By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

Junior golfers look forward to an exceptional number of tournaments in July to hone their competitive skills prior to the official start of practice for the Ohio High School Athletic Association season.

For high-school golfers, the first day of coaching and the beginning of the season is July 29. As high-school conferences conclude their seasons, the OHSAA sectional tournaments for all divisions are set to take place Sept. 18-28.

TOURNAMENTS TO WATCH THIS WEEK

Junior golfers had a break from tournaments hosted by The Northern Ohio PGA this past week due to the three-day playing of the 103rd Ohio Open.

But the schedule is back in full swing this week. On Monday, junior golfers travel to Pine Hills Golf Course in Hinckley, Thursday the junior tour heads to Erie Shores Golf Course in North Madison and on Friday golfers will tackle Fox Den Golf Course in Stow. The Futures Tour will also compete at Fox Den.

PORTAGE COUNTY KIDS AND JUNIOR AMATEURS

The Portage County Kids Amateur is in two weeks, July 21, when kids play on the middle nine at Sunny Hill Golf Course in Brimfield.

Young golfers, including youths entering ninth grade, may experience their very first tournament or use the event to continue honing their tournament skills as they play with youths in their own age groups.

High-school golfers walk with the youths to help with rules, scorekeeping and answer questions the young golfers may have. Parents are encouraged to watch the golfers as they walk in the rough or rent a cart to ride on the cart paths.

Sunny Hill’s middle nine is the perfect course for the golfers to compete.

The Portage County Junior Amateur tees off at Windmill Lakes on July 22 and concludes at Sunny Hill on July 23.

Juniors 13 to 19 play 18 holes each day while 12-and-under compete over nine holes each day.

Registration is available online at www.pcagolf.net, in person at Amateur host golf courses (Sunny Hill, Raccoon Hill in Kent and Windmill Lakes in Ravenna). For additional information, call 330-206-9083 or email golffam2@gmail.com.

OVERHEARD ON THE GOLF COURSE

During one of the recent junior golf tournaments, one of the girls in the 13-to-15 age group drove her ball off the tee and said loudly, “Oh, no.”

But the ball hit a tree, oftentimes not a good situation, and she offered a play-by-play of her ball hitting the tree and wondering where it was.

The ball popped out in the middle of the fairway and she finished her commentary with, “Oh, OK, that’s good.”

Lesson learned.

Always act like you planned the shot.

Something that looks like it might be a terrible drive may actually end in the perfect play for a golfer to make par.

THE GOLF COURSES

The weather has been great to start the golf season and golf courses are in great shape to play leagues and tournaments.

Golfers will be thrilled with the fairways, greens and tee boxes at the Portage County Amateur golf courses. Courses have continued to improve, including new tees on several of the holes at Raccoon Hill.

The Portage County Amateur is in three weeks.

Don’t forget to register and play a practice round to enjoy the lush fairways of host golf courses.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES

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.)

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

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—Southeast Athletic Boosters, Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course, Lake Milton. (Four-person scramble, $100 per person includes golf, beverages, breakfast, lunch and dinner.) Call Bruce Leifeit 330-885-1327, Brenda Thomas 330-310-1515.

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

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)