The Northern Ohio Section of the Professional Golfers Association will hold its final stroke-play event of the season on Monday and Tuesday, September 23-24, with the Mitchell-Haskell Tour Championship at The Country Club in Pepper Pike.
The event is named after Joe Mitchell and Coburn Haskell. Mitchell was the long-time professional at The Country Club, and Haskell, a long-time Country member, is acknowledged as the inventor of the modern golf ball. He obtained a patent on April 11, 1899.
OVERVIEW:
WHAT: 23rd annual Mitchell-Haskell Tour Championship
WHEN: September 23-24, 2024
WHERE: The Country Club, 2825 Lander Rd., Pepper Pike
WHO: Those eligible include:
* Any NOPGA member that has won a Section event this season
* Former Mitchell-Haskell winners
* Former Shute Match-Play champions
* Top 30 players on the current NOPGA Rolex Points List
* Top 15 players on the current Rolex Senior Points List
* Top 6 players on the Rolex Associate Points List.
FORMAT: 36 holes, no cut. Regular & Senior Divisions.
SPONSORS: Pepsi, Club Car, Holderness & Bourne.
THE COUNTRY CLUB: 6,803 yards, Par-36-36=72.
LEADERBOARD >
GOING LONG, REAL LONG
The contestants in the 23rd Mitchell-Haskell Tour Championship will face a big test – in more than one area – at The Country Club on Monday and Tuesday.
BIG TEST #1: The Country Club will play to approximately 7,358 yards that includes two holes that exceed 600 yards and four others that exceed 500 yards. The two 600-yarders are on the back nine. The 614-yard 12th hole is the longest on the course, followed by the 608-yard 16th. The Country Club will be the longest course the NOPGA members play this season and the 7,358 yards is the longest course.
BIG TEST #2: It is 36 holes against a deep and talented field that includes five players at or near the top of their respective NOPGA Player-of-the-Year races in Jaysen Hansen (Toledo CC), Jim Troy (The Golf Dome), Mike Stone (Belmont CC), Michael Balcar (Brandywine CC) and Blake Sattler (Willie’s Custom Golf). It also includes seven of the last nine champions in Regular Division winners Mark Sierak (Optimus Golf), Randy Dietz (Windmill Golf Center), Jim Troy (The Golf Dome) and Senior Division winners Mike Stone (Belmont CC), Tom Atchison (PGA Life Member) and Steve Parker (Portage CC). Troy has won the event four times since 2018 and Atchison is a 5-time winner dating to 2011.
A REVIEW OF 2023:
The tournament returned to The Country Club after a one-year absence. Mark Sierak, co-owner of Optimus Golf, won the Regular Division with rounds of 71-71=142 (-2). Blake Sattler (Willie’s Custom Golf), Nick Paez (GolfTec, Cleveland West) and Michael Balcar (Brandywine CC) tied for second, one shot behind.
Belmont Country Club Director of Instruction Mike Stone won the Senior Division by defeating PGA Life Member Mitch Camp in a one-hole playoff after both finished regulation play tied at one-under 143.
PAST WINNERS
Championship Division: 2023: Mark Sierak; 2022: Randy Dietz; 2021: Jim Troy; 2020: Jim Troy; 2019: Randy Dietz; 2018: Jim Troy; 2017: Rob Moss; 2016: Casey Shrader; 2015: Andrew Shiflet; 2014: Jaysen Hansen; 2013: David Champagne; 2012: Rob Moss; 2011: Tony Adcock; 2010: Jason Reddington; 2009: Steve Mulcahy; 2008: Todd Lancaster; 2007: Ben Farina; 2006: Jaysen Hansen/Mitch Flemming; 2005: Michael Ferry; 2004: Steve Mulcahy; 2003: Mitch Camp; 2002: Eric Morgan.
