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The 11th annual Phil Niekro Golf Scramble - which benefits the Bridgeport Educational Assistance Foundation - went off without a bogey Friday at Belmont Hills Country Club.

Literally and figuratively that.

The event once again drew a full field of teams playing in both an Open Division and an all-Bridgeport division. Along with the tremendous amount of money being raised for such an important educational venture in the Bridgeport Village School District, no one walked away without having a good time, which is a very important part of golfing.

The Open Division was captured by head basketball coach Donnie Cash, Anthony Reasbeck, athletic director Doug Tush and Ron Gill. The foursome fired a 58, which was a common score with no less than five teams posting the same total. However, the winners were crowned based on their score of 27 on the back nine.

The Bridgeport Division was won by Randy Mellott, Brian Schambach, Chuck Mellott and Jim Tennant. The squad posted a 11-under round of 61.

Several special awards were also presented. The closest to the pins were won by Brian Schambach (No. 2), Tom JaFrate (No. 7), Mike Coss (No. 11) and Reasbeck (No. 14).

Former Martins Ferry quarterback Jack Becker won the long drive on the 18th with a bomb up the left side of the fairway.

Personally, I went to the tournament in the morning strictly as a member of the media, but Gordie Longshaw invited me to play after one of the players didn't show up for a team. As is usually the case for me and golf scrambles, my team didn't fair too well. I joined the squad of Dan DeLande, Carl Zalenski and Joe Pichetti. Saying we struggled might still be an understatement.

Above I mentioned there were no bogeys literally that's because tournament rules say it's basically either birdie or par and our card reflected nary a circle, meaning even par for the round. Not too good when you think that's the worse you can do, but it was a good time nonetheless.

Personally, if you were to rank scrambles in the Ohio Valley - no disrespect to some of the fine outings held each year - but the Niekro and the August venture of the Ohio Valley Christian Soldiers' Showalter Memorial would be considered the majors of local golf scrambles.

Jess Cordery and his son Jess once again win the 'Off The Tee' Best Dressed Award for their tribute to the late Payne Stewart and the knickers they wore. The elder Jess may have had his sports confused since his blue shirt was an actual umpiring shirt.

Along with the golfing and the fun, the tournament was dedicated to the memory of LeeAnn Schambach who passed away earlier this year after a bout with cancer. She's the wife of long-time director Brian Schambach.

SHADYSIDE BASEBALL

SCRAMBLE

The 12th annual Shadyside Baseball Team and Shadyside Sports Foundation held its golf scramble at Belmont Hills Country Club with no fewer than 30 teams taking part on Saturday, June 20.

Firing a sound round of 62 was the team of Chuck Dimmick, Chris Dimmick, John Hanasky and Court Stewart. The foursome won the event on a tie-breaker after the squad of Mike Beck, Chris Beck, Ryan Holmes and Stefan Pumpa also checked in with a round of 10-under par. The latter also captured a skin on the third and 13th holes.

The squad of Ted Stupak, Pat Miller, J.T. Cunningham and tournament director Gary Cunningham finished with a nine-under score, which was good for third place.

The team of Billy Frollini, Nick Ongley, Adam Lucci and Steve Luckhardt captured the team putting contest held on the putting green between the nines.

Several special prizes were also awarded for skills.

Winners of the closest to the pin prizes were: Paul Melanko, Shawn Stiles, Brian Cunningham and Bruce Ruthers.

The longest drives went to Dave Ragase and Clint Fabry. Jason Florence and Francis Hanasky won the longest putt contests.

Dave Hall's squad also recorded a pair of skins on the same holes mentioned above.

The Shadyside Athletic Department and Sports Foundation wanted to commend its sponsors for the event. Those included: major sponsors Matt's Tiger Pub, DeFelice Brothers Pizza, Carlini's Pizza, Ohio- West Virginia Excavating, Kris-Crete Contracting, Shirts-n-More, John Smith Class of 1980 and BHCC Pro Shop Mgr. Ron Baker Class of 1990. The hole sponsors were: Abbey's Restaurant, The Outback, Belmont Equipment, Casey Coyne Concrete, Steele Insurance, Doan Ford, Whiteside's, Andy Yanok, Shadyside Boosters, Shadyside Printing, Shadyside Dairy Queen, Shadyside Pennzoil, Bud Melanko Construction, Don Wild Motorist Mutual Innsurance, Pat Long DDS, Hunting Bank, The 'Old Coach" Jim Bittengle, Dave Knight Manufacturing, Shadyside Pharmacy, Ted Stupak at Iron City Distributing, Village Market, WesBanco, Good Thymes Cafe, Central Grille and the Shadyside Legion Post 521.

Cunningham also wanted to express a strong appreciation for the assistance provided by Baker and the staff at BHCC.

SHOWALTER MEMORIAL

The plans are well under way for the fourth annual Jeffrey Showalter Memorial Celebrity Classic. The event - which is the chief fundraiser for the Ohio Valley Christian Soldiers - will be held Wednesday, Aug. 12 at Belmont Hills Country Club.

