Kickoff 2026 was held on March 29 at Bunker Hill GC in their beautiful renovated banquet room.  47 members plus sponsor Mike Koler and speaker, Melony Butler, CEO Dress for Success, enjoyed a brunch buffet followed by a introductions of Course Directors, Board members and a review of the upcoming 2026 season.  Melony spoke about Dress for Success whose mission is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and development tools.  Raffle tickets were sold for prizes with the profits donated to the nonprofit, as well as 1/2 of the 50/50 raffle.  The total donation from the Cleveland Chapter was $870!

In addition to the monetary donation, members brought in clothing and accessories that filled Melony's car.  Thank you LPGA Amateurs Cleveland for your incredible generosity.

Long time sponsor Mike Koler announce that his hole-in-one offer in 2025 would this year be increased to $1000 for the first member getting a hole in one in league play or a chapter event.  We deeply appreciate Mike's generosity and commitment to our group and he received a enthusiastic round of applause for all that he does for our chapter.

Raffle and Simulator contest winners:

Judy Anderson - 50/50 raffle $290 ($580 split with Dress for Success).

Tamzin O'Neal - an Always Golf simulator party for 20 & golf merchandise. Tamzin donated the party back to Springvale for their networking night!

Kristen Davis - a wine & snacks basket which she donated it to Dress for Success for their next fundraiser!

Susan Curtis - won a one month membership to (unlimited free green fees).

Emily Stolfer - won Sportsville mini golf rounds and simulator practice

Simulator Closest to the Pin contest winners - prizes generously donated by Mike Koler:  Eileen McCarthy, Pat Blackmon, Alicia Schroeder (new member)

Fantastic end of September weather enhanced the Stay & Play at the Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, WV. LPGA Cleveland and Canton members finished out the 2025 golf reason. A total of 24 members and guests enjoyed the courses, laughs, food, camaraderie and housing. Rain prior to our arrival made the courses really wet and added to the challenges of the WV rolling hills and hollers. Thank you Carolyn Caplan for making all the arrangements and Wendy Shick for planning the games. Results were:

Oglebay – Jones Course – blind draw 2-person low net team

1^st place – Terry Carbone-Baxter and Deb Kandel - score 166
2^nd place – Patty Wolfe and Wendy Shick – score 171
3^rd place – Donna Schreiber and Nikki Smith – score 172
4^th place – Susan Curtis and Kristen Miller – score 173

Low putts – Kristen Miller - score 34 (even though she had a 4-putt)
Lowest number of short putts – Terry Carbone-Baxter – only 1
Best round of the day – Terry Carbone-Baxter gross 87, net 74
Long putt #9 – Andy Shimek
Long putt #18 – Susan Curtis

Oglebay – Palmer Course – 4-person team – low net and high net total hole score, unless gross birdie then two low nets total hole score

1^st place – Lisa Bizjak, Susan Curtis, Wendy Shick, Deb Wilcox – score 157 (team had 1 birdie)
2^nd place – Carolyn Caplan, Kristen Miller, Becky Pittis, Andy Shimek – score of 160 (team had 2 birdies)
High putts – Denette Ditmer -  score of 49
Lowest number of short putts – Lisa Bizjak and Kristen Miller – only 2 for each
Best round of the day – Wendy Shick gross 80, net 71
Long putt #9 – Terry Carbone-Baxter
Long putt #18 – Donna Byrnes

Special Awards

• Donna Byrnes – WV hilly-windy roads and upset stomach
• Carolyn Caplan – Asking her GPS unit (instead of her cell phone) a question about George Thorogood drinking song after a “few” shots on the course
• Helen Oshaben – took picture of 5 foot snake out on the course
• Patty Wolfe – hit a tree, small pole that marked where to return to cart path and golf pin – all within a few holes

Teresa Kovach won the Most Improved Golfer award for 2025 based on her reduction in handicap – from 43.7 to 35.2 from April 1 to September 15. Unfortunately, Teresa wasn’t able to attend and missed hearing her applause.

For the 50-50 drawing, Denise Rini was the lucky winner for $245. There also was a new drawing for 3 Super baskets valued at $500 each. Mary Beth Breckenridge, Sue Bryson and Lori Inks were the big winners for this.

