Mallon plans to return to defend Farr title
4/20/2005Meg Mallon will defend her Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic title as the event returns to an early-July date this summer. The tournament will be staged July 7-10 at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania.
Mallon's win at the 2004 Farr Classic was her third in a five-week span that included victories in the U.S. Women's Open and the Canadian Open.
Other LPGA notables who already have signed on for the 2005 Farr include Natalie Gulbis, Christie Kerr, Laura Diaz, Jennifer Rosales, Rachel Hetherington and Kelli Kuehne.
Tournament director Judd Silverman said that two of the three pro-am events held in conjunction with the tournament are already sold out. He said there are still spots available in the Toledo Edison/ProMedica Health System Pro-Am held off-site at Inverness Club on July 5.
The Pepsi Junior Pro-Am will double in size for its second season, Silverman said. Scheduled for Monday, July 4 at Highland Meadows, the event will expand from nine to 18 holes and will include the participation of up to 100 high school girls from northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.
"We're delighted to be able to double the size of the field and provide an opportunity for so many high school girls to get a chance to play with the LPGA pros," Silverman said.
Eight area children's charities will share in the Farr Classic's net proceeds. They include the Old Newsboys, Feed Lucas County Children, Central City Ministries, Family House, Sylvania Area Family Services, Adopt America Network, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and the Jamie Farr Scholarship Fund.
"Thanks to Owens Corning and [presenting sponsor] Kroger, the tournament has a strong foundation," said Alan W. Brass, the 2005 general chairman. "Last year, the tournament distributed $360,000 to 10 northwest Ohio children's charities. We are confident that we will be able to exceed that number this year."
Silverman also announced that the Beach Boys will provide the headline entertainment at this year's McDonald Financial Group/Key Bank Gala Dinner and Show on July 5 at the SeaGate Centre.
Tickets to the show, as well as information on pro-am event openings and volunteer opportunities, may be obtained by calling the tournament office at 419-531-3277.
TAMARON PRO: Bill Kline, a former Toledo Metro Golf Association player of the year who turned professional in 2003, has been named the new PGA pro at Tamaron Country Club. Most recently an assistant pro at Eagle's Landing, Kline also has worked in pro shops at Ottawa Park and Bedford Hills.
ANOTHER HONOR: The pro shop at Inverness Club was the only Ohio representative to be named to the "100 Best Golf Shops" list by Golf World Business magazine. Inverness has made the list for 11 consecutive years, according to head pro David Graf.
TDGA TURNS 85: The Toledo District Golf Association is celebrating its 85th anniversary this summer. The district was organized on Feb. 8, 1921 with four charter clubs - Inverness, Sylvania, Toledo and the old Toledo Golf Club playing out of Ottawa Park. Today, the district is an alliance of 21 private clubs in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.
A SHUTOUT: No Northwest Ohio courses were listed on Golfweek's 2005 ranking of the best daily-fee courses in the state. The top 10 included, in order, Longaberger Club, Nashport; Shaker Run, Lebanon; Stonewater, Cleveland; Elk's Run, Batavia; Eaglesticks, Zanesville; Hickory Hills, Grove; Cook's Creek, Ashville; Weatherwax, Middletown; Quail Hollow Resort, Concord, and Boulder Creek, Streetsboro.
SAY WHAT? In which state do you presume the Ohio Senior Amateur would be held? This year's event is Aug. 15-17 at Williams Country Club in Weirton, W.Va. Weirton is in that tiny sliver of West Virginia that extends north between Ohio and Pennsylvania and is just across the Ohio River from Steubenville. Williams CC, founded in 1931, is a member club of the Ohio Golf Association.
Contact Dave Hackenberg at:
dhack@theblade.com
or 419-724-6398