NOPGA TO STAGE SECTION PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND LADIES PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT WESTFIELD
WHAT: NOPGA Professional Championship; NOPGA Ladies Professional Championship
WHEN: August 22-23-24
WHERE: Westfield Country Club, North Course, 6500 Greenwich Rd., Westfield Center.
CONDUCTED BY: The Northern Ohio Section of the Professional Golfers Association of America (NOPGA).
PRESENTING SPONSORS: Club Car, Cadillac
SUPPORTING SPONSORS: Titleist/FootJoy; Nike Golf; TaylorMade; Callaway.
FORMAT: NOPGA Professional Championship – 54 holes, stroke play. Field will be cut to the low 25 scores and ties after 36 holes. NOPGA Ladies Professional Championship – 36 holes, no cut.
AT STAKE:
The top four finishers in the Section Professional Championship event will qualify for the 56th PGA Professional Championship, to be played in New Mexico, April 30-May 3, 2023. Four alternate spots also will be won. In 2021, the top prize was $3,000.00.
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS:
NOPGA Professional Championship – Jim Troy (Windmill Golf Center); NOPGA Ladies Professional Championship – Mary Suitca (Tannenhauf GC).
A LOOK AT 2021:
The NOPGA Professional Championship was held at Beechmont Country Club in 2021 and Troy edged Canton Brookside PGA Head Professional Cory Kumpf by one shot with rounds of 75-68-69=212 (1-under). Kumpf shot 74-72-67=213. The Section had five qualifiers last year and the other qualifiers were Nathan Desens (Inverness Club), Milton Carswell (Stone Oak CC) and Gary Rusnak (1899 Golf-Cle East). The alternates were Mark Evans (Mayfield-Sand Ridge), Rob Moss (Pepper Pike), Mike Stone (Belmont CC) and Mark Sierak (Barrington). Mary Suitca, PGA Head Professional Tannenhauf Golf Club, won the NOPGA Ladies Section Championship at Lakewood CC with rounds of 74-73=147.
CAN HE MAKE IT A DOUBLE?:
Pepper Pike Club PGA Head Professional Rob Moss won the NOPGA Senior Professional Championship last week at Westbrook Country Club in Mansfield. Can he double up this week at Westfield? Moss has won this event a Section-best five times (2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010) amongst his 35 career wins. Former Canton Brookside Director of Golf and NOPGA Hall of Famer Gary Robison and the late Bryan Abbott are next with four each.
DOUBLE PLAYS:
With his victory in the NOPGA Senior Professional Championship Moss became the sixth Section member to win both the NOPGA Professional Championship and the NOPGA Senior Professional Championship. The others are Gary Robison, Gary Trivisonno, Mitch Camp, Tony Milam and George Bellino.
PLAYER | SENIOR PROFESSIONAL | PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Rob Moss | 2022 | 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
Gary Robison | 2020, 2018, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2005 | 1995, 2003, 2004, 2008
Gary Trivisonno | 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 | 1990, 1996
Mitch Camp | 2014 | 1983, 1989
Tony Milam | 2017 | 1986
George Bellino | 1985, 1987, 1991 | 1969, 1988
