Several area players took part in the First National Bank Junior Golf Tour at River Greens Golf Course in West Lafayette last week.

Union Local’s Jarrett Causby was the top area finisher. He carded an 83, which was tied for 10th place. Bridgeport’s Matthew Herink signed for a round of 91 in the 16-18 year old division.

In the 13-15 year old division, Harrison Central’s Clint Heavilin finished with a 90. Martins Ferry’s Luke Krol (104), Bridgeport’s Kevin Herink (105), St. Clairsville’s Jacob Jeffries (109) also took part.

Buckeye Trail’s Rylie Smith posted a 63 for 9 holes in the 13-15 year old division. St. Clairsville’s Will Foster finished with a 55 in the 12 and under division.

SAFFIELD SCRAMBLE

Rich Saffield is known by most as an outstanding basketball player and coach. He was also an avid golfer, who spent many summer days working at BecWood Hills Golf Course.

Bill Lee – a long-time friend of Saffield – is helping to organize a golf scramble at BecWood to honor Saffield, who died earlier this year after a lengthy bout with cancer.

The date of the event is slated for Aug. 1, but according to Lee further details are still coming together. As soon as I receive those, I’ll be sure to pass them along in this space.

The proceeds of the event will benenfit the Richard P. Saffield Scholarship Fund at Union Local High School.

Stay tuned for more details, but since Saffield touched so many lives in so many ways, you’ll definitely want to get registered early.

SHADYSIDE BOOSTER SCRAMBLE

The club’s annual scramble was held last Saturday at Horseshoe Bend Golf Course in Armstrong Mills.

The team of Corky Gehrig, Tom Ziants, Chuck Ziants and Joe Denardo prevailed with a score of 14-under. Second place was a tie between the Moundsville Moose and Team Jones at 12-under.

SENACAVILLE SENIOR LEAGUE

The weekly league at Robbins Ridge Golf Course was held last Monday. Mike Arnold and Homer Gander won the closest to the pin titles, while Pilck/McJessey were the low net and low gross with a round of 34.

Results: Peters/Hartley 2, Bodner/McGee 0; Stavroff/Mayberry 2, Saltz/Roe 0; Pilck/McJessey 2, StClair/StClair 0; Lucas/Samida 2, Allender/Shipe 0; Hannahs/Hannahs 2, Trott/Kapolka 0; Milhone/Schultice 2, Bickford/Waske 0; Clapper/Magers 2, Williams/Ruppel 0; Koegler/Robinson 2, Gander/Wickham 0; Davis/Knowlton 2, Stevens/Hartley 0; Coblentz/Arnold 2, Pontius/Hodges 0.

U.S. OPEN PREDICTION

Since I’m on vacation next week and this column will be handled by Kim North and Rick Thorp, I wanted to make sure I make my U.S. Open prediction public just in case I happen to get it correct for the first time.

Our nation’s championship opens June 18 at Chambers Bay in Washington in what I would argue is the premier major.

One major difference for this year’s event – other than Saturday and Sunday’s action will be contested in prime-time television wise in this time zone – is that the Open shifts to Fox Sports after being on NBC for as long as I can remember.

I am looking forward to listening to Joe Buck call golf. He’s a very versatile broadcaster and should handle the role well. However, I am a bit leery of Greg Norman as the chief analyst. Anyway, we’ll see on that.

On the course, it should be more of the same U.S. Open that we’ve become accustomed to. Challenging greens, tough pin locations, rough that’s not been trimmed in months and difficult scoring conditions because of the wind blowing could make this feel like a British Open.

I am going with Phil Mickelson to hoist the trophy. Though it always seems like he’s having a tough season, he always shines in the majors. Unfortunately, one of golf’s truly good guys has let a few opportunities to win the U.S. Open slip past him. Actually, he’s finished second six times. I look for him to erase those memories and win another major championship, completing the career grand slam at a 72-hole score of 2-under.

UPCOMING SCRAMBLES

• THE LARRY LOEW Golf Scramble will be held on Monday, June 22 at Oglebay Park’s Arnold Palmer golf course. The tournament begins at 1 p.m., but lunch will be served, starting at 11 a.m. Dinner and awards will follow the round. The proceeds of the event will benefit scholarships for the Hilltoppers’ football program. All players in the event will receive 18 holes of golf, with a cart; lunch, games and contests; refreshments on the course, dinner following the event and a special gift.

For more information, please contact 304-336-8888.