Chairman's Message
February 18, 2024
September 8th & 9th mark the Canterbury Kiely Cup’s 20th Anniversary! It also marks our 19th tournament, no thanks to Covid in 2020. The Kiely Cup commenced on September 19, 2005, with twelve elite teams (Hudson won by a stroke over Medina). The boys were treated to two luminaries of the game that evening. The banquet speakers were Canterbury’s legendary club champ, 1993 Ohio Amateur champion, Bob Fairchild, together with his good friend, the late Bob Lewis—former United States Amateur runner-up, and Walker Cup player & captain. Overwhelmed might best describe the look on the boy’s faces.
The following year, (15) schools were invited, where the field stands today. Since the start eighty-six schools from Ohio’s three divisions have graced the tournament. Bill Reilly’s Walsh Jesuit teams has won the most (2007-2010-2013- 2015). Cleveland’s St. Ignatius won in 2006-2011. However, they also hold the distinction of being runner-up seven times! We’ve had two back-to-back champions: University School (2008-09) and St. Xavier (2016-17). From 2005 to 2014, the tournament was a one day, bring your best game—call it an 18-hole shoot out. Dayton Oakwood’s (2012) winning score (301) was the lowest recorded. In 2014, we decided to give the teams the chance to play a game resembling a collegiate tournament by adding another day. The 36-hole Kiely Cup ran from Sunday afternoon to conclusion on Monday. In 2022 Mason set the 36-hole tournament record low. Coach Tom Lambert arrived with his Mason Comets and blew away the field with a 589 (300-289) two-day total. You could say they won in part, thanks to tournament medalist Nate Vonderhaar’s -2 under par 142. Ignatius finished second, 20 strokes back. The Kiely Cup also serves to be a glimpse into who will prevail at “State” in October. St. Ignatius finished second behind Archbishop Hoban and Mason in 2021 & 2022, respectively, yet prevailed in Columbus both years and were aptly crowned state champions over (yes) Hoban & Mason.
Canterbury welcomes spectators. Come witness some of the best young male golfers in Ohio on the 8th & 9th of September. The teams tee off in threesomes at 1PM Sunday, and 9AM Monday.
September 13, 2023
How often have you finished a good round--maybe a personal best—and thought, “Darn, if only I could have that drive or that downhill three-footer back?” One stroke and I would have broken 100, or 90, or 80, or, for the gifted few, 70 for the first time. The errant drive that caused you to chip back into the fairway. The penalty stroke you called on yourself. I’m not talking about pencil pros, either. As you know, there are no refs or umpires in golf. Golf is an honorable game. Check out the parchment, the original 13 articles hanging in the clubhouse in Scotland – aye lads, at Muirfield, home of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. They’ll tell you.
The game isn’t a beauty contest, either. You hit good shots that sometimes take bad bounces, landing you in a divot or worse. Or, you cringe watching your tee shot head OB only to clip a branch and sail back into the fairway. None of us, I should say very few, can honestly say “ I didn’t leave any shots out there today.” When the round is over, you tally your score and post it. That’s what fifteen of arguably Ohio’s best boys’ golf teams did this past Sunday and Monday at the Canterbury Kiely Cup. The winning team, Archbishop Hoban (Akron), won by one stroke over the runner-up, Archbishop Alter (Kettering), 596 to 597!
Sunday’s weather broke like a miserable cold Lake Erie day—steely grey skies, light misty rain—not what was forecast. Luckily, the rain petered out in time for the 1 p.m. shotgun start. First-day scores were surprisingly low (4,700) despite the conditions. Archbishop Alter lead by one over Archbishop Hoban, by two over Upper Arlington, and by three over St. Xavier. The top seven teams were a mere seven strokes apart. Monday was shaping up to produce an exciting finish, exactly what I predicted when the teams vans arrived Sunday morning. Meanwhile, Monday’s weather was a Chamber of Commerce day: bright sun, low humidity, 70f with light wind. The 2nd round scores reflected it too, (4,665) thirty-five strokes lower.
