Monday, May 17, 1999
LOCAL GOLF NOTES
Fairfield's Slominski wins SOPGA's top award
BY JACK MURRAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Fairfield Golf Club's Jim Slominski, one of the most visible and dedicated local golf pros, was named PGA Southern Ohio Section Golf Professional of the Year at the spring meeting at Yankee Trace.
Slominski has been active in Section affairs since he served as president in 1981-82. Most recently, he has focused on special activities and junior golf.
Other award winners:
Tim Wilkins, Cincinnati Family Golf Center director, Teacher of the Year; Robert Stuhlman, assistant at Meadow Links and Golf Academy, Junior Golf Leader; Marianne Utz-Sahms, O'Bannon Creek head pro, Merchandiser of the Year for private facilities and Ping Club Fitter of the Year; Peter Ryan and Joe Burbee, director of golf and head pro at the Golf Center at Kings Island, respectively, Merchandiser of the Year for resorts; Kenwood's Paul Hobart, Member-Assistant of the Year; and Terrace Park's Mike Kelly, Apprentice Assistant of the Year.
YOU THE ACE, MAN: Lloyd T. King, 53, of Burlington, Ky., fired the first hole-in-one in the young history of the new Aston Oaks golf course, west of Addyston, off Ohio 50. He used an 8-iron to ace the 137-yard 17th hole (from the gold tees) May 6. It rolled about three feet, teetered on the cup and dropped in. It was King's first hole-in-one in 30 years of golfing.
“We had just run for cover and weathered a storm,” King said, “and it happened the second hole after storm. It's something I won't forget — especially the hole-in-one.”
This year, King already has two eagles on par-4s — at Boone Links and Circling Hills. “I don't buy a lottery ticket,” King said. “Maybe I should start.”
FRONT NINE: The Camargo Club's Robert Gerwin ranks tied for 29th nationally in the Golfweek/Titleist Amateur Rankings based on points awarded for specific finishes in designated tournaments over the past 52 weeks (through May 10). Martha Leach of Hebron, Ky., is tied for 39th among women. Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who has since turned pro, and Duke's Jenny Chuasiriporn are No. 1 in the amateur rankings.
• Lawrenceburg's Natalie Tucker (Hidden Valley), a sophomore at Memphis, finished tied for seventh at the regionals but lost a one-hole playoff for the final berth in the NCAA Division I Women's Tournament. Tucker is the reigning Greater Cincinnati Golf Association Women's Stroke Play champion. Tucker was ranked 30th nationally in the MasterCard collegiate rankings through May 12.
• Houston sophomore Andy Sanders, three-time Enquirer Prep Golfer of the Year and two-time state champ out of Turpin High, enters this week's Division I NCAA men's regionals ranked 18th in the Golfweek/Sagarin college rankings. Sanders won the Conference USA individual title and the Cougars won the team title this year.
BACK NINE: Longtime radio personality Jerry Thomas has taken over as president of the GCGA for retired local legend Tony Blom. The first delegates meeting/tournament is today at Coldstream. Club presidents will compete for President's Trophy, won last year by Robert Stone of O'Bannon Creek Golf Club.
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