Just as all good things must come to an end, the local team is looking to make a not-so-good thing come to an end when the 28th Ohio Cup takes place next week at Westbrook Country Club in Mansfield.
The Ohio Cup is a competition between the Northern Ohio PGA and the Southern Ohio PGA. It is patterned after the Ryder Cup, with 16-man teams playing Fourball (also known as better ball), Foursomes (alternate shot), and Singles matches. The competition takes place this year on Wednesday, October 2, and Thursday, October 3, beginning at 8:30 a.m. daily.
The NOPGA, captained by Hall-of-Famers Mitch Camp and assistant Tom Waitrovich, leads the competition 16-11, but is looking to end a rare three-year losing streak. The SOPGA prevailed in 2023, 20.5 to 11.5.
THE PLAYERS WHO WILL REPRESENT THE NOPGA
Player | Affiliation | Ohio Cup Appearance | Record
CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION
Jaysen Hansen , Toledo CC 17th – 21-21-6
Jim Troy, The Golf Dome 7th – 8-6-4
Anthony Panepento, , Canterbury GC 1st – 0-0-0
Randy Dietz, Windmill Golf Center 6th – 10-5-0
Adam Lewicki, Portage CC 5th – 5-7-0
Nick Paez, GolfTec 4th – 5-3-1
Cory Kumpf, Brookside CC 11th – 11-15-4
Mark Bixler, Kirtland CC 1st – 0-0-0
Mark Sierak, Optimus Golf 6th – 8-6-1
Drew Pierson, The Clubhouse 2nd – 1-1-1
SENIOR DIVISION
Mike Stone , Belmont CC 4th – 6-2-1
Tom Atchison, PGA Life Member 22nd – 39-16-8
Rob Moss, Pepper Pike Club 19th – 28-20-6
Steve Parker, Portage CC 6th – 5-6-4
Mitch Camp (Playing Capt), PGA Life Member 23rd – 38-18-10
Tom Waitrovich (Playing Asst), PGA Life Member 10th – 15-9-3
ONE HALL-OF-FAMER TO ANOTHER:
That is the status of the NOPGA captaincy as PGA Life Member Mitch Camp takes over for Gary Robison. Camp, 66, will be playing in his 23rd Ohio Cup but his first as a captain. He served as Robison’s assistant last year. Camp, a member of both the NOPGA Hall-of-Fame and the Ohio Golf Hall-of-Fame, compiled a 38-18-10 record in the Ohio Cup.
2023 REVISITED:
A wise man once said, “In match play you can’t have pars and bogeys and expect to win. You have to make birdies.”
The tale of the 2023 tape: The top 10 SOPGA players made 80 birdies over the two days, 35 in singles play. The NOPGA’s top 10 players made 41 birdies, eight during the singles . . . Randy Dietz, Cory Kumpf and senior Tom Atchison were the NOPGA’s leading point-getters last year. All three produced two points by going 2-1-0 in their matches.
PUT ME IN COACH:
The NOPGA will have two players making their Ohio Cup debut in Kirtland Country Club Head Professional Mark Bixler and Portage Country Club Assistant Professional Anthony Panepento.
WELCOME BACK:
Returning to the squad are Belmont Country Club Director of Instruction Mike Stone and Drew Pierson, proprietor of The Clubhouse. This will be Stone’s fourth appearance and the second for Pierson.
ALL-TIME OHIO CUP RESULTS AND SITES
(NORTHERN OHIO PGA LEADS 16-11)
2023: SOPGA 20.5, NOPGA 11.5 @ Worthington Hills CC
2022: SOPGA 16.5, NOPGA 15.5 @ Barrington GC
2021: SOPGA 18, NOPGA 14 @ Pinnacle GC
2020: NOPGA 18.5, SOPGA 13.5 @ Firestone CC
2019: NOPGA 18.5, SOPGA 13.5 @ Tartan Fields CC
2018: NOPGA 17, SOPGA 15 @ Kirtland CC
2017: NOPGA 21.5, SOPGA 10.5 @ Kinsale G&FC
2016: SOPGA 16.5, NOPGA 15.5 @ Brookside CC (Canton)
2015: SOPGA 16.5, NOPGA 11.5 @ Brookside G&CC
2014: NOPGA 15.5, SOPGA 12.5 @ Lakewood CC
2013: NOPGA 16.5, SOPGA 11.5 @ Kenwood CC
2012: NOPGA 18.5, SOPGA 9.5 @ Sand Ridge GC
2011: NOPGA 16, SOPGA 12 @ Columbus CC
2010: NOPGA 17, SOPGA 11 @ Barrington GC
2009: SOPGA 17.5, NOPGA 10.5 @ NCR Country Club
2008: NOPGA 16, SOPGA 12 @ Brookside CC (Canton)
2007: SOPGA 16.5, NOPGA 11.5 @ Heritage Golf Club
2006: SOPGA 17, NOPGA 11 @ Kinsale G&FC
2005: NOPGA 18.5, SOPGA 9.5 @ Kinsale G&FC
2004: NOPGA 15.5, SOPGA 12.5 @ The Medallion CC
2003: NOPGA 17, SOPGA 11 @ The Lakes G&CC
2002: NOPGA 16, SOPGA 12 @ The Medallion CC
2001: NOPGA 20, SOPGA 8 @ The Lakes G&CC
2000: SOPGA 15, NOPGA 13 @ The Medallion CC
1999: SOPGA 13, NOPGA 11 @ The Lakes G&CC
1998: NOPGA 16.5, SOPGA 7.5 @ Quail Hollow Resort
1997: SOPGA 15, NOPGA 9 @ CC of the North
28TH ANNUAL OHIO CUP FAST FACTS
WHEN: October 2-3, 2024
WHERE: Westbrook Country Club, 1098 Springmill St., Mansfield
THE COURSE: Westbrook Country Club is a Donald Ross design and will play to 6,891 yards with a par of 72.