Missy Gedeon was low gross in the field with a 77 while Ann Shamess was low net in the field with 66.

Deb Kandel was the low putts winner in the field with 30.

Samantha Wright had the “best” round on the field after winning Flight 3 low gross, $68 for having 4 skins and skin shot for $138 total winnings.

Nancy Kinnett just missed, by a couple of inches, a Hole-in-One on #12. She earned $20 for the Closest to Pin skill shot, but missed out on the $500 HIO offer from Mike Koler of Koler Financial.

The following were flight winners – 1^st and 2 in each category. First place received $50 and second place received $30. Low putts received $25.

Flight 1 – Gross
1^st – Missy Gedeon – 77
2^nd – Eileen McCarthy – 85

Flight 1 – Net
1^st – Jennifer Moissis – 73
2^nd – Nancy Kinnett – 75

Flight 2 – Gross
1^st – Pat Blackmon – 97
2^nd – Rosanne Fiorilli – 100
Deb Kandel - low putts 30

Flight 2 – Net
1^st – Mary Beth Breckenridge – 76
2^nd – Sue Bryson – 78

Flight 3 – Gross
1^st – Samantha Wright – 96
2^nd – Mary Hazlett – 99
Debbie McCreery - low putts 37

Flight 3 – Net
1^st – Ann Shamess - 66
2^nd – Debbie McCreery – 69

Flight 4 – Gross
1^st – Terri Lanzara – 106
2^nd – Sharon Roediger – 121
Sieman - low putts 34

Flight 4 – Net
1^st – Kathy Lang – 70
2^nd – Judy Anderson - 79

Skill Shots $20

#2 – Closest to pin – Eileen McCarthy
#3– Long Putt – Diane Kovachik
#8 – Closest to pin, 2^nd shot – Samantha Wright
#7 – Long drive, Flight 1 – Terry Carbone-Baxter
#7 -  Long drive, Flight 2 -  Sue Bryson
#7 – Long drive, Flight 3 – Mary Hazlett
#7 – Long drive, Flight 4 – Terri Lanzara (random draw)
#12 – Closest to pin – Nancy Kinnett
#15 – Closest to pin, any shot – Kasha Januszewski
#16 – Long Putt – Ann Shamess
#18 – Closest to pin, any shot – Mary Jane Boyle

Skins

Flight 1 – Missy Gedeon, Terry Carbone-Baxter, Nancy Kinnett, Kasha Januszewski (2) - $38: Diane Kovachik (1) - $18

Flight 2 – Pat Blackmon, Mary Beth Breckenridge (3)  - $52; Elsa Arriola, Sue Bryson (1) - $18

Flight 3 – Samantha Wright (4) - $68: Debbie McCreery (2)  - $34; Lori Spencer (1) - $17

Flight 4 – Terry Lanzara (3)  - $45; Carolyn Caplan (2) - $30: Helen Oshaben, Judy Anderson, Loretta Robertson (1) - $15

A hot weather day was on tap for the 2025 Course Challenge at Shawnee Hills Golf Course on Saturday, August 9. We had a great showing of 30 golfers. The golfers from the “West” courses (Seneca, Springvale, Sweetbriar, Valleaire) retained the Course Challenge title. The West team consisted of Lisa Bizjak, Susan Curtis, Emily Gauthier, Lisa Gianvito, Beth Kintigh, June Rickey, Denise Rini, Andy Shimek, Emily Stolfer, Nicky Sulandari, Martha Walther and Deb Wilcox.

The format for play was two-person teams. The first 9 holes was best ball format in which both players played their own ball and used the lower score. The second 9 holes was a scramble. After play on the course, the golfers had a putting contest from 10 ft, 20 ft and 30 ft.

The West golfers pulled out the win by scoring well in the best ball contest as they had the best net team as well as the best putter. Beth Kintigh and Andy Shimek had the best with a net 58. In the putting contest, West also had the best overall putter in June Rickey with only 43 inches.