The event will begin with a shotgun start at 11 a.m. and each foursome will be assigned a celebrity player. It's a scramble format and will feature various skill games such as hole-in-one contests, closest to the pin, long drive, longest putt, straightest drive and a team putting contest.

The entry fee is $500 per team and it includes lunch, golf with a cart, beverages, snacks on the course and a steak dinner sponsored by the Ye Olde Alpha. A putting challenge with a pay out of 5K, 10K and 20K will be contested on the 18th green after the competition as ended.

Several celebrities will be on hand to take part in the event. Those who have already committed to play include: Robin Cole (Steelers); Jim Rooker (Pirates); Randy Grossman (Steelers); Rennie Stennett (Pirates); Mel Blount (Steelers); Jason Gildon (Steelers); Pete Gonzalez (Steelers); Frank Thomas (Pirates); Phil Bourque (Penguins); Bob Butts (Browns); Lance Mehl (Jets) and various members of the SportsWorld Ministries.

For more information or to register a team please contact the OVCC at 699-2468.

ACE

NOLAN WILSON of Toronto recorded his fifth career hole-in-one last Sunday at Dyer Country Club. He used an 8-iron on the 165-yard sixth hole. His accomplishment was witnessed by John Romey and Bill Hope.

GRAND VUE PARK

A total of 19 teams took part in the Grand Vue Park and Recreation Center Father's Day Scramble with prizes going to the top three places and 11 closest to the pins along with a skins game.

The duo of Tony Stocklask and Mike Tennant shot a nine-under par to take the championship. Chuck Bushoviski and Larry Goodnight shot a seven under for second, which was a stroke better than Art Lightner and Mike Crow.

The park is holding three-person scrambles each Thursday afternoon, starting at 4:30 p.m. and a match-play tournament is scheduled for July. The first is limited to the first 32 paid players.

Along with the tournaments, junior golf lessons are continuing for another six-week session. The program got back under way this past Wednesday and will run weekly each Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., weather permitting. The cost is $50.

TOP-FLIGHT TOUR

The Moundsville Country Club and Oglebay Golf Course hosted the Top Flite Junior Tour this past week and several area youngsters took part.

The tour is in four age groups. Nicholas Montest of Pickerington won the Moundsville stop's 12 and under division with a round of 74. Belmont's Drew Wells competed and fired a 114.

In the 13-14 division, Wheeling resident Thadd Obecny fired a solid 76 to win the division. Other locals who took part included: Barnesville's Zachary Keylor (85); Martins Ferry's Chase Stuckey (86); Harrisville's Sydney Snodgrass (86); St. Clairsville's Caden Myers (99); Rayland's Nicole Coray (105); Martins Ferry's Taylor Shane (126).

In the 15-16 division, Charleston's Tommy O'Neil prevailed with a round of 73. Other locals who took part in this age group included: Bridgeport's Cameron Ford (80); Sardis' Samantha Knowlton (101) and Belmont's Catie Wells (121).

Fairmont's Ryan Moore fired a round of 72 to win the 17-18 year old division.

During the round at Oglebay's Jones Course, Obecny fired the low round of all divisions with a 73.

Keylor posted a strong round as well, finishing third in the 13-14 division with a 83. Other locals included: Myers with a round of 96. Stuckey finished with a 108 and Coray posted a 110.

Sardis' Zach Wax fired an 83 in the 15-16 division. Tyler Seitz of Smithfield checked in with a 99. Baker posted a 110. In the 17-18 division, Rayland's Andrew Strope took part and turned in a 82, while Sardis' Jesse Merckle scored a 93.

WHEELING PARK GOLF CLUB

The Timbergrove Construction Tournament - a four-man scramble - was held early last week. The squad of Mike Bricker, Dave Slonaker, Jack Kuntz and Don Miller fired a round of 54 for the medal championship.

The team of Bob Green, Paul Carney, Glenn Starkey and Joe Kosar finished with a round of 55 for the runner-up finish. Nick Klamut, Arnold Cook, Ray Pinto and Bob Hicks were third with a 57.

In the handicap division, Bob McLaughlin, Gary Mercer, Bill Caldwell, John Wakim and Andy Bednarik shot a 47 after the handicap was figured in to win that division.

The team of Bob Fitzsimmons, Bruce Grover, Ron Heatherly, John Bryan and Lloyd Carmichael were second with a 49.

CAMBRIDGE STANDOUT

Current Ohio State Buckeye golfer Brad Wright took part in the 69th Monroe Invitational last weekend in Pittsford, New York. He shot a final round of 69 and finished the tournament with a four-day total of 278 and a tie for second place. Winning the tournament was Ohio State junior Bo Hoag who finished with a four-day total of 277, which was a minus three for the tournament.

ACADEMIC HONORS

Waynesburg golfer Sean Call - a former Buckeye Local Panther and Mt. Pleasant resident - was named to the President's Athletic Conference all-Academic Team for his work in the classroom. He's an athletic training major and to be recognized the athlete must carry at least a 3.6 grade point.

Staskey can be reached at sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com