With the Fourth of July holiday came several tournaments at area clubs.

Belmont Hills Country Club held its annual Fred and Mary Jo Mehlman Independence Day Tournament, which was a 2 Net Best Ball of 4.

The winning team, which finished with a 113, was comprised of Jay Davis, Kevin Abel, John Vota and Nate Merrifield.

There was a three-way tie for second at 116.

The teams consisted of Jason Balcar, Mark Bukmir, John Timko and Don Wild; Dave Reasbeck, Brendan Vucelich, John Estadt and Donna Melchiori; Rennie Minor, Brian Delloma, Kelley Hanlon and Bill Sokolowski.

The red ball winner, which was a 1 net, best ball of four, was the team of Balcar, Bukmir, Timko and Wild.

The closest to the pin prizes went to Marlin Harper, Doug Brannon and Vota.

Wheeling Country Club held its Independence Day Derby, which was a 1 best ball gross and 1 best ball net.

The winning team consisted of Ron Stephens, James Carson, Jim Brinsky and Bob Furka. They fired a round of 121. Second place went to the team of Matt Ball, Chris Zambito, Jacob Nickell and Joe Marchlenski at 124.

Third place was claimed by Thad Obecny II, Scott Seabright, Dave Miller and Paul Irby.

The longest putt was made by Jim Brinsky and the closest to the pin on the second shot on No. 2 was posted by Jacob Nickell.

JUNIOR GOLF

TOURNAMENTS

The First National Bank Junior Golf Tour made a stop at Hickory Flats Golf Course in West Lafayette on June 30.

Matt Herink of Bridgeport was the top area finisher. He carded a 76, which was tied for sixth overall. He was five shots behind the winner and four shots over par.

Harrison Central’s Clint Heavilin posted a round of 84 in the event.

In the 13-15 age division, St. Clairsville’s Jacob Jeffries finished with a round of 83. Bridgeport’s Kevin Herink tallied an 87. Martins Ferry’s Luke Krol checked in with a 95.

In the girls’ 13-15 year old division, Rylie Smith posted a round of 52.

In the boys’ 12 and under, St. Clairsville’s Will Foster and Matthew Ponzani both took part in the event.

The Salt Fork Junior Tournament was held last Tuesday on the par 71 layout.

Buckeye Trail’s Evan Archer was the top-finishing area player with a round of 88, which was good for fourth place in the 17-18 year old division.

Heavilin, Jeffries and Brendan Vucelich alltook part in the event in the 15-16 year old division. Heavilin posted an 88, which was two shots better than Jeffries. They finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Vucelich, meanwhile, turned in a round of 92.

Other Harrison Central players in the field were Cameron McIntosh and Hunter Van Curen.

Trail’s Rylie Smith was third in the girls’ 13-15 year old division.

In the boys’ 13-14 year old division, Barnesville’s Payne Johnson finished second with a solid round of 85. He was two shots better than Krol.

Other area players in the field included St. Clairsville’s Joey Patrizi, Harrison Central’s Sam Santille, Buckeye Trail’s Elias Householder and Noah Castello

ACE

JOHN NAGEL, of Martins Ferry, aced the 89-yard fifth hole at Oglebay Park’s Crispin Course on June 30. The shot was witnessed by Pete Peluchette.

UPCOMING JUNIOR TOURNAMENTS

The Belmont Hills Country Club Junior Tournament is slated for July 25. There will be three age divisions for boys (13-14, 15-16, 17-18) and two for girls (16-18, 13-15). The top three placers will receive awards.

The entry fee is $30 and checks can be made payable to Barnesville Golf Parents. Lunch will be provided for all players and available for purchase by spectators. The event will begin with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. Deadline for entering is Monday, July 18. For more information, contact Nick Bauman at 740-827-2794.

WHEELING PARK GOLF CLUB

The Orie & Mechelle Robinson 2-man scramble was held on July 3. The duo of Art Lightner and Roger Kupfer teamed for a 129 over the two-round event. They were 12 shots better than Robbie Evans and Doug Miller. Paul Alig Sr. and Paul Alig Jr. finished third with a 143. Dave Stauver and Dick Moore were fourth with a 152 and Steve Usenick and Joe Wurtzburger finished fifth with a 155.

In the handicap scoring portion of the event, Jim Ennis and Bob Green prevailed with a score of 132. Also finishing at 132 were Mel Hand and Bill Dufford. Bob McLaughlin and Nick Klamut were third with a 140. Joe Kosar and Steve Domyan finished fourth with a 140.

The Gabe Benson and Joe Figaretti Memorial was staged on June 29. Lightner prevailed with a 35. Miller was second with a 35 and George Melnick was third with a 36. Mike Perring and Evans finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Each signed for a 36.

In the handicap scoring portion of the event, Daugherty prevailed with a 30. John Bryan was second with a 31. Jim Ennis was third with a 33, while Kosar was fourth with a 33.

BRITISH OPEN

On Thursday, when you wake up – regardless of how early – if you flip on Golf Channel, you can watch major championship golf. The 145th British Open begins this week with a full field converging on Royal Troon for the first time since 2004.

As for my prediction, I think it’s a wide-open event. You obviously don’t see links golf every weekend on the PGA Tour, which is why I think this tournament is so unpredictable each year.

I have trouble thinking Dustin Johnson, who won the U.S. Open and most recently the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, is going to make it two majors in a row. I also don’t think Jordan Spieth will get it done.

Without further ado, I am picking Graeme McDowell to hoist his first Claret Jug and claim his second major title.

UPCOMING SCRAMBLES

THE ANNUAL St. John Central Alumni and Friends golf scramble will be held on Saturday, July 16 at Paradise Hills Golf Course. The event will begin with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. The entry fee is $50 per person or $200 per team. The cost includes golf, cart, food and beverages at the turn and a post-round meal. Tee sponsorships are also available for $100. For more information, email Gary Krol at garykrol@live.com.

THE OHIO VALLEY Wrestling Officials Association will hold its golf scramble on Saturday, Aug. 13 at Cadiz Country Club. The event will begin with a shot-gun start at 1 p.m. and dinner is slated for approximately 6 p.m. The entry fee is $240 per team, which includes golf, prizes, skins game, dinner and beverages on the course.

Skill prizes will also be available. Hole sponsorships are also available.

For more information, please contact Shane Kildow at 740-391-5928 or Paul Coffland at 740-491-0786.