Chairman's Message
Many Firsts!
2017 Canterbury Kiely Cup Recap
Once again it’s Cincinnati St. Xavier
The top tier of the 2017 Canterbury Kiely Cup invitees left little doubt that tournament watchers were in for a treat. Fifteen high school boys golf teams—in order of finish, Cincinnati St. Xavier, Green, Dublin Jerome, Boardman, Centerville, Notre Dame Cathedral Latin, University School, Walsh Jesuit, St. Ignatius, Gilmour Academy, Strasburg-Franklin, Van Buren, Brookfield, Wooster, and Columbiana—teed off on our famed links this past September 10 & 11 in hopes of having their school name engraved on the esteemed Canterbury Kiely Cup trophy.
Each year, I do my best to include a mix of schools from Ohio’s three golf divisions. This year was no exception. However, little did I know three individuals representing each division—Max Moldovan (Green D-I), Charlie Toman (Notre Dame Cathedral Latin D-II), and Jared Wilson (Columbiana D-III), would go on later and capture medalist honors at this years state tournament … a first for the Kiely Cup.
The Kiely Cup commenced in 2005 as a one-day event. In 2014, it transitioned into a collegiate-like two-day tourney that gives Ohio’s top high school teams another 36-hole tournament challenge other than the two-day state tournament held each October. I consistently hear the Kiely Cup is the best high school invitational boys tournament in the state. To quote more than one young participant, “Mr. Fraser, the Kiely Cup rocks; thanks for having us.” One glance at the many thank-you cards I receive each year reveals the young players’ strong desire to play Canterbury in September.
We’ve all heard it: the more things change, the more they stay the same. Last year’s Kiely Cup champion and defending state champion, Cincinnati St. Xavier, may have been thinking it when they returned to Canterbury to defend with only two players from last year’s winning team. Their victory this year marked the second time in Kiely Cup history that a team won back-to-back championships—University School accomplished the feat back in 2008 and 2009.
The final round of play was strangely similar to last year. In 2016, St. X was down 2 strokes to Boardman following round one but prevailed over runner-up Olentangy Liberty by 8 strokes and Boardman by 10. That victory established a new 36-hole record of 608 (an average of 76 per player, per round). This year, first round leader Dublin Jerome had a 3-stroke advantage over St. X heading into the final 18, but St. X coach Alex Kepley's bunch came out determined, firing 299 for a two-day winning total of 609. Second place this year went to Green who finished in at 617, 8 strokes back. How they got there was unique, setting a new tournament record in the process. Green knocked 23 strokes off their opening round (320-297*) to set a new one-day total. They may have been out done though. No player in the 13-year tournament made a bigger individual move than Strasburg-Franklin junior, Mike Neidenthal. His opening round 27-over par 99 clearly didn’t dampen his spirits or show us how well he could play. Yes, he was all smiles when he turned in his tidy 79 on Monday afternoon. What a turnaround!
Speaking of firsts, the Kiely Cup saw its first ace this year. Boardman’s Bryan Kordupel struck a 9-iron into the 145-yard 11th while his mother and I stood behind the green and witnessed it. Boardman went on to finish 4th overall, and Bryan posted 77 to go with this opening round 84.
Unfortunately, we also had our first withdrawal. NDCL star and pre-tourney medalist favorite Charlie Toman withdrew mid-round on Monday due to severe back pain. One of the best players in the state, Toman is headed to Valparaiso University in the fall. If he had been able to compete on Monday and under normal circumstances posted an even par 72, he would have tied this year’s co-medalist’s Boardman’s Cole Christman and Centerville’s Dhaivat Pandya at 148. As we know, the young heal quickly. One month later Charlie shot an incredible (-6) 66 for a two day total 137 to set a state scoring record and earn Division II medalist honors on the North Star Golf Club course in Sunbury. We haven’t heard the last of Charlie Toman.
The 2017 Kiely Cup ended with an award ceremony on the Canterbury patio, just in time for Marti Hardy’s Canterbury Girls Invitational to commence. I suddenly realized Canterbury was hosting 135 talented male and female prep golfers together with family, friends and interested spectators—‘twas a grand sight.
Canterbury Heritage Foundation President Kevin Mackay considered flying The Open (no longer the British Open) Claret Jug engraver over the pond to initiate the trophy engraving process, but we got to him before negotiations were finalized. (Kidding.) As the Kiely Cup and the Canterbury Girls Invitational grow in importance, Marti and I offer our thanks and gratitude to Kevin for his unwavering fundraising efforts on behalf of both tournaments.
Thanks also to Mike Kiely, our tournament volunteers, GM Michael Lukegord, Canterbury’s Board of Directors, Mike LoPresti, Bill McKinley, Chef Nick Fahringer (these kids really like to eat), Donnell Rowell and Canterbury’s able staff. Finally, special thanks to you (our members) for allowing these inspiring young golfers to play and compete on a remarkable golf course.