Senior Division: 2023: Mike Stone; 2022: Tom Atchison; 2021: Steve Parker; 2020: Gary Rusnak; 2019: Gary Robison; 2018: Gary Robison; 2017: Craig Goldsberry; 2016: Gary Robison; 2015: Tom Atchison; 2014: Tom Atchison; 2013: Tom Atchison; 2012: Gary Robison; 2011: Tom Atchison; 2010: Tom Waitrovich/Gary Robison; 2009: Jim Logue; 2008: Gary Robison; 2007: Gary Robison; 2006: Gary Robison/Dan Priest/Gary Baker; 2005: Jim Logue; 2004: Tom Herzan; 2003: Bob Barto.
ALL-TIME LEADING WINNERS OF THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Championship Division: Jim Troy 3 (2018, 2020, 2021); Randy Dietz 2 (2019, 2022); Rob Moss 2 (2012, 2017); Jaysen Hansen 2 (2014, 2016 w/Mitch Flemming).
Senior Division: Gary Robison 7 (2018, 2016, 2012, 2010 shared w/Tom Waitrovich, 2008, 2007, 2006 shared w/Dan Priest & Gary Baker); Tom Atchison 5 (2022, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011); Jim Logue 2 (2005, 2009).
FORE! Troy going for four:
Jim Troy, teaching professional at The Golf Dome and a five-time winner of the NOPGA Player-of-the-Year award, has an opportunity to add a fourth overall Mitchell-Haskell Tour Championship title to his resume. Troy, a Strongsville resident, previously won in 2021, 2020 and 2018. No one else has won more than two in the Regular Division. NOPGA Hall-of-Famer Gary Robison has won seven Senior Division titles. PGA Life Member Tom Atchison has a chance of tying Robison as he has won five titles.
THE TOP FIVE FINISHERS IN 2023
Championship Division: 1. Mark Sierak (Optimus Golf) 71-71=142; T2. Blake Sattler (Willie’s Custom Golf) 73-70=143; T2. Nick Paez (GolfTec Cleveland West) 72-71=143; T2. Michael Balcar (Brandywine CC) 68-75=143; 5. Jordan Schroeder (Findlay CC) 72-72=-144.
Senior Division: 1. Mike Stone (Belmont CC) 72-71=143; 2. Mitch Camp (Club Walden) 71-72=143; 3. Tom Waitrovich (PGA Life Member) 73-71=144; 4. Tony Adcock (1899 Indoor Golf-Canton) 73-72=145; Rob Moss (Pepper Pike Club) 70-76=146.
GOING LOW AT THE MITCHELL-HASKELL TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
There have been numerous low scores posted throughout the history of the Mitchell-Haskell Tour Championship with former Pepper Pike Club Assistant Casey Schraeder owning the lowest with an opening-round 64 (8-under) in 2016. Schraeder went on to win the tournament, adding a final-round 74 for a 138 total and a three-shot victory over Beechmont head professional Jaysen Hansen (70-71). (Hansen has since become head professional at Toledo Country Club.)
Here are the tournament’s lowest single-round scores in the last 10 years:
64: Casey Schraeder, 1st round 2016.
66: Jaysen Hansen, 2nd round, 2014; Mike Stone, 2nd round, 2019.
67: Mike Stone, 2nd round, 2014.
68: Andrew Shiflet, 1st round, 2015; Tim Perrin, 2nd round, 2016; Mike Stone, 2nd round, 2017; Jim Troy, 1st round, 2020; Randy Dietz, 1st round, 2022; Adam Lewicki, 1st round, 2022; Jim Troy, 1st round, 2022; DJ Holub, 1st round, 2022; Michael Balcar, 1st round, 2023.
69: Mike Frisina, 1st round, 2014; Nathan Tarter, 2nd round, 2017; Randy Dietz, 1st round, 2019; Collin Slattery, 2nd round, 2019; Jim Troy, 1st round, 2021; Rob Moss, 1st round, 2021; Collin Slattery, 1st round, 2021; Jaysen Hansen, 1st round, 2022; Jordan Paolini, 1st round, 2021; Mark Scott Jr., 1st round, 2022; Sean McGuire, 1st round, 2022; Michael Balcar, 1st round, 2022.