Other award winners were:
Beth Kintigh and Andy Shimek - low net team with 58.
Donna Byrnes and Sandy Sieman – 2^nd low net team with 59 (tie breaker)
June Rickey – best putter in the putting contest

Skill shot winners:
Long putt – Deb Wilcox, Diane Dittoe
Closest to Pin – Beth Kintigh
Closest to Pin-Any shot off green – Andy Shimek, Donna Schreiber/Elsa Arriola, Lisa Bizjak
Long drive – Terry Carbone-Baxter
Closest to pin on 2^nd shot – Andy Shimek

Special thank you for workers at the event: registration – Marcia Frankino, putting contest – Terry Carbone-Baxter, Rosanne Fiorilli, Beth Kintigh and Andy Shimek, Event Coordinator – Wendy Shick.

LPGA Cleveland golfers take 3^rd place team with 3 flight winners at Tri-League+ Championship

12 of our better golfers from LPGA Amateurs Cleveland were invited to participate in the Tri-League+ Championship held at Columbia Hills Country Club on July 28. The Championship invited six local golf associations to submit 12 golfers to compete. The Championship was organized by Northern Ohio Golf Association. It was an honor for LPGA Cleveland to be included as one of the participating organizations. A luncheon was provided after play.

Back on April 1, a committee reviewed the existing membership and reached out to the lowest 20 qualifying handicaps of LPGA Cleveland. The first 12 to respond comprised the team. The team included: Terry Carbone-Baxter, Mary Jane Boyle, Lori Inks, Beth Kintigh, Eileen McCarthy, Malonie Moeller, Leigh Murray, June Rickey, Denise Rini, Wendy Shick, Deborah Wilcox and Allison Yohanan. 

The competition was split between 4 flights. There was an overall winner plus 1^st and 2^nd place in each flight. A total of $1,200 was available for the winners who received gift cards from a list of selected area courses. Some of the top Northeast Ohio golfers attended. Flight 1 included 13 golfers of handicaps less than 9. The overall winner shot 1 under par.

Eileen McCarthy won Flight 3 with a score of 88 and won $200.

Mary Jane Boyle won Flight 4 with a score of 93 and won $200.

Malonie Moeller placed second in Flight 2 with a score of 82 and won $100.

The event also included a team competition. The lowest 6 gross scores from each team were added to determine the team score. LPGA Amateurs finished an awesome 3^rd place. This included beating out the Greater Cleveland Golf Association’s 12 players that play Columbia Hills on a regular basis as well as Columbia Hills home-course players. LPGA players with the lowest 6 scores included Malonie Moeller 82, Allison Yohanan 86, Beth Kintigh 88, Eileen McCarthy 88, Wendy Shick 89 and Mary Jane Boyle 93.

Our players endured a very hot, humid day as well as a 45-minute fog delay after most players had completed 4 holes. The fog was beautiful and a bit interesting to play in before the delay. Range finders were rendered useless and were reading 4-10 yards most of the time. The course played to 5,300 yards and included many elevated tees and greens as well as meandering Rocky River. 

From L to R: Denise Rini, Wendy Shick, Mary Jane Boyle, Leigh Murray, Terry Carbone-Baxter, Debbie Wilcox, Allison Yohanan, Beth Kintigh, Malonie Moeller, Eileen McCarthy.  Missing was Lori Inks and June Rickey.

FIRST TWO-PERSON SCRAMBLE BIG SUCCESS      

We had another warm day, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of 40 golfers as Gleneagles Golf Course on July 6^th. This was the first time we tried this format and it was a great showing for our league. All endured the heat and enjoyed playing on a nice golf course.

The format for play was two-person scramble with net placements for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd as well as gross skins with two flights. Each player contributed $15 to the prize and skins pot.

Flight 1

1^st – Missy Gedeon and Wendy Shick – net 64.
2^nd – Allison Yohanan and Peggy Allen - net 65
3^rd – Leigh Murray and Donna Schreiber – net 66 (tiebreaker) over Elsa Arriola and Kirsten Taylor-Billups

Flight 2

1^st – Kate Vezdos and Donna Byrnes – net 69.
2^nd – Teri Lanzara and Judy Anderson - net 71
3^rd – Heidi Gallaher and Debbie Kandel – net 74 (tiebreaker) over Darlene Hillis and Angela Centa

Skill shot winners:
Long putt – Flight 1 - Wendy Shick; Flight 2- Mary Hazlett
Closest to Pin – Flight 1 – Allison Yohanan; Flight 2– Shauna Campbell

Skins:
Flight 1 – Gedeon/Shick had 4, Arriola/Taylor-Billups had 3, Yohanan/Allen had 2 and Eileen McCarthy/Pat Blackmon and Murray/Schreiber had 1 each. Each skin paid $11.00.

