15 Dayton-area players in Ohio Mid-Amateur field at Miami Valley GC

The Ohio Mid-Amateur Championship, which made its debut in 1956 at Dayton Country Club, will hold its 61st renewal this week at Miami Valley Golf Club.

Ninety-nine players, ages 25 and over, have registered for the 54-hole event that begins Tuesday. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the top 40 and ties for the final round on Thursday.

Jeff Scohy of Bellbrook, who won event in 2015 at Perrysburg, is among 15 Dayton-area players in the field. The 39-year-old Scohy tied for third in 2014 and was runner-up in 2005, 2008 and 2011.

Pete Samborsky II, Ryan Reichley and Paul Day have placed highly in recent Mid-Ams. One perennial challenger is 2012 champion Kevin Grabeman of Columbus, who grew up in Springboro.

Larry Herrmann, head professional at Miami Valley, said the course was playing firm and fast until it received two inches of rain on Wednesday, forcing cancellation of a member-guest stag.

“They’ll be in for a treat when they come out here for practice on Monday,” Herrmann said.

Starting times on Tuesday begin at 8 a.m. and continue until 1:40 p.m. The public is welcome to attend, and there is no admission charge.

Weiss repeats as City champ

Brandon Weiss of Vandalia successfully defended his City of Dayton Match Play Championship last Sunday when he crushed Jacob Van Leeuwen, 7-and-5, in a 36-hole match at Madden Golf Course. Weiss eliminated veteran Steve Block in a semifinal match.

It was another feather in the cap for the 21-year-old Weiss, who attends Ohio State University. He won the 2016 title when he edged Mike Dempsey 1-up in a 36-hole final.

A couple of weeks ago Weiss was among several Dayton area players who qualified at Moraine Country Club for the Ohio Amateur Championship in July at Springfield Country Club. It is the second time he has qualified for the Ohio Am.

Teams needed for Mixed Metro

In an effort to revive the Mixed Metro Tournament that was held for many years but not in the last three or four, a tournament with a different format was scheduled this year for June 19 at Walnut Grove Country Club.

Instead of the modified Chapman format, tournament officials felt the event would be more popular if a Stableford format were used by the two-person, male-female teams.

In a Stableford, points determine the net and gross winners. You get no points for a double bogey or higher, but 1 point for bogeys, 2 points for pars, 4 points for birdies, and 8 points for eagles.

The goal was to have 40 teams, but as of a few days ago there were only only about 10 – too few for the event to be successful. The entry deadline is Tuesday.

Steve Jurick, executive director of the Miami Valley Golf Association, said, “The ladies drive this event by contacting a male partner, but our market may not be big enough any more to support this event. We’ve lost too many golf courses.”

Chip Shots

Jack Kozlowski of Columbus turned in a 36-hole total of 142 to win the Ohio Junior Championship Wednesday at Ashland Golf Club.

Mason Witt of Xenia tied for seventh at 146 and Jonathon Cloyd of Springboro tied for 14th at 149. Austin Greaser of Vandalia, who was in contention after 18 holes, slipped to an 80 and tied for 31st.

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