THE ROLEX PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR RACES IN THE HOME STRETCH
Two of the three NOPGA Rolex Player-of-the-Year races are still undecided and the outcome of the final two events of the year – the Mitchell-Haskell Tour Championship and the Denny Shute Match Play Championship (October 7-8-9 at Portage Country Club) — could play a role in determining the outcome. Here are the current top five players in all three divisions:
CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION
Player & Affiliation | Events Played | Points
1. Jaysen Hansen (Toledo Country Club) 13 1,215.86
2. Jim Troy (The Golf Dome) 11 943.31
3. Mark Bixler (Kirtland Country Club) 10 654.09
4. Randy Dietz (Windmill Golf Center) 9 614.60
5. Adam Lewicki (Portage Country Club) 11 588.80
SENIOR DIVISION
Player & Affiliation | Events Played | Points
1. Mike Stone (Belmont Country Club) 10 601.50
2. Steve Parker (Portage Country Club) 9 297.50
3. Tom Waitrovich (PGA Life Member) 11 278.83
4. Tom Atchison (PGA Life Member) 12 271.75
5. Scott Pollack (1899 Golf-Twinsburg) 12 268.25
ASSOCIATE DIVISION
Player & Affiliation | Events Played | Points
1. Michael Balcar (Brandywine Country Club) 8 1,213.16
2. Blake Sattler (Willie’s Custom Golf) 8 1,193.38
3. DJ Holub (Pepper Pike Club) 9 993.68
4. Sean McGuire (Pepper Pike Club) 9 785.50
5. Joe Puch (Fox Meadow Country Club) 9 708.26
ROUND 1 GROUPINGS & STARTING TIMES:
Round 1: The Country Club, Monday, September 23, 2024
# Time Name
1 8:50 Kevin Quinn, The Country Club
Collin McEndree, Club Walden
1 9:00 Douglas Brown, Alliance Country Club
Jennifer Creech, The Golf Dome
1 9:10 Eric Morgan, Plum Brook Country Club
Tony Milam, North Coast Junior Tour
Jason Carbone, Canterbury Golf Club
1 9:20 Kevin Sullivan, Quail Hollow Country Club – Weiskopf/Morrish
Rob Moss, Pepper Pike Club
Jon Jones, Youngstown Country Club
1 9:30 Tom Atchison, PGA Of America Life Member
Gary Rusnak, 1899 Indoor Golf – Twinsburg
Mitch Camp, PGA Of America Life Member
1 9:40 Austin Rohrer, Alliance Country Club
Dan Wasinski, Signature of Solon Country Club
Mary Suitca, Tannenhauf Golf Club
1 9:50 Joe Puch, Fox Meadow Country Club
Sean McGuire, Pepper Pike Club
Antonio Bodziony, Chagrin Valley Country Club
1 10:00 Michael Balcar, Brandywine Country Club
Blake Sattler, Willie’s Custom Golf Center
DJ Holub, Pepper Pike Club
1 10:10 Steve Bordner, The Country Club
Garrett Korte, Northern Ohio PGA
Joshua Diemer, Chagrin Valley Country Club
1 10:20 Matthew Creech, The Golf Dome
Dennis Miller, PGA Of America Life Member
Averi Hanna, The Country Club
1 10:30 Nate Curtis, NorthStar Golf Club
Jared Toom, GolfTEC-Stonebrook
Mark Scott Jr., Westwood Country Club
1 10:40 Joe Meglen, StoneWater Golf Club
William McKinley, Sharon Golf Club
David Morgan, Westfield Group Country Club
1 10:50 Jordan Paolini, Shaker Heights Country Club
Mark Sierak, Optimus Golf
Daniel Terry, Chippewa Golf Club – Doylestown
1 11:00 Cory Kumpf, Brookside Country Club
Nick Paez, GolfTEC – Cleveland West
Nick Gustin, Erie Shores Golf Course
1 11:10 Randy Dietz, Windmill Golf Center
Adam Lewicki, Portage Country Club
Drew Pierson, The Clubhouse
1 11:20 Jaysen Hansen, The Toledo Country Club
Jim Troy, The Golf Dome
Mark Bixler, Kirtland Country Club
