| PGA Northwest Ohio Junior Golf Championship |
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Monday, July 26 2010, 07:00 - 13:00
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This popular tournament was founded in 1971 by Greg Fish who was a senior at The University of Toledo and a former junior golfer who felt that there was too little competition in the Toledo area for young golfers. In 1971, Greg was the golf shop manager at Riverby Hills, which was the site of the first event. The first event was a huge success with 201 entries from Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana -- a testament to the fact that junior competition was hard to find 39 years ago. The first winner was Tim Weis from Fostorio, Ohio and a milestone was reached 23 years later when Tim's son played in the event. Even though Judd Sivlerman, the founder of the LPGA Jamie Farr Tournament, did not win the event he won others on the TJGA schedule and now his sons are playing in this year's tournament.
The PGA Northwest Ohio Junior was played at Highland Meadows Golf Club in 1972, Tamaron Country Club in 1973-1974, Valleywood Golf Club in 1975-1978, Heatherdowns Country Club in 1979-1986, and has been played at South Toledo Golf Club since 1987 (24 years).
Next year will be the 40th Anniversary for the PGA Northwest Ohio Junior Championship - certainly a milestone event. I have always believed that this tournament was one of the most important, since it has always been a multi-round tournament and is the only 54-hole stroke play tournament on the TJGA schedule.
In 1973 a girl's division was added to the event to help develop girl's competitive golf in the area and many past winners have gone on to play on college golf teams and a few have gone on to play professional golf on the LPGA Tour. Greg and Raynell's youngest daughter, Sheryl, presently works for the LPGA in Daytona Beach, Fla. and was a regular player in TJGA evnets. Jennifer Fish DeCamp, their oldest daughter, won the PGA Northwest Ohio Junior Championship in 1994.
Other notable accomplishments from past winners:
- 1973 & 1976 winner Steve Schaff played in the 2008 USGA Senior Open
- 1985 & 1986 winner Steve Stone is a PGA Golf Professional
- 1993 winner Mike Don Kotnik is a PGA Golf Professional in Florida
- 1996 winner Milt Carswell Jr. is the PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Stone Oak Country Club
- 1997 & 1998 winner Kevin Kornowa won the Ohio Amateur
- 1999 winner Heather Zielinski played for Purdue University and the LPGA FUTURES Tour
I must also thank Nick Szymanksi, South Toledo Golf Club's PGA Head Professional, for his work as tournament director for the past ten years. Nick was also a past competitor in this event and he has been at South Toledo Golf Club for 24 years. Like many former TJGA golfers, Nick has given time back to the TJGA. Nick was president of the TJGA from 2006-2008.
Greg Fish, PGA Golf Professional
PGA Northwest Ohio Junior Championship Founder
Toledo Hall of Fame
NOPGA Hall of Fame |
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