One of the most impressive things about the Ohio Valley is how people are willing to help or come to the aid of a fellow man.

Buckeye Local has been on the receiving end a handful of times and now the Panthers are doing their part to help one of their own.

Athletics Director Sam “Chicken” Jones is spearheading a three-man golf scramble to benefit former Buckeye Local High School staff member, Jeff Vinci. Vinci, who is battling cancer, is a former assistant athletic director and maintenance supervisor.

The scramble will be held on Saturday, May 26 at Paradise Hills Golf Course. The entry fee is $40 per player. Hot dogs and soft drinks will be provided. The event is BYOB.

For more information, or to enter a team, contact Jones at 740-632-0756.

OGLEBAY WOMEN’S GOLF CLUB

The club’s annual spring banquet was held at the Wheeling Park Stone Room recently with more than 50 members of the club on hand to hear from Danny Ackerman, the GM for Oglebay Golf Resort and Zach May, the Assistant GM for the Crispin Golf Course.

The chief portion of Ackerman’s briefing was an update on changes to the ‘R&A’ and USGA rules, which take effect in January.

Also presented during the meeting were the ladies membership booklet, which was dedicated to Twila Toohill — a “beloved member, who passed away on Feb. 24.”

Membership in the women’s golf club is still being accepted for this year. The club plays at Crispin on Tuesdays with an 8 a.m. tee time. Nine and 18-hole options are available. The season begins on May 1 and runs through Oct. 3.

Anyone interested in joining should contact Carol Varner at 304-780-7456 or Donita Rush at 740-296-5777.

COLLEGE GOLF

Wheeling native Thadd Obecny is getting sized up for a championship ring. The current Coastal Carolina golfer helped lead his team to the Sun Belt Conference championship last week in Miramar Beach, Fla. Coastal Carolina won the stroke-play portion of the event by 26 strokes and then closed out the title with victories over South Alabama (3-2) and Georgia Southern (4-1) in the title match.

Obecny needed only 14 holes to win his match against Georgia Southern. After tying the first hole, Obecny proceeded to win the second and then either won or tied the next 12 en route to victory. He was 2-up winner in the semi-final match.

The win sends Obecny and Coastal Carolina to the NCAA Tournament. The regional assignments will be announced on Wednesday at 6 p.m. on The Golf Channel. Columbus is serving as one of the regional hosts.

TEE INFORMATION

It’s my annual plea to you — the reader — of this column for help throughout the spring and summer months.

This column has become a staple of our spring and summer Sunday editions.

I get a lot of results from different leagues, tournaments and junior events as well as scramble listings. Anytime you have an event, an ace, know of someone from the Ohio Valley working or shining in golf outside of the area, feel free to drop me a line. If you’re hosting an event,

I’d love to promote it.

If you played a fabulous course with a group of buddies at Myrtle Beach, overseas, out west, let me know. Could make a good feature.

Off the Tee is back and will be a weekly fixture from now until through Labor Day, which will be here before we know it.

GOLF SCRAMBLES

American Legion Post 159

Scramble Set for May 6

The American Legion Post 159 Baseball Scramble will be held on Sunday, May 6 at Cadiz Country Club. The annual event is moving to the Harrison County layout, which should provide a challenge to defending champions Jimmy Baugh Jr., Chad Baugh, Tommy Baugh and Ryan Clark. The Outback will cater a post-round dinner at the American Legion Hall in St. Clairsville after the round. Starbucks will provide coffee and pasteries prior to the tournament, which tees off at 9 a.m. The cost is $80 per person. Corporate sponsorships are available for $500, which includes a team in the event. Hole sponsors are available for $100. For more information, contact tournament director Randy Mellott at 740-338-0578.

JM Basketball Golf Scramble Planned

The John Marshall Basketball Golf Classic will be held on Saturday, May 12 at Oglebay Park’s Crispin Course. Registration begins at 10 a:30 a.m. and the shotgun start is planned for noon. The entry fee is $75 and it includes golf, cart, dinner and drinks. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three teams. There will also be skill contests such as closest to the pin, longest drive and closest to the pin on a second shot.

Dowler Scramble Slated for May 14

The seventh annual Thomas R. Dowler Memorial Classic Golf Scramble will be held on Monday, May 14 at Belmont Hills Country Club. The entry fee is $100 per player and the day will consist of lunch at 11, golf, beginning at noon and dinner following the round at 5:30 p.m. Many skill contests will be held throughout the day. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. The proceeds from the scramble benefit the Thomas R. Dowler Fund, which supports students, faculty, programs and facilities of Belmont College. For more information, please visit belmontcollege.edu/dowler

Flushing Masonic Lodge

Hosting Annual Scramble

The Flushing Masonic Lodge will hold its annual scholarship golf scramble on Saturday, May 19 at Cadiz Country Club. The event will begin with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start, but hot dogs will be served during registration, which begins at 11:30 a.m. The cost to enter is $70 per man and that includes a skins game. Following the round, a steak dinner will be served with awards and door prizes to be presented in the clubhouse. Beverages will be served on the course. All proceeds from the event benefit the $500 scholarships, which are presented to Union Local and Harrison Central High School students. For more information, contact William McGowan at 740-942-4073 or on his cell at 740-491-0349; Chuck Bizzari at 740-942-8196 or on his cell at 740-491-3183.

Shadyside Booster Golf Scramble Set

Shadyside Booster Golf Scramble will be held on Saturday, May 19 at Moundsville Country Club. The event will begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. The entry fee is $240 per 4-man team. Food and beverages provided. Sign ups are being accepted at Eddie’s Barber Shop in Shadyside.

Fourth Annual Cockayne

House Scramble Slated

The fourth annual Cockayne House Golf Scramble will be held on Saturday, May 19 at Belmont Hills Country Club. The entry fee is $300 per team and the field is limited to 36 teams. The entry fee includes a welcome bag, lunch, door prizes, drinks, a dinner after the round and contests. There will be prizes for the top three teams. The event will begin with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. Hole sponsorships are available for $100. For more information, contact Josh May at jdm@gkt.com or George Bamberger at grb@gkt.com

Bellaire Sons of Italy Scramble Slated

The 19th annual Sons of Italy Bellaire Lodge #754 will hold its annual golf scramble to benefit Alzheimers & Cooley’s Anemia Charities on Monday, June 4 at Oglebay Park’s Crispin Golf Course. The entry fee is $200 per team, which includes golf, cart, refreshments on the course and dinner following the round. The top three teams will receive a prize and the tournament is limited to the first 36 teams to register. For more information, or to register, please contact Phil Pata at 740-695-0691.

Doughty Pelotonia Scramble

Slated for Oglebay Park

The second annual Megan Doughty Pelotonia Golf Scramble will be held on Saturday, July 14 at Oglebay Park’s Crispin Course with a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start. The cost is $100 per player. For more information, please contact Kassy Doughty at kpiergallini@yahoo.com or 740-317-3293