Recordpub.com - Record number tees off today at PCA

By Susan Jenior

Record-Courier correspondent

The 79th Portage County Amateur is set to tee off today at Windmill Lakes Golf Club at 10 a.m., with the Women’s Division leading the golfers around the course followed by the County, Open, Senior and Super Senior Divisions.

Many past champions are competing in the tournament in this year’s event, which is the largest in the tournament’s history.

The past champions playing today include Nathan Tarter, Dave Cutlip, Robert Schustrich Jr., Doug Hauenstein, Butch Morrette, Mike LaCivita, Bob Mishler, Bob Goulish, Roger Mazon, Tom Cofojohn, Lou Boarman, Anthony Yacovazzi, Laura Erwin, Ann Ciavarella and Mandi Morrow.

It’s a family affair for many of the golfers that use brothers, sisters, fathers and other family members as their caddies or join family members on the course to compete.

That’s true of the champions, too, as defending women’s champion Mandi Morrow is the daughter of Mike Morrow, Kent State University golf pro and host Sunday’s leg of the PCA. Mike Morrow won the Amateur in 1973 and 1975.

Nevada Lemon, the Matt Mishler Junior PCA Champion in the 13-to-15 age group this year is the grandson of Jay Lemon, the amateur champion in 1954.

There are multiple winners of the championship competing this season as well, including Schustrich who won the Amateur three times in six years and Morrette, who has captured the Amateur twice over an 11-year span.

Bob Mishler earned two titles in the Senior Division and Laura Erwin has taken home the trophy four times for the women.

William Ellison of Akron tees off in the Super Senior Division at 2 p.m. and might catch a glimpse of his grandson, also William Ellison, teeing off at 12:45 in the Open Division.

Tom Jalbert of Hudson will be keeping an eye out for his father on the course, Michael Jalbert, competing in the Senior Division.

Brothers from Ravenna, Matt and Mark Mitchell of Ravenna could end up in the same pairing on Sunday if they fire like scores.

They join several sibling competitors including Stephen and A.J. Spalding of Stow, J.T. and Natalie Goodson of Hudson, Ben and Katie Jenior of Rootstown, Ed and Mike Marsinek, Tom and Jim Cofojohn.

The Amateur promises to be an exciting event today, with the final pairing teeing off at 2:08 p.m. at Windmill Golf Club.

Admission is free and spectators are welcome.

Trophies will be awarded to champions and runners-up in each division, as well as medals for third place and gift certificates. An overall medalist trophy is also presented to the champion with the lowest overall 36-hole score.

The Portage County Amateur and the Matt Mishler Junior Portage County Amateur are supported by the Matt Mishler Foundation, Jim and Phyllis Coll of Ravenna, the Alan Beal family of Deerfield, the Northern Ohio Professional Golfers Association, Sunset Golf of Loudonville and the Record-Courier.

See complete coverage of the Portage County Amateur in the Sunday and Monday editions of the Record-Courier.

Also, all golfers can visit www.recordpub.com on Saturday night to receive their day two tee times.

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Susan Jenior can be contacted at sjenior@recordpub.com