By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

Mike Morrow (front row, left) was inducted into the Summit County Hall of Fame last Tuesday and was joined by his family, including his wife Denise, daughters Mandi Unruh, Kelly Homa and Jamie Vence, as well as one of his grandsons.

Mike Morrow, longtime, successful coach of the Kent State University Golden Flashes women’s golf program, was recently inducted into the Summit County Hall of Fame.

A graduate of Stow High School, Morrow was a four-year letterman in golf for the Golden Flashes and earned Mid-American Conference medalist honors in 1973 to become Kent State’s first All-American in golf.

He was named the first women’s golf coach in 1998 and guided the women of Kent State to 14 consecutive Mid-American Conference Championships and four NCAA Championship appearances.

His colleagues respected him as he was named MAC Coach of the Year 10 times and NCAA Regional Coach of the Year twice. Golf Magazine recognized him as the 2001 National Coach of the Year.

Morrow has previously been inducted into the KSU Varsity “K” athletics Hall of Fame, the Stow High School Hall of Fame and the Women’s Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

The 64th Summit County Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet was held Oct. 3 at the Annunciation Greek Church in Akron.

Morrow’s family, wife Denise and daughters, Mandi Unruh, Kelly Homa and Jamie Vence, joined him for the prestigious induction.

FOCUS ON PORTAGE COUNTY COLLEGIATE ATHLETES

DILLON PENDERGAST

Portage County golfers have not only had success on the fairways of local high school conferences, but many have also continued to compete at the collegiate level. Through the end of October, Par for the Course will focus on an individual athlete each week competing at the Division-I level.

This week: Dillon Pendergast of Mogadore.

Following an outstanding senior year as the repeat Player of the Year in the Portage Trail Conference and earning ninth in the OHSAA Division III state golf tournament in 2022, firing rounds of 79 and 80 and North Star Golf Course, Pendergast signed his letter of intent to compete for Division I Horizon League member Cleveland State University.

Pendergast is currently playing in tournaments for the Vikings, including the most recent event hosted by Cleveland State, the Tom Tontimonia Invitational, at Lakewood Country Club.

With the largest number of teams competing in the annual event, 15, CSU finished in sixth place behind Butler, Bowling Green, IUPUI, Marshall and Purdue Fort Wayne.

Pendergast tied for 21st in the event, carding a final round of 3-under-par 66.

Additional competitors finding success at the Cleveland State University tournament included three Portage County Amateur and Junior Amateur trophy winners.

Darin Hudak of Tallmadge earned a fourth-place finish in the CSU tournament competing for Bowling Green, Cole Christman of Boardman tied for 24th place and Jake Ryan of Akron in 76th place, both competing for Youngstown State University.

TOURNAMENTS & OUTINGS

OCTOBER

OCT. 15 — Cross Country Scramble, Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course, Lake Milton. (Nine-hole, four-person scramble across the 18-hole course, $220 per team.) Call 330-654-4100.

OCT. 28 — Boyd’s Big Cup Halloween Bash, Fairways at Twin Lakes (Four-person, 9-hole scramble, two flights – 10:15 a.m. and 1 p.m.). Call 330-673-7889.