Flight 2 – Vezdos/Byrnes had 4, Gallaher/Kandel had 2, Mary Murphy/Dina Stier had 2. Each skin paid $15.00.

Check out our photo gallery!

More than 50 members & guests gathered at First Tee-Cleveland for a fabulous Master's themed Season Kick Off on Sunday, April 6th. Thank you for joining us, fabulous sponsors, Mike Koler (Koler Financial Group), and Karla Caton (KD's Crafts). Big shout out to our Events Committee for a really fun, creative day: Heidi Gallaher, Deb Wilcox, Cindy Trefny, Olga Merela, and Kate Vezdos.

Special thanks to our First Tee hosts: Pat LoPresti, Executive Director, Mary Patton, Director of Marketing, Coach Dorothy Kaspar, Program Manager, and Veronica Savitch, Program support Specialist. Your facility is stunning, and perfect for our event. We are so impressed by the great work that you do in our community and appreciate learning more about ways we can be involved.  The First Tee - also donated a big raffle gift of golf items which was won by Cindy Trefny.

Competition was fierce for Closest to the Pin - congratulations to Deb Wilcox (under 8 feet)!  Peggy Allen won the putting contest.   Bonnie Kowalski and Deb McCreery won Master's Trivia.  Judy Anderson's guess was closest to the number of tees in the jar!  It's always fun to win!

Stay tuned for the grand prize winner of the Master's "Green Jacket" Competition!  This fundraiser allowed us to donate $500 to the First Tee - Cleveland.

We are inspired and ready for the season.

Fantastic early October weather enhanced the Stay & Play at the Grand Resort in Warren. LPGA Cleveland and Canton members, 24 strong, enjoyed the courses, laughs, food, camaraderie and housing. Rain prior to our arrival made the courses a bit wet and added to the challenges. Thank you Carolyn Caplan for making all the arrangements and Wendy Shick for planning the games. Friday also was National Golf Lover’s Day. Results were:

Avalon Lakes – blind draw 2-person low net team:

1^st place – Carolyn Caplan and Wendy Shick – score 149

2^nd place – Doreen Smith and Becky Pittis – score 162 (won tiebreaker)

3^rd place – Beth Kintigh and Olga Merela – score 162

4^th place – Diane Kovachick and Kristen Miller – score 163

Low putts – Doreen Smith  - score 31

Best round of the day – Carolyn Caplan net 74

Squaw Creek – 4-person team – low net and high net total hole score, unless gross birdie then two low nets total hole score

1^st place – Kelli Chronister, Beth Kintigh, Kristen Miller, Doreen Smith – score 150 (team had 3 birdies)

2^nd place – Donna Byrnes, Leigh Murray, Wendy Shick, Andy Shimek – score of 153 (team had 1 birdie)

Low putts – Helen Oshaben - score of 32

Long putt – Judy Anderson

Closest to pin – Kristen Miller

Best round of the day – Helen Oshaben net 69

Special Awards

Judy Anderson – perseverance on putting green

Donna Schreiber – had 4 Dolly Parton putts (round the hole and lip out)

Kristen Davis – saved golf cart from rolling into water on the last hole Saturday

Donna Byrnes – late-night swim at Grand Resort (with regular clothes on) in honor of Deb Solyan

51 golfers, (most since 2021), gathered at Ironwood Golf Course in on September 21. We all traveled to the southern section of the area for a 9:00 a.m. shotgun start. The weather was perfect for this late in the season. All enjoyed a gathering after with lots of baskets and door prizes. Everyone received a snack bag and Golf Dotz. A big thanks to Helen Oshaben, Donna Byrnes, Olga Merela and Wendy Shick for organizing a great day!! Also appreciate the help of many others during the day.

