Approximately 50 members of the Northern Ohio Section of the Professional Golfers Association have entered the organization’s Professional Championships at Tippecanoe Country Club in Canfield next week.
The NOPGA will simultaneously stage the third and fourth of its 10 “major” events of the season during a three-day span beginning Monday, August 12:
* THE 74TH NOPGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP will be contested over 54 holes Monday through Wednesday, with the top four finishers earning entrance into the 57th PGA Professional National Championship to be held April 27-20, 2025, at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
* THE FOURTH NOPGA LADIES PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP will be contested over 36 holes on Monday and Tuesday.
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT . . A LOT:
There have been 15 multiple winners of the Section championship, but no one has won it as often as Rob Moss, the head professional at The Pepper Pike Club. Moss, a five-time NOPGA Player-of-the-Year, owns the unparalleled accomplishment of winning FIVE CONSECUTIVE Section Championships from 2010 through 2014. Three others have won four titles.
The multiple winners are : Rob Moss (5): 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014; Gary Robison (4): 1995, 2003, 2004, 2008; Don Padgett (4): 1981, 1984, 1987, 1994; Bryan Abbott (4): 1976, 1977, 1982, 1983; Denny Shute (3): 1954, 1956, 1958; Frank Beley (3): 1959, 1961, 1963; Tom Atchison (3): 1997, 2001, 2002; Jim Troy (2): 2021, 2022; Casey Schrader (2): 2015, 2018); Gary Trivisonno (2): 1990, 1996; Mitch Camp (2): 1989, 1993; George Bellino (2): 1969, 1988; Jim Masserio (2): 1978, 1980; Ed Griffiths (2): 1965, 1966); Herman Keiser (2): 1953, 1968.
GIVING IT ANOTHER SHOT:
Nine former champions have entered the 74th NOPGA Professional Championship. In alphabetical order they are (with their affiliation and the year they won):
Tom Atchison (PGA Lifetime Member) 1997, 2001, 2002
Mitch Camp (Windmill Golf Center) 1989, 1993
Jaysen Hansen (Toledo Country Club) 2020
Tony Milam (North Coast Jr. Tour) 1986
Rob Moss (Pepper Pike Club) 2010-11-12-13-14
Mike Stone (Belmont Country Club) 2019
Gary Trivisonno (PGA Lifetime Member), 1990 & 1996
Jim Troy (The Golf Dome) 2021 & 2022
Tom Waitrovich (PGA Lifetime Member) 2000
2023 QUALIFIERS AND ALTERNATES:
2023 at Tippecanoe
Jason Carbone 71-70-74=215 (-1)
Jim Troy 75-71-71=216 (E)
Steve Mulcahy 75-71-72=218 (+2)
ALTERNATES
Jaysen Hansen 71-74-74=219 (+3)
Rob Moss 71-75-74=220 (+4)
MORE ON THE 74TH NOPGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP:
The event has been won by some of the most well-known names in the 78-year history of the Section. Players such as former members Herman Keiser, Denny Shute, Charlie Sifford, Don Padgett and Gary Robison, as well as current members Jason Carbone, Mitch Camp, Gary Trivisonno, Tony Milam, Tom Waitrovich, Rob Moss, Mike Stone, Jaysen Hansen and Jim Troy, all have won the title.
THE PAST CHAMPIONS
2023 Jason Carbone
2022 Jim Troy
2021 Jim Troy
2020 Jaysen Hansen
2019 Mike Stone
2018 Casey Schrader
2017 Ben Cook
2016 Jamie Broce
2015 Casey Schrader
2014 Rob Moss
2013 Rob Moss
2012 Rob Moss
2011 Rob Moss
2010 Rob Moss
2009 David Engram
2008 Gary Robison
2007 Todd Lancaster
2006 Dwayne Randall
2005 Tom Herzan
2004 Gary Robison
2003 Gary Robison
2002 Tom Atchison
2001 Tom Atchison
2000 Tom Waitrovich
1999 Greg Smith
1998 Tom Fussaro
1997 Tom Atchison
1996 Gary Trivisonno
1995 Gary Robison
1994 Don Padgett
1993 Mitch Camp
1992 Jimmie Brothers
1991 Deon Good
1990 Gary Trivisonno
1989 Mitch Camp
1988 George Bellino
1987 Don Padgett
1986 Tony Milam
1985 Martin Roesink
1984 Don Padgett
1983 Bryan Abbott
1982 Bryan Abbott
1981 Don Padgett
1980 Jim Masserio
1979 R. Werner
1978 Jim Masserio
1977 Bryan Abbott
1976 Bryan Abbott
1975 Charlie Sifford
1974 Gene Ferrell
1973 Darrel Knicely
1972 Al Mengert
1971 Rex Baxter
1970 Dave Graham
1969 George Bellino
1968 Herman Keiser
1967
1966 Ed Griffiths
1965 Ed Griffiths
1964 Dennis Bradley
1963 Frank Beley
1962 Frank Harned
1961 Frank Beley
1960 Frank Stranahan
1959 Frank Beley
1958 Denny Shute
1957 Ralph Bond
1956 Denny Shute
1955 Hans Merrell
1954 Denny Shute
1953 Herman Keiser
1952 Charley Wipperman
1951 Dick Shoemaker
MORE ON THE FOURTH NOPGA LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP:
This event is held in conjunction with the NOPGA Professional Championship. Mary Suitca, head professional at Tannenhauf Golf Club, has won it two of the last three years and was the runnerup in 2023 behind champion Emily Heikkila, assistant professional at Trumbull Country Club. Here are the top three finishers in the previous three events:
2023 @ Tippecanoe
Emily Heikkila 78-76=154
Mary Suitca 81-79=160
Averi Hanna 80-83-163
2022 @ Westfield
Mary Suitca 75-72=147
Emily Heikkila 78-76=154
Erin Craig 86-81=167
2021 @ Lakewood
Mary Suitca 74-73=147
Jen Creech 73-79=152
Tiana Jones 77-77=154
ROLEX PLAYERS-OF-THE-YEAR POINTS LEADERS
(points/events entered)
ROLEX PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR:
1. Jaysen Hansen (Toledo CC) 913.36 (11); 2. Mark Bixler (Kirtland CC) 484.94 (7); 3. Rob Moss (Pepper Pike) 463.58 (8); 4. Adam Lewicki (Portage CC) 4127.43 (8); 5. Cory Kumpf (Brookside CC) 407.22 (8).
ROLEX SENIOR PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR:
1. Mike Stone (Belmont CC) 438.00 (7); 2. Mitch Camp (Windmill Golf Center) 203.00 (8); 3. Gary Rusnak (1899 Golf, CLE East) 197.34 (7); 4. Tom Waitrovich (PGA Lifetime Member) 190.33 (8); 5. Tom Atchison (PGA Lifetime Member) 179.50 (8).
ROLEX LADIES PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR:
1. Mary Suitca (Tannenhauf GC) 182.90; 2. Averi Hanna (The Country Club) 90.92; 3. Emily Heikkila (Trumbull CC) 41.86; 4. Elise Illius (Avon Oaks CC) 35.00; 5. Katie Camp (Westfield CC) 15.00.