Individually, the low tournament score was dead even. David Gochenouer, Archbishop Alter, and Chris Pollak, Archbishop Hoban, shared medalist honors. David shot: 70-71 141; Chris the reverse: 71-70 141. It’s the sixth time since the inaugural Kiely Cup that two players shared medalist honors. The first occurred in 2007. Who could forget Mac McLaughlin (University School), a Mike Kiely favorite who caddied at Canterbury, and Pat Spittler (Walsh Jesuit) each carding a pair of one-over-par 73’s. The following year, Michael Fazio (University School) and Michale Witmer (Brecksville) shared 76’s. In 2010, Alex Andrew (Gilmour) and Tyler McHugh (Walsh Jesuit) shot even par 72’s. Five years later, Dan Berlin (Chagrin Falls) and Will Kurtz (Hudson) shared the honor with a pair of one-over-par 145s. 2016 was also the first year the Kiely Cup mirrored a collegiate tournament by becoming a two-day, 36-hole competition. The following year Cade Christman (Boardman) and Dhaivat Pandya (Centerville) shared top honors 148s. Currently a junior, Chris Pollak, will have the opportunity to become the first back-to back medalist.
All Kiely Cup-winning teams receive an invitation to return the following year. Admittedly, I’ve tried to invite a cross section of the best Division 1, 2 & 3 teams, public and parochial. However, as the years wear on, fewer D2 & D3 teams are strong enough to compete. Craig Yakscoe’s 2019 Columbus Academy team is the only D2 team that became a Kiely Cup champion.
The balls are flying further, the scores continue to be lower, and the talent these young aspirants demonstrate is a thrill to behold. Join me next year when we conduct the 19th Kiely Cup over Canterbury’s famed layout on September 8th & 9th. Interested? Hope to see you there under Chamber of Commerce conditions.
-Craig Fraser
September 8th & 9th mark the Canterbury Kiely Cup’s 20th Anniversary! It also marks our 19th tournament, no thanks to Covid in 2020. The Kiely Cup commenced on September 19, 2005, with twelve elite teams (Hudson won by a stroke over Medina). The boys were treated to two luminaries of the game that evening. The banquet speakers were Canterbury’s legendary club champ, 1993 Ohio Amateur champion, Bob Fairchild, together with his good friend, the late Bob Lewis—former United States Amateur runner-up, and Walker Cup player & captain. Overwhelmed might best describe the look on the boy’s faces.
The following year, (15) schools were invited, where the field stands today. Since the start eighty-six schools from Ohio’s three divisions have graced the tournament. Bill Reilly’s Walsh Jesuit teams has won the most (2007-2010-2013- 2015). Cleveland’s St. Ignatius won in 2006-2011. However, they also hold the distinction of being runner-up seven times! We’ve had two back-to-back champions: University School (2008-09) and St. Xavier (2016-17). From 2005 to 2014, the tournament was a one day, bring your best game—call it an 18-hole shoot out. Dayton Oakwood’s (2012) winning score (301) was the lowest recorded. In 2014, we decided to give the teams the chance to play a game resembling a collegiate tournament by adding another day. The 36-hole Kiely Cup ran from Sunday afternoon to conclusion on Monday. In 2022 Mason set the 36-hole tournament record low. Coach Tom Lambert arrived with his Mason Comets and blew away the field with a 589 (300-289) two-day total. You could say they won in part, thanks to tournament medalist Nate Vonderhaar’s -2 under par 142. Ignatius finished second, 20 strokes back. The Kiely Cup also serves to be a glimpse into who will prevail at “State” in October. St. Ignatius finished second behind Archbishop Hoban and Mason in 2021 & 2022, respectively, yet prevailed in Columbus both years and were aptly crowned state champions over (yes) Hoban & Mason.