Craig Fraser
2017 Canterbury Kiely Cup Recap
Once again it’s Cincinnati St. Xavier
The top tier of the 2017 Canterbury Kiely Cup invitees left little doubt that tournament watchers were in for a treat. Fifteen high school boys golf teams—in order of finish, Cincinnati St. Xavier, Green, Dublin Jerome, Boardman, Centerville, Notre Dame Cathedral Latin, University School, Walsh Jesuit, St. Ignatius, Gilmour Academy, Strasburg-Franklin, Van Buren, Brookfield, Wooster, and Columbiana—teed off on our famed links this past September 10 & 11 in hopes of having their school name engraved on the esteemed Canterbury Kiely Cup trophy.
Each year, I do my best to include a mix of schools from Ohio’s three golf divisions. This year was no exception. However, little did I know three individuals representing each division—Max Moldovan (Green D-I), Charlie Toman (Notre Dame Cathedral Latin D-II), and Jared Wilson (Columbiana D-III), would go on later and capture medalist honors at this years state tournament … a first for the Kiely Cup.
The Kiely Cup commenced in 2005 as a one-day event. In 2014, it transitioned into a collegiate-like two-day tourney that gives Ohio’s top high school teams another 36-hole tournament challenge other than the two-day state tournament held each October. I consistently hear the Kiely Cup is the best high school invitational boys tournament in the state. To quote more than one young participant, “Mr. Fraser, the Kiely Cup rocks; thanks for having us.” One glance at the many thank-you cards I receive each year reveals the young players’ strong desire to play Canterbury in September.
We’ve all heard it: the more things change, the more they stay the same. Last year’s Kiely Cup champion and defending state champion, Cincinnati St. Xavier, may have been thinking it when they returned to Canterbury to defend with only two players from last year’s winning team. Their victory this year marked the second time in Kiely Cup history that a team won back-to-back championships—University School accomplished the feat back in 2008 and 2009.
The final round of play was strangely similar to last year. In 2016, St. X was down 2 strokes to Boardman following round one but prevailed over runner-up Olentangy Liberty by 8 strokes and Boardman by 10. That victory established a new 36-hole record of 608 (an average of 76 per player, per round). This year, first round leader Dublin Jerome had a 3-stroke advantage over St. X heading into the final 18, but St. X coach Alex Kepley's bunch came out determined, firing 299 for a two-day winning total of 609. Second place this year went to Green who finished in at 617, 8 strokes back. How they got there was unique, setting a new tournament record in the process. Green knocked 23 strokes off their opening round (320-297*) to set a new one-day total. They may have been out done though. No player in the 13-year tournament made a bigger individual move than Strasburg-Franklin junior, Mike Neidenthal. His opening round 27-over par 99 clearly didn’t dampen his spirits or show us how well he could play. Yes, he was all smiles when he turned in his tidy 79 on Monday afternoon. What a turnaround!
Speaking of firsts, the Kiely Cup saw its first ace this year. Boardman’s Bryan Kordupel struck a 9-iron into the 145-yard 11th while his mother and I stood behind the green and witnessed it. Boardman went on to finish 4th overall, and Bryan posted 77 to go with this opening round 84.
Unfortunately, we also had our first withdrawal. NDCL star and pre-tourney medalist favorite Charlie Toman withdrew mid-round on Monday due to severe back pain. One of the best players in the state, Toman is headed to Valparaiso University in the fall. If he had been able to compete on Monday and under normal circumstances posted an even par 72, he would have tied this year’s co-medalist’s Boardman’s Cole Christman and Centerville’s Dhaivat Pandya at 148. As we know, the young heal quickly. One month later Charlie shot an incredible (-6) 66 for a two day total 137 to set a state scoring record and earn Division II medalist honors on the North Star Golf Club course in Sunbury. We haven’t heard the last of Charlie Toman.
The 2017 Kiely Cup ended with an award ceremony on the Canterbury patio, just in time for Marti Hardy’s Canterbury Girls Invitational to commence. I suddenly realized Canterbury was hosting 135 talented male and female prep golfers together with family, friends and interested spectators—‘twas a grand sight.
Canterbury Heritage Foundation President Kevin Mackay considered flying The Open (no longer the British Open) Claret Jug engraver over the pond to initiate the trophy engraving process, but we got to him before negotiations were finalized. (Kidding.) As the Kiely Cup and the Canterbury Girls Invitational grow in importance, Marti and I offer our thanks and gratitude to Kevin for his unwavering fundraising efforts on behalf of both tournaments.
Thanks also to Mike Kiely, our tournament volunteers, GM Michael Lukegord, Canterbury’s Board of Directors, Mike LoPresti, Bill McKinley, Chef Nick Fahringer (these kids really like to eat), Donnell Rowell and Canterbury’s able staff. Finally, special thanks to you (our members) for allowing these inspiring young golfers to play and compete on a remarkable golf course.
Craig Fraser