Mount Vernon News

Area golfers compete

HOWARD — Thirteen golfers finished under par during the first round of the Ohio Public Golf Association Publinx State Amateur Championship, held at Apple Valley Golf Course on Tuesday. Tom Ballinger of Mansfield and Scotty Jones of East Palestine tied with a leading score of 69.

“I’m just excited,” said Jones, who qualified for the U.S. Amateur on Monday. “I have never been on a streak like this. I’m playing good golf right now and I’m just going to try and keep it going the next few days.”

Six men finished with a 70, including Mount Vernon’s Scott Savage.

“I hit the ball really well. I had a lot of good opportunities that I didn’t capitalize on, but all in all, it was a pretty good turnout,” said Savage.

Being familiar with his hometown golf course helped Savage, especially on a day when the greens were faster than many are accustomed to being at Apple Valley.

“It’s actually really convenient,” said Savage. “I feel pretty comfortable playing out here, which I think helps. … I thought the golf course played fairly difficult (Tuesday).”

Younger brother Anthony, a member of the Mount Vernon Nazarene University golf team, finished the day at 79.

“Unfortunately, he (Anthony) didn’t have a good day today, but hopefully he’ll bounce back tomorrow,” said Scott Savage of his brother. “It is definitely not a battle between him and me. It’s a battle between me and the golf course and I’m sure he’d say the same.”

Fifteen-year-old T.T. Crouch finished the day 5-over par. The Mount Vernon sophomore finished first at the Callaway Junior Championships in Illinois last weekend (73-68). Teammate and freshman Charlie Phillips shot a 77-73 at the same tournament, good for sixth place.

“It was nice (Callaway), I liked the fairway,” said Crouch.

Heading into Tuesday’s competition, Crouch felt a little intimidated being the youngest golfer in a field of 245, ranging in age from 15 to 70 years old.

“I was a little nervous today, but it was a great experience,” he said.

Crouch has plenty of family to push his performance along at the tournament. His cousin Brad (75), uncle Mike (76) and brother Matt (82) all competed in Round 1. Which Crouch will come out on top this week is debatable.

“I think it will be between my son, Brad, me and T.T.,” said Mike Crouch. “It will be one of those, but I don’t know which one of us. I just hope we all make the final cut.”

Golfers that teed off during the morning on Tuesday will tee off today during the afternoon, and vice versa. This gives both parties a chance to have a different weather experience in this week’s 90-plus degree weather.

According to Mike, the group that teed off at 7 a.m. Tuesday had a nice breeze, but that same group won’t be so lucky today in the afternoon heat.

“The greens are going to be harder and faster because I don’t think they are going to water them much,” said Mike.