PGA of America Golf Professional Tim Hume topped the leaderboard in the Professional contest while Ouleout Creek Golf Course placed first in the scramble team contest at the Rocky Kelly Pro-Junior Tournament on July 27.
The annual tournament took place at Green Lakes State Park Golf Course where the late Central New York PGA hall of famer Kelly was the head professional. Members of the Kelly family participated in the event.
In addition to honoring Kelly’s legacy, who was a strong supporter of junior golf, the tournament was an opportunity for local junior players to compete side-by-side with a Section PGA Professional or Associate.
Newly minted PGA Member Zach Vinal has the unique distinction of playing in tournament as a junior and now as a PGA Professional. Vinal (Yahnundasis GC), who was elected to membership earlier this month, finished one stroke behind Hume (3-under 68) and tied for second with Evan Sitts (Ouleout Creek GC).
Vinal holds fond memories of the event when he played as a junior in the late 1990s.
“When you’re in golf as a kid and you play with these pros who you look up to, this tournament is the one day a year that you get to play with them and have their attention for the entire day,” Vinal said. “It’s really cool because you get a feel for them as a person and as a pro.”
The Rocky Kelly Pro-Junior was Vinal’s second tournament as a PGA Professional and he enjoyed every minute.
“This is the most fun I’ve had in a while,” Vinal said. “The kids just have such a good attitude out there and it definitely helped keep things in perspective.”
After Hume, Vinal and Sitts (69), Timber Banks’ Nick Serafino (70) and CNY PGA’s Dylan Plis (71) rounded out the top five in the individual pro contest.
Sitts captained the winning Ouleout Creek GC team which finished at 16-under 55 in the Team Scramble with juniors Landon Weaver, Kason Miller and Dylan Brislin. All teams consisted of one PGA Professional or Associate and three juniors.
The Pompey Club team and defending champion McConnellsville CC finished tied for second at 14-under 57.
The CNY PGA would like to thank the Kelly family for their support and tournament partner Brian Robinson (Ahead), who provided this year’s tee gifts.
