, Sunny Hill Golf Course, Brimfield.

JULY 22-23 — 18^th Matt Mishler Portage County Junior Amateur, Sunny Hill Golf Course, Brimfield and Windmill Lakes Golf Course, Ravenna.

JULY 27-28 — 94^th Portage County Amateur, Windmill Lakes Golf Course, Ravenna and Raccoon Hill Golf Club, Kent.

AUG. 24-25 — 54^th Portage County Senior Amateur, Windmill Lakes Golf Course, Ravenna and Raccoon Hill Golf Club, Kent.

TOURNAMENTS AND EVENTS

(To add an event to the calendar, text or call 330-206-9083 or email golffam2@gmail.com.)

JUNIOR EVENTS

FRIDAY — Olde Dutch Mill Junior Tournament, Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course, Lake Milton. (Registration information 330-654-4100)

NOPGA Junior Events (register a at northernohiopga.com)

JULY 15-16 — 48^th Ohio Junior Girls Championship, Marion Country Club, Marion. (WOSGA.org)

JULY 22 — Ohio Girls Golf Foundation High School Showcase, Avon Oaks Country Club, Avon. (Sponsored by NOPGA)

JULY 15-16 — NOPGA 36 Hole Jr. Series, Windmill Lakes, Ravenna.

JULY 30-31 — 41^st NOPGA Jr. Tour Championship, Club Walden, Aurora.

OUTINGS, TOURNAMENTS AND EVENTS

SATURDAY — Night Golf, Fairways at Twin Lakes, Kent. $220 per foursome (Register by calling 330-673-7888).

JULY 1-3 — 103^RD Ohio Open, Westfield Country Club, Westfield. (Entry deadline June 24, www.nopga.com.)

JULY 26 — Olive Tree Family Foundation 4^th Golf Invitational, Raintree Golf Club, Uniontown. (Four-person scramble, $125/golfer, info — Troy Luckenbaugh 330-671-0073, email olivetree@olivetreefamilyfoundation.org) Register at olivetreegolf.com. Deadline July 13.

AUG. 4 — Rootstown Rover Sports Booster Outing, Sunny Hill Golf Course, Brimfield. (8:30 a.m. shotgun start).

AUG. 10 — Camp Quality Charity Golf Outing, Paradise Lake Golf Course, Suffield. (Four-person scramble, $400 by July 4, $460 after July 4, Information at 330-968-8924 or ohio@campqualityusa.org.)

AUG. 17 — Browns Backers 17^th Golf Outing, Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course, Lake Milton. (Four-person scramble, 8:30 a.m. shotgun start, $90 per person.) Registration deadline Aug. 10. Call Gary 330-207-5939 or Rodney 330-718-8176 for info. Registration form available on Lake Milton Browns Backers Facebook page.

WOMEN’S TOURNAMENTS

JULY 22-25 — 101^st Women’s Ohio State Amateur Championship, Belmont Hills Country Club, Clairsville (WOSGA.org)

JULY 22-25 — 8^th Women’s Mid-Amateur, Belmont Hills Country Club, St. Clairsville. (WOSGA.org)