The 23rd season of the Greater Cleveland Skins Game opened up at Fowlers Mill Golf Course in Chesterland today, under unusually warm and windy conditions.
Twenty three players competed, and the first shot of the evening was hit by the 2012 Defending Champion Steve Blackburn Jr, shown in the video above.
The birdies were flying — and the past champions wasted no time in getting in on the action!
Eddie Neer, the 2010 Thompson Cup winner, knocked it to three feet on the 420-yard par-four first hole and found his way to the pay window for the first skin of the season.
Then Brian Perkin battled through the wind on the signature 440-yard par-4 4th hole for a nice birdie skin.
On the difficult par-4 430 yard dogleg sixth hole, 2011 champion Dave Sotka made a birdie skin, hitting it to six feet.
Finally, on the 550-yard par-5 8th hole, defending champion Blackburn Jr. made his statement by hitting driver four iron to 25 feet and making the putt for an eagle skin.
Skins were worth $132.50 each.
All holes were birdied except for perhaps the easiest hole on the course — the 357 yard par-4 2nd hole!!
Pin shot winners were Sam Corabi and newcomer Lonnie Kammer from Akron. Corabi hit it to 20 feet on the 200 yard par three 3rd hole and took home the Mulligan’s pin shot worth $92, while Kammer hit it to 12-feet on the 165 yard 7th hole for a pin shot worth $69.
Next week Thursday, April 25th the Greater Cleveland Skins Game travels to Manikiki Golf Course in Willoughby Hills, starting at 4:45 p.m.
2013 GREATER CLEVELAND SKINS GAME LEADERBOARD – WEEK 1
| PLAYER | TOTAL | Skins | Skins $ | Pins | Pins $ |
| Steve Blackburn Jr | $132.50 | 1 | $132.50 | ||
| Dave Sotka | $132.50 | 1 | $132.50 | ||
| Brian Perkins | $132.50 | 1 | $132.50 | ||
| Eddie Neer | $132.50 | 1 | $132.50 | ||
| Sam Corabi | $92.00 | 1 | $92.00 | ||
| Lonnie Kammer | $69.00 | 1 | $69.00 |
