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Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
Odds in private-club players' favor at Shaw Cup
Published on Sunday, Aug 10, 2008
Joe Ungvary Jr. wants to turn back the clock to the period between 1995 and 2003. A return to 1985 — and a duplication of one of that year's most memorable sporting events — would serve his agenda, too.
Ungvary is in his second year as captain of the public-course team that will compete next weekend in the 14th annual Shaw Cup against a private-club team.
The public side thoroughly dominated the popular amateur tournament in its first nine years with a 7-2 record. However, the momentum has shifted in 2004-07 to the private team, which has a 2-0-2 mark in those years, including a tie in 2007.
All indicators for next weekend point to the private side moving closer in the all-time series.
Ungvary, a former player at St. Vincent-St. Mary High and Kent State, knows that, but he is not practicing his concession speech.
That's where 1985 comes in, courtesy of the shocking upset in the NCAA Tournament basketball championship game when Villanova defeated mighty Georgetown 66-64.
''We are huge underdogs. They are loaded. We have a lot of work to do,'' Ungvary said. ''This is like Georgetown-Villanova. Nobody gives us a chance, but upsets do happen.''
Tim Edwards, the captain of the private team, said he will not have to remind his players of that fact.
''We are guardedly optimistic, but the caveat is that you never know what is going to happen in match play,'' Edwards said. ''There are great players on both sides. All you can do is strap it up and see what happens. Match play can be unpredictable.''
Edward's team reluctantly accepts the role as the favorite, because its roster is full of Shaw Cup veterans who have not lost in the event since 2003.
''We do have pretty much the same players,'' Edwards said. ''They are seasoned tournament players who have shown they can play well on public and private golf courses.''
The public team does have its share of veterans, but also is missing the likes of Larry Horner, Dave Oates and Rick Merrow for assorted reasons.
Ungvary, though, believes in his players and believes they will be ready for the challenge.
''We have a bunch of backyard scrappers. That's what I want . . . guys who will run through a wall,'' he said. ''I am going with guys who are excited about playing. To do well, our veterans are really going to have to step up.''
The tournament follows a Ryder Cup format of partnered and individual matches, worth one point each. There are 28 total matches, and 141/2 points or more are needed to win.
Starting at 8 a.m. Saturday at Good Park, seven best-ball matches will be held, followed by seven alternate-shot matches, starting at about 1 p.m.
Beginning at 12:45 p.m. on Aug. 17, 14 individual matches will be held on the West Course at Firestone Country Club.
In 2007, the tournament was tied 7-7 after the first two rounds, and the third round at Rosemont was canceled because of rain. It was recorded as a tie, but the private team retained the actual Shaw Cup trophy.
The event benefits the Challenge Golf Program at Akron General-Edwin Shaw Rehab.
Three in U.S. Amateur
Three local players have qualified for the 108th United States Amateur from Aug. 18-24 at Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort and Country Club.
John Hahn of Hudson, Ross Beal of Uniontown and Jeff Mallette of North Canton made the field in the United States Golf Association event.
Hahn, the 2008 Mid-American Conference player of the year as a Kent State freshman, won a playoff Monday at Dayton Country Club to claim one of the two qualifying spots.
He was tied for second with two other golfers after rounds of 67 and 70 to trail medalist Paul Hammerschmidt by 1 shot. He sank a 7-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to advance.
Beal, a former Walsh Jesuit High and Youngstown State standout, won the qualifier at Legend Lake in Chardon and Fowler's Mill in Chesterland. He had rounds of 67 and 70 for 137.
Mallette, a Canton dentist, finished second to Beal with a 141 on rounds of 75 and 66.
Yacovazzi wins
Hudson High graduate Anthony Yacovazzi won the Open Division of the 78th Portage County Amateur at the Kent State Golf Club.
Yacovazzi, a senior player at LaGrange (Ga.) College, finished with a 36-hole score of 1-over 141, on rounds of 77 and 64.
Nathan Tarter, a senior at Mogadore High, won the County Division with a 144. Mandi Morrow, a Kent Roosevelt High graduate and Kent State recruit, won the Women's Division with a 149.
Mogadore's Lou Boarman (151) won the Senior Division, and Rootstown's Jerry Bobbs (158) won the Super Seniors Division.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Joe Ungvary Jr. wants to turn back the clock to the period between 1995 and 2003. A return to 1985 — and a duplication of one of that year's most memorable sporting events — would serve his agenda, too.
Get the full article here.
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