Mary Beth Breckenridge won the Most Improved Golfer award for 2024 based on her reduction in handicap – from 28.0 to 22.4 from April 1 to September 19. Unfortunately, Mary Beth wasn’t able to attend and missed hearing her applause.

For the 50-50 drawing, the board decided to pull two names and return all the money to the members. That means we had a 100-0. Donna Byrnes and Helen Oshaben were the lucky winners. You had to be there to understand the fun aspect of the winners – too hard to explain.

June Rickey had a great day on the course. She had the best gross and net score of the day – playing from Flight 2. She said whispered in my ear “I didn’t use her driver all day.” Very smart move and perfect way to adjust to how the course was playing.

Olga Merela was the low putts winner in the field with 30. Connie Raiche was the only golfer in the field to birdie ANY of the Par 3’s. Beth Kintigh was the only golfer in the field to birdie #14 and Leigh Murray was the only golfer in the field to par #12.

The following were flight winners – 1^st and 2 in each category. First place received $50 and second place received $30. Low putts received $25.

Flight 1 – Gross

1^st – Denise Rini – 84
2^nd – Leigh Murray – 86
Leigh Murray – low putts 31

Flight 1 – Net

1^st – Debbie Wilcox – 71
2^nd – Peggy Allen – 72

Flight 2 – Gross

1^st – June Rickey – 82
2^nd – Kate Vezdos – 93
June Rickey - low putts 33

Flight 2 – Net

1^st – Shauna Campbell – 70
2^nd – Lisa Bizjak – 72

Flight 3 – Gross

1^st – Olga Merela – 90
2^nd – Lori Spencer – 97
Olga Merela - low putts 30

Flight 3 – Net

1^st – Gloria Merritt - 67
2^nd – Ann Shamess – 71

Flight 4 – Gross

1^st – Linda Delsky – 104
2^nd – Darlene Hillis – 110
Angela Centa - low putts 32

Flight 4 – Net

1^st – Angela Centa – 70
2^nd – Margaret Lynch - 75

Skill Shots $20

#2 – Closest to pin, any shot – Jen Moissis
#4 – Closest to pin, 2^nd shot – Jen Moissis
#7 – Long Putt – Beth Kintigh
#8 – Long drive, Flight 1 – Beth Kintigh
#8 -  Long drive, Flight 2 -  June Rickey
#8 – Long drive, Flight 3 – Lori Spencer
#8 – Long drive, Flight 4 – Angela Centa
#11 – Closest to pin – Leigh Murray
#14 – Closest to pin, any shot – Cindy Trefney
#16 – Long Putt – Nicky Sulandari
#18 – Closest to pin, any shot – Marilyn Clark

Skins

Flight 1 – Beth Kintigh (2) - $66: Jen Moissis, Leigh Murray (1) - $32
Flight 2 – Lisa Bizjak, Shauna Campbell, June Rickey, Kate Vezdos (1) $32.50
Flight 3 – Susan Curtis, Olga Merela, Gloria Merritt (2) - $25: Karla Maschmeier, Connie Raiche, Ann Shamess (1) - $12
Flight 4 – Linda Delsky, Emily Gauthier (2) - $20: Angela Centa, Darlene Hillis, Marcia Frankino, Sandy Sieman (1) - $1

Chapter News - June

Our annual Kick Off was held on Saturday, April 8, at Mallard Creek GC.   The event began with  a golf simulator competition, "swap meet", sponsor Karla Caton of KD's Crafts selling her beautiful golf accessories followed by lunch and President Helen Oshaben sharing details of the upcoming season.  Speakers were teaching Pro Pam Stefanik  (440-991-6117) sharing tips,  followed by sponsor Marcia Frankino of Style-In LLC demonstrated her skills as a personal stylist with golf clothing going from course to cocktails.  Sponsor Mike Koler of the Koler Financial Group attended and donated Dick's gift cards which were raffled off along with two certificates for TeeTimes golf pass books.  Following the event, some braver soles ventured out for a round of golf in cool but sunny weather.  A special thanks to members Olga Merela and Kristen Davis from the Events Committee for their planning, and all who helped and participated in this fun event!  

Kick-Off & Upcoming SPECIAL Events

News From Chapter - January 2024