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A new high school golf tournament featured 115 golfers from schools across Stark County at Congress Lake Club in Lake Township.
The Phipps Memorial Tournament offered golfers a unique opportunity to play in a historically collegiate tournament at the prestigious golf course.
Since 2010, the Phipps Memorial Tournament has hosted local colleges and universities but expanded for the first time in September to host teams from 13 Stark County high schools.
Ten girls teams and 13 boys teams from the area participated, and high school coaches and volunteers helped with electronic scoring and course logistics, ensuring that the tournament ran smoothly.
The girls and boys teams from North Canton Hoover High School won the team events, scoring 301 and 351 respectively. Golfers who placed first overall in one-hole playoffs were also North Canton Hoover students – Ellie Hutzler scored 74; and Carter Hershberger scored 72.
For all of the students, the tournament was an impressive opportunity, regardless of final scores.
Minerva High School coach Troy Richeson was especially thankful that his team was able to participate.
“We sincerely appreciate all the time, effort and work that went into making this event possible,” said Richeson. “Being a part of the first high school Phipps Memorial Tournament is something they will remember for a long time.”
The tournament is made possible by the Phipps Memorial Trust Fund at Stark Community Foundation, established in honor of Al Phipps by his wife, Martha. The Phippses were avid golfers, and members of Congress Lake Club, who hoped to promote golf in Stark County through an annual tournament and scholarships.
“I think Al and Martha would have been proud of the turnout and the behavior of these kids – the way they took care of the golf course and the way they respect each other and the game of golf itself,” said Dan Clay, who serves as the fund advisor and oversees the tournament. “That's what youth golf is all about. It's about growing the game and the relationships you develop along the way.”
The high school students impressed Clay with their respect for the course. Lake High School’s golfers and other participants went back to the course following the tournament to repair ball marks and replace divots in the grass.
Clay has been involved with golf himself since he was 7 – even recalling caddying for Al Phipps.
“It’s humbling for me that we were able to honor Mr. and Mrs. Phipps by providing this opportunity to young golfers,” he said.
At the end of the tournament, every student who participated received a commemorative ball marker –honoring the first tournament to expand Al and Martha Phipps’ vision and generosity to local high schoolers, with hopes to continue for years to come.
“With the turnout and the emotional reward for the kids, it was well worth the time and effort,” Clay said. “I didn’t see a kid without a smile on his or her face.”
Stark Community Foundation helps individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits achieve their philanthropic goals. Ranked in the top 10% of community foundations in the country, the foundation and its family of donors have granted nearly $300 million to nonprofits since 1963. Learn more at www.starkcf.org.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: 1st Phipps Memorial Tourney lifts high school golfers | Heart of Stark