PRESENTING SPONSORS: Titleist, Lavery Chevrolet, Sun Mountain, Ahead, Footjoy.
THE TEAMS: Each team will be comprised of 10 players in the Regular Division and six players in the Senior Division.
THE FORMAT: One point is awarded for each victory. Ties earn ½ point.
THE SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, October 2, 8:30 a.m.: Eight 2-man teams (5 in Regular Division; 3 in Senior Division) in Four-Ball matches.
Wednesday, October 2, 1 p.m.: Eight 2-man teams (same structure) in Foursomes.
Thursday, October 3, 8:30 a.m.: 16 Singles matches (10 in Regular Division; six in Senior Division).
A LITTLE HIST0RY: After the SOPGA won three of the first four meetings (1997-2000) the NOPGA went on a 5-year winning streak from 2001 through 2005, the longest win streak by either team and a feat the NOPGA would repeat from 2010 through 2014 . . . With its 20.5 to 11.5 victory in 2023 at Worthington Hills, the SOPGA has won the last three matches, its longest winning streak in the event, and its nine-point victory is its widest margin of victory in the series . . . The NOPGA’s 12-point, 20-8 victory in 2001 at The Lakes Golf & Country Club is its largest margin of victory.
MEET THE PLAYERS
Mitch Camp (Sr.)
Playing Captain
Club Affiliation: PGA Life Member
Position: Former Director of Golf, Club Walden
Age: 66
Ohio Cup Appearance: 23rd; 1st as captain
Overall Record: 38-18-10
Singles Record: 11-8-3
Fourball Record: 13-6-3
Foursomes Record: 14-4-4
One of the NOPGA’s most decorated members . . . Inducted into the NOPGA Hall of Fame and the Ohio Golf Hall of Fame . . . Was a two-time Ohio Open champion (1985 & 1993) and a three-time NOPGA Section champion . . . Served as assistant captain in 2023 . . . Was the 1975 Class AA Ohio High School state champ from Orrville and played three years at Ohio State, posting the lowest stroke average in the Big Ten as a senior.
Tom Waitrovich (Sr.)
Playing Assistant Captain
Club Affiliation: PGA Life Member
Position: Former head professional, Lakewood Country Club
Age: 65
Ohio Cup Appearance: 10th; 2 nd as assistant captain
Overall record: 15-9-3
Singles Record: 2-5-2
Fourball Record: 7-2-0
Foursomes Record: 6-2-1
Inducted into the NOPGA Hall of Fame in 2017 . . . Also in the University of Wisconsin (Duluth) Hall of Fame . . . Teamed with Jaysen Hansen to win the NOPGA’s first event of the year, the Pro-Pro at Firestone . . . Was a Division II All- American in 1982 . . .Was the 2000 NOPGA Section champion and the 2009 Senior Match Play champ . . . Won the 2013 Ohio Senior Open . . . Currently stands third on the NOPGA/Rolex Senior Player of the Year Points List.
Tom Atchison (Sr.)
Club Affiliation: PGA Life Member
Position: Former Head Professional, Salem C.C. and Silver Lake C.C.
Age: 64
Ohio Cup appearance: 22d
Overall Record: 39-16-8
Singles Record: 14-3-4
Fourball Record: 13-8-0
Foursomes Record: 12-5-4
He has made the most Ohio Cup appearances and won the most matches than anyone in the Section . . . Has a winning record in all three events . . .Went 2-1 last year and 2-1 in 2020, the last time the NOPGA won the Cup . . . Was the 2011 NOPGA Senior Player of the Year and has finished in the top five on the points lists in 12 of the last 13 years . . . Currently srtands fourth on the Senior Player of the Year Points List.
Rob Moss (Sr.)
Club Affiliation: Pepper Pike Club
Position: Head Professional
Age: 56
Ohio Cup appearance: 19th
Overall Record: 27-20-6
Singles Record: 7-10-1
Fourball Record: 12-5-1
Foursomes Record: 9-5-1
Acknowledged as one of the NOPGA’s all-time greats having won an unprecedented five consecutive Section championships and five Player of the Year Awards . . A three-time winner of the Ohio Open, his 19-under 191 at Tam O’Shanter 1999 stands one of the most dominant wins . . . Was the 1989 Ohio Amateur champ . . .His 19 Ohio Cup appearances and 27 victories stand as the third-best on the NOPGA lineup . . . Member of the NOPGA Hall of Fame and the Ohio Golf Hall of Fame.
Steve Parker (Sr.)
Club Affiliation: Portage Country Club
Position: Instructor
Age: 57
Ohio Cup appearance: 6th
Overall Record: 5-6-4
Singles Record: 1-3-1
Fourball Record: 3-1-1
Foursomes Record:1-2-2
Served as the organization’s president in 2020-2021 and vice-president in 2018-2019 . . . Inducted into the NOPGA Hall of Fame in 2023 and twice earned all-MidAmerican Conference honors before graduating from Kent State . . . Is the reigning NOPGA Senior Professional Section champion, winning at Westbrook with rounds of 69-70 . . . Has won numerous other titles, including the Senior Division of the Toledo Open (2022), the 2017 Denny Shute Senior Match Play Championship and the 1996 NOPGA Assistants championship . . . Has been a 5-time qualifier to the PGA Professional Championship and a 2-time qualifier to the Senior PGA.
Mike Stone (Sr.)
Club Affiliation: Belmont Country Club
Position: Director of Instruction
Age: 52
Ohio Cup appearance: 4th
Overall Record: 6-2-1
Singles Record: 2-1-0
Fourball Record: 2-1-0
Foursomes Record: 2-0-1
Has been one of the most consistent players in the NOPGA in in the last several years and especially in 2024 with five victories and three second-place finishes . . . Has won the 2019 Professional Championship, the 2023 Mitchell-Haskell Senior Tour championship, the 2016 Denny Shute Senior Match Play the 2014 and 2012 Toledo Open and the 2014 Assistants Championship.
Randy Dietz
Club Affiliation: Windmill Golf Center
Position: Teaching Professional
Age: 45
Ohio Cup appearance: 6th
Overall Record: 10-5-0
Singles Record: 4-1-0
Fourball Record: 4-1-0
Foursomes Record: 2-3-0
Seven top-10 finishes, including a runnerup spot in the NOPGA Professional (Section) Championship has him in fourth place in the Rolex Player of the Year race . . . Went 2-1-0 in last year’s Ohio Cup . . . He is a two-time NOPGA Assistant Player of the Year (2015, 2017) and two years later he was the Rolex Player of the Year when he won the Mitchell-Haskell Tour Championship and the Denny Shute Match Play and was third in the Section championship.
Cory Kumpf
Club Affiliation: Brookside Country Club
Position: Director of Golf
Age: 35
Ohio Cup appearance: 11th
Overall Record: 11-15-4
Singles Record: 4-4-2
Fourball Record: 5-3-2
Foursomes Record: 2-8-0
Was one of the NOPGA’s bright spots last year when he went 2-1, the same mark he posted in 2020, the last time the NOPGA won the Ohio Cup . . . Has finished in the top five in three of the last five Rolex Player of the Year races . . . Teamed with Blake Sattler to win the Holden Pro-Pro Shootout at Fairlawn CC and has had six other top-10 finishes.
Adam Lewicki
Club Affiliation: Portage Country Club
Position: Head Professional
Age: 40
Ohio Cup appearance: 5th
Overall Record: 5-7-0
Singles Record: 1-3-0
Fourball Record: 1-3-0
Foursomes Record: 3-1-0
Currently stands fifth in the NOPGA Rolex Player of the Year thanks to nine top-10 finishes and two in the top five . . . Has proven to be a stubborn match play opponent in NOPGA competitions as he has not finished lower than fifth in the last 12 Denny Shute Match Play events . . . Has four runnerup finishes and three thirds in that span . . . Also has eight top 10s in other events.
Jaysen Hansen
Club Affiliation: Toledo Country Club
Position: Head Professional
Age: 45
Ohio Cup appearance: 17th
Overall Record: 21-21-6
Singles Record: 5-8-3
Fourball Record: 7-7-2
Foursomes Record: 9-6-1
The two-time NOPGA Rolex Player of the Year (2009. 2016) has appeared in more Ohio Cup matches than any other player in the Regular Division . . . Currently leads the Rolex Player of the Year points race with nine top-10s . . . Teamed with NOPGA Assistant Captain Tom Waitrovich to win the first event of the year, the Pro-Pro at Firestone . . . Also won a stroke play event at Oberlin CC . . . Was fourth in the Tour Championship and the Section championship.
Mark Bixler
Club Affiliation: Kirtland Country Club
Position: Head Professional
Age: 42
Ohio Cup Appearance: 1st
Singles Record: NA
Fourball Record: NA
Foursomes Record: NA
Earned his spot on the Ohio Cup roster by having one of his best seasons in years with six top-10 finishes, including a first-place finish in the second Stroke Play event of the season at Elyria Country Club . . . Those performances have lifted him into third place on the NOPGA/Rolex Player of the Year standings . . . He was the NOPGA Denny Shute Match play champion in 2009 and won the Section’s Shootout at Lake Forest in 2022.
Nick Paez
Club Affiliation: GolfTec-Northest Ohio
Position: Owner/Instructor
Age: 48
Ohio Cup appearance: 7th
Overall Record: 5-3-1
Singles Record: 1-1-1
Fourball Record: 2-1-0
Foursomes Record: 2-1-0
Has had three top-10 finishes in five stroke play events this season and been in the top 25 in additional events 10 times . . . This is the first year in the last three that he did not finish in the top 10 in the Habitec Toledo Open after placing ninth in 2023 and sixth in 2022 . . . In the 2021 Ohio Cup he teamed with Adam Lewicki for victories in the Fourball and Foursomes.
Anthony Panepento
Club Affiliation: Canterbury Golf Club
Position: Assistant Golf Professional
Age: 25
Ohio Cup appearance: 1st
Overall Record: NA
Singles Record: NA
Fourball Record: NA
Foursomes Record: NA
Has a pair of second-place ties this season, his second in the NOPGA. Teamed with his boss, Canterbury Head Professional Jason Carbone, to finish in a tie second in the Pro-Assistant event at Brookside Country Club and was T2 in stroke play event at Kirtland . . . However, he stormed into notoriety in 2023 when he won the prestigious Denny Shute Match Play at Portage CC, defeating some prominent NOPGA members along the way.
Drew Pierson
Club Affiliation: The Clubhouse Training Facility
Position: Co-owner/Instructor
Age: 41
Ohio Cup appearance: 2d
Overall Record: 1-1-1
Singles Record: 0-1-0
Fourball Record: 1-0-0
Foursomes Record: 0-0-1
The Illinois native and Florida Golf Coast graduate returns to the NOPGA lineup after a one-year absence . . . Has had five top-10 finishes this season but has established himself as a solid match play competitor. He won the prestigious Denny Shute Match Play in 2021 and finished no lower than third in the preceding two. During his 2021 victory he had 16 birdies and one eagle in his four matches.
Mark Sierak
Club Affiliation: Optimus Golf
Position: Co-owner and Head Professional
Age: 46
Ohio Cup appearance: 6th
Overall Record: 8-6-1
Singles Record: 3-1-1
Fourball Record: 2-3-0
Foursomes Record: 3-2-0
Is just as busy off the course as on it as the co-owner and Head Professional of a new training facility and as the REO for the Folds of Honor . . . Has been a solid player for many years, winning the Mitchell-Haskell Tour Championship in 2023 and finishing fourth in the Ohio Open with a final-round 69 . . . Was third in this year’s NOPGA Professional Championship at Westbrook CC, second in a stroke play event and T6 in the Holden Pro-Pro with partner Mark Evans . . . In 2009 he was named as the NOPGA Assistant of the Year.
Jim Troy
Club Affiliation: The Golf Dome
Position: Head Professional
Age: 43
Ohio Cup appearance: 7th
Overall Record: 8-6-4
Singles Record: 3-3-0
Fourball Record: 2-3-1
Foursomes Record: 3-0-3
One of the most prolific players in the Section since 2018, winning the NOPGA Rolex Player of the Year Award the last four years and five times in the last six. The year he didn’t win – 2019 – he was second . . . Stands second on the Rolex Player of the Year Points List, boosted by his run-away, 9-shot victory in the NOPGA Professional Championship at Tippecanoe Country Club in August when he shot 71-65-71=207. Almost as impressive was his five-shot win in the 2021 Mitchell-Haskell Tour Championship.