Canterbury welcomes spectators. Come witness some of the best young male golfers in Ohio on the 8th & 9th of September. The teams tee off in threesomes at 1PM Sunday, and 9AM Monday.
September 13, 2023
How often have you finished a good round--maybe a personal best—and thought, “Darn, if only I could have that drive or that downhill three-footer back?” One stroke and I would have broken 100, or 90, or 80, or, for the gifted few, 70 for the first time. The errant drive that caused you to chip back into the fairway. The penalty stroke you called on yourself. I’m not talking about pencil pros, either. As you know, there are no refs or umpires in golf. Golf is an honorable game. Check out the parchment, the original 13 articles hanging in the clubhouse in Scotland – aye lads, at Muirfield, home of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. They’ll tell you.
The game isn’t a beauty contest, either. You hit good shots that sometimes take bad bounces, landing you in a divot or worse. Or, you cringe watching your tee shot head OB only to clip a branch and sail back into the fairway. None of us, I should say very few, can honestly say “ I didn’t leave any shots out there today.” When the round is over, you tally your score and post it. That’s what fifteen of arguably Ohio’s best boys’ golf teams did this past Sunday and Monday at the Canterbury Kiely Cup. The winning team, Archbishop Hoban (Akron), won by one stroke over the runner-up, Archbishop Alter (Kettering), 596 to 597!
Sunday’s weather broke like a miserable cold Lake Erie day—steely grey skies, light misty rain—not what was forecast. Luckily, the rain petered out in time for the 1 p.m. shotgun start. First-day scores were surprisingly low (4,700) despite the conditions. Archbishop Alter lead by one over Archbishop Hoban, by two over Upper Arlington, and by three over St. Xavier. The top seven teams were a mere seven strokes apart. Monday was shaping up to produce an exciting finish, exactly what I predicted when the teams vans arrived Sunday morning. Meanwhile, Monday’s weather was a Chamber of Commerce day: bright sun, low humidity, 70f with light wind. The 2nd round scores reflected it too, (4,665) thirty-five strokes lower.
Individually, the low tournament score was dead even. David Gochenouer, Archbishop Alter, and Chris Pollak, Archbishop Hoban, shared medalist honors. David shot: 70-71 141; Chris the reverse: 71-70 141. It’s the sixth time since the inaugural Kiely Cup that two players shared medalist honors. The first occurred in 2007. Who could forget Mac McLaughlin (University School), a Mike Kiely favorite who caddied at Canterbury, and Pat Spittler (Walsh Jesuit) each carding a pair of one-over-par 73’s. The following year, Michael Fazio (University School) and Michale Witmer (Brecksville) shared 76’s. In 2010, Alex Andrew (Gilmour) and Tyler McHugh (Walsh Jesuit) shot even par 72’s. Five years later, Dan Berlin (Chagrin Falls) and Will Kurtz (Hudson) shared the honor with a pair of one-over-par 145s. 2016 was also the first year the Kiely Cup mirrored a collegiate tournament by becoming a two-day, 36-hole competition. The following year Cade Christman (Boardman) and Dhaivat Pandya (Centerville) shared top honors 148s. Currently a junior, Chris Pollak, will have the opportunity to become the first back-to back medalist.
All Kiely Cup-winning teams receive an invitation to return the following year. Admittedly, I’ve tried to invite a cross section of the best Division 1, 2 & 3 teams, public and parochial. However, as the years wear on, fewer D2 & D3 teams are strong enough to compete. Craig Yakscoe’s 2019 Columbus Academy team is the only D2 team that became a Kiely Cup champion.
The balls are flying further, the scores continue to be lower, and the talent these young aspirants demonstrate is a thrill to behold. Join me next year when we conduct the 19th Kiely Cup over Canterbury’s famed layout on September 8th & 9th. Interested? Hope to see you there under Chamber of Commerce conditions.
-Craig